SEARHC - SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium

SEARHC’s story wins national award

The story of SEARHC has earned national recognition.

“Gumboot Determination: The Story of the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium,” written by lifetime Juneau author Peter Metcalfe, recently was named one of a dozen winners of the 27th annual American Book Awards. The 240-page illustrated book chronicles the history of Alaska Native health care in Southeast Alaska.

“I am very proud of Peter for this achievement,” said SEARHC President Emeritus Ethel Lund, who served as SEARHC’s President from 1977-2000. “He did an outstanding job in capturing the events at that time, with an honest portrayal of health care in Southeast and the many people involved in bringing about change. The story has humor, pathos, success, failure, determination, inspiration and comedy — all the elements for good reading. We are proud to be a part of the effort to tell this story, hoping it will be an inspiration to others.”

The American Book Awards were established by the Before Columbus Foundation in 1978 as a way to recognize outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors, without restriction to race, gender, ethnic background or genre (novels, poetry, essays and histories).

Proceeds from the sale of “Gumboot Determination” benefit The Healing Hand Foundation, formerly called the SEARHC Foundation, which helps fill unmet medical needs for SEARHC tribal health care beneficiaries. To order copies, call 1-907-364-4401.

For more information contact:

Lonnie Jackson at the SEARHC Foundation, (907) 364-4401