A B C D-E F-G H I-J K L M N-O P-Q R-S T U-V W-X Y-Z
A
Jerry Z. Ainsworth, MD
Ear, Nose and Throat
Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology.
Education: Dr. Ainsworth earned a medical degree at Baylor Medical School in Houston, Texas and completed a fellowship in otology at Baylor Medical School.
Special Interests: Dr. Ainsworth has a special interest in ear, nose and throat treatment.
Noble E. Anderson, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Anderson earned his medical degree from the Temple University School of Medicine (Philadelphia). He completed a residency in
Family Medicine at the University of Virginia Medical Center (Charlottesville, Va.). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in premedicine from The Penn State University (State College, Pa.). Before deciding to make Haines his home, Dr. Anderson worked at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka. He also has worked as a locum tenens physician (traveling physician) with stops in Sitka, Bethel, Kotzebue and Ketchikan in Alaska, in addition to other assignments in Washington State and California.
Special Interests: Dr. Anderson's special interests include general Family Medicine, obstetrics and evidence-based medicine. He also enjoys hiking, fishing, photography and mountain climbing. Dr. Anderson will provide intermittant services in Haines on an on-call basis.
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John A. Baciocco, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Baciocco earned a medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and completed a residency in general family practice at San Joaquin, Calif.
Special Interests: Dr. Baciocco offers a full range of family practice and obstetrics. He has a special interest in helping patients manage their diabetes. Dr. Baccioco provides itinerant medical services to the community of Yakutat.
Karl Bausler, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Education: Karl was trained as a family nurse practitioner and physician assistant at Stanford University and completed a residency in emergency medicine at Los Angeles County trauma center.
Special Interests: Karl enjoys working with teens.
Brian J. Benjamin, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine
Education: Dr. Benjamin earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, N.Y. He completed a residency in Family Medicine with Duke University Medical Center Department of Community and Family Medicine in Durham, N.C. Dr. Benjamin also earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in zoology from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Before moving to Juneau, Dr. Benjamin spent 16 years working as a family physician in clinics associated with Duke University and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, with many of those years spent as medical director or division chief. He also served as a clinical adjunct professor, clinical associate professor or consulting associate professor in Family Medicine for both schools. Before that, he spent four years as an urgent care and emergency physician with Coastal Emergency Services in Durham, N.C. In addition, Dr. Benjamin has been an executive with two medical information system companies in California.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Benjamin is a Diplomat with the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a member of the American Geriatrics Society, the North Carolina Academy of Physicians and the Formulary Committee for Senior PharmAssist. He received the Duke University Medical Center Family Medicine Award for Outstanding Residency Teaching in 1994-95. He also holds recognitions from the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) in diabetes care (2007) and cardiovascular and stroke care (2008).
Special Interests: Dr. Benjamin is interested in geriatrics, general primary care and medical informatics. He also enjoys fishing, boating, flying, riding his Harley and skiing.
Mignon F. "Mimi" Benjamin, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine
Education: Dr. Benjamin earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, N.Y. She completed a residency in Family Medicine with Duke University Medical Center Department of Community and Family Medicine in Durham, N.C. Dr. Benjamin also earned a Bachelor of Arts (Magna Cum Laude) with a major in theater from Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and she earned a certificate premedical from Columbia University in New York City. Before moving to Juneau, Dr. Benjamin spent 20 years as a physician in North Carolina with time spent as a clinical associate professor in Family Medicine with Duke University's Durham Medical Center and a clinical assistant professor in Family Medicine and associate medical director for quality improvement for the University of North Carolina Community-based Practices. She also has been a consultant for the Carolina Center for Medical Excellence and medical director for the Carolina Center for Clinical Information. Before starting her medical career, Dr. Benjamin spent four years as a professional equity actress/singer in New York City.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Benjamin is a Diplomat with the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a member of the American Medical Association, the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians and the Durham-Orange County Medical Society. She received the Duke University Medical William J. "Terry" Kane Award for Excellence in Clinical Family Medicine in 1995, and she served as chief resident in Family Medicine at Duke University in 1994-95. She also holds a recognition from the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) in diabetes care (2009).
Special Interests: Dr. Benjamin is interested in women's health and general family practice. She also enjoys tap dance (performing and teaching), water sports and theater.
Jeannette S. Berry, Nurse Anesthetist
Anesthesia
Certification: American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
Education: Jeannette earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Seattle University and a Master of Science degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She earned her Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist credential from the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program. She spent 15 years working in intensive care units and critical care units with the U.S. Navy before coming to SEARHC.
Awards & Honors: Jeannette has won several military medals.
Special Interests: Jeannette has medical special interests in respiratory physiology and pharmacology. She enjoys spending time with her family (including a young granddaughter), dog training, quilting and fiber arts, music, gardening and animal husbandry.
William Beutel, MD
General Surgery
Certification: American Board of Surgery.
Education: Dr. Beutel earned his Medical Doctorate and Master of Public Health degrees from the University of Illinois in Chicago. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., and a Master of Science degree in biology from Occidental College in Los Angeles. Dr. Beutel spent three years as a staff surgeon at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Surgery in Iowa City, Iowa, then moved to the Charlotte, N.C., region where he had a private surgical practice for 23 years.
Awards & Honors: While in college, Dr. Beutel was selected for the James Scholar Program of Independent Study at the University of Illinois. He also participated in the Medical Assistance Programs-Reader's Digest International Medical Fellowship Program in India.
Special Interests: Dr. Beutel has special medical interests in gall bladder disease, nutrition and wound healing. He also enjoys hiking, fishing and reading.
Mel Bingham, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: Mel holds a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from Rocky Mountain College (Billings, Mont.).
Special Interests: Mel practices Family Medicine and has a particular interest in rural health services.
Suzzane M. Blake, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Blake earned her medical degree from the University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, N.D.). She completed an internship in obstetrics/gynecology with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and she completed a residency in Family Medicine at Riverside General Hospital in Riverside, Calif..
Awards & Honors: Dr. Blake is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She has received the Physician Recognition Award with Commendation by the American Medical Association.
Special Interests: As a hospitalist, Dr. Blake has a special interest in the urgent and emergent needs of patients.
Terry W. Blake, Physician Assistant
Primary Care
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (certified in primary care and surgery).
Education: Terry completed his physician assistant studies at the Western University of Health Sciences' College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (Pomona, Calif.). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis on emergency medical care and education from Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, Calif.). He also served as a helicoptor medical specialist during the Vietnam War, and he spent 18 years working at inner-city trauma centers in Los Angeles.
Awards & Honors: Terry graduated Magna Cum Laude (with highest honors) at Loma Linda University. He earned an expert combat field medical badge from the U.S. Army. Terry was valedictorian for the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific's physician assistant studies program.
Special Interests: Terry has special interests in urgent and emergent care, and in the prehospital treatment and evaluation of the unstable patient. His personal interests include fishing, family and fitness, and he enjoys serving a community where he can truly make a difference and be appreciated.
RD C. "RD" Boardman, PhD
Psychology
Certification: Utah Board of Psychologist Examiners (pending), Alaska Board of Psychologist Examiners (pending).
Education: Dr. Boardman completed a five-year Doctor of Philosophy program at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, which included his last year at Colorado State University. He worked in Utah and Colorado, providing individual and group therapy, substance abuse treatment, outreach and prevention programs. He also worked in the Yukon River community of Galena, providing therapeutic services to the villages of Ruby, Huslia, Nulato and Kaltag.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Boardman is a recipient of an Indian Health Service Health Professions Scholarship. He also received multiple scholarships from his tribe, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Special Interests: Dr. Boardman's medical interests include a breadth of experience in group therapy, working with adolescent and young adults, as well as working in culturally diverse environments. He enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, getting on the river to fly fish, hiking, dancing and sleeping in when he can. Dr. Boardman directs SEARHC's neurodevelopmental team at the Haa Toowóo Náakw Hít outpatient behavioral health clinic.
Andrew D. "Drew" Bodmer, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Education: Drew earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He also earned a master's degree physician assistant studies from AT Still University of Health Sciences in Mesa, Ariz. Before moving to Sitka, Bodmer previously worked as a physician assistant in a family medicine private practice and in pediatric urgent care in Mesa, Ariz.
Special Interests: Drew said he enjoys the variety of medicine and hasn't found an area to specialize in yet. He will work in urgent care for SEARHC. He also enjoys hiking, camping, running, mountaineering, scuba diving and spending time with his family.
Tom Bornstein, DDS
Dentistry
Education: Dr. Bornstein earned a dental degree from the University of Maryland and completed a residency in advanced general practice at the Alaska Native Medical Center. Dr. Bornstein is the director of dental services for SEARHC.
Awards & Honors: SEARHC's Gumboot Award.
J. Russell "Russ" Bowman, DO
Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine (in Family Medicine); American Association of Physician Specialists (in emergency medicine).
Education: Dr. Bowman earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Mo. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., and a Master of Science degree from the Marshall University Department of Family and Community Health in Huntington, W.V. He completed a Family Medicine residency at Marshall University and also completed an emergency medicine fellowship at Charleston Area Medical Center and West Virginia University (Charleston, W.V.). He earned a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Washington (Seattle) in August 2007. Before moving to Haines to work for SEARHC, Dr. Bowman spent six years as a flight surgeon for the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka. He also has been a flight surgeon with the U.S. Army National Guard in West Virginia and with the U.S. Coast Guard in Virginia.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Bowman is a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians and he is a Fellow in the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Bowman has a Certified Physician Executive credential from the American College of Physician Executives. He holds the rank of Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officer Corps.
Special Interests: Dr. Bowman is interested in rural emergency medicine and in health care management and policy. He also enjoys travel, photography, boating and fishing.
Alexis D. Brandenburg, Nurse Practitioner
Family Medicine
Certification: American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Education: Alexis earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree from the Community-based Family Nurse Practitioner Education Program at the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in Hyden, Ky. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Mont. Before coming to Alaska, Alexis had more than 30 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in critical care and emergency room departments in Montana.
Special Interests: Alexis holds a CCRN certification for critical care nursing and a CEN certification for emergency room nursing. She enjoys the outdoors, horses, dogs, cats and walking.
Janna L. Brewster, Nurse Practitioner
Family Medicine
Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Education: Janna earned an Associate of Science degree in nursing from Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Ore., and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree (family nurse practitioner tract) from the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt. Janna has in Oregon, Minnesota, West Virginia, Alaska, Missouri and Vermont. She started out as a registered nurse working in intensive care, but has worked in every area of the hospital, from large hospitals to small rural clinics. She worked in Ketchikan from 1989-92 with Ketchikan General Hospital and what used to be the SEARHC-run Alaska Native Health Clinic (now the Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal Health Clinic). She then moved to Juneau where she worked at St. Ann's Nursing Home, Juneau Hospice and Home Care and with Dr. Tom McCabe. She left Alaska for 10 years and returned in 2006 after earning her family nurse practitioner credential. She ran Alaska In-Home Medical Service (AIMS) when she first returned to Juneau, and did fill-in shifts at the SEARHC Front Street Clinic in September 2010, finally moving to permanent staff at Front Street in the fall of 2011.
Special Interests: Janna has special medical interests of working with patients with chronic disease, such as diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and respiratory diseases. She also enjoys spending time with her family (which tops her list of interests). She loves the outdoors and living in such a beautiful place as Alaska, and she enjoys watching wildlife both on land and at sea. She also enjoys catching salmon and halibut.
Elliot J. Bruhl, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Bruhl earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, and completed his residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., and a Master of Science degree in hydrology from the University of Idaho School of Mines in Moscow, Idaho. Dr. Bruhl was at SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital from 1998-2006, then spent 2007-08 as a physician and medical director at Sitka Community Hospital's Mountainside Family Healthcare. He returned to SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in April 2009. Before returning to school to become a physician, Dr. Bruhl lived in Alaska and was a wildlands firefighter at the Chugach National Forest Seward Ranger District and a commercial fisheries work-er/deckhand in Homer.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Bruhl was elected to the Sigma Xi science honor society while at Carleton College and the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society while at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He also won the 1997 F. William Barrows Resident of the Year Award from the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians.
Special Interests: Dr. Bruhl's medical interests are dermatology, orthopedics, men's health and sports medicine. During his personal time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, skiing and gardening. Dr. Bruhl also enjoys providing medical care for Sitka sports teams, including the Sitka Youth Football League junior, senior and Sitka High School football teams, the Sitka High School soccer team and at the state Class 1A-2A-3A state wrestling championships (held December 2007 at Mt. Edgecumbe High School). Dr. Bruhl serves as Chief of Services Critical Care and Emergency Medicine at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. He also will provide medical services to the community of Hoonah.
Cate Buley, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Buley earned a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School and received Family Medicine training in Duluth, Minn.
Special Interests: Dr. Buley provides a full spectrum of Family Medicine.
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Elizabeth A. "Beth" Caffery, LPC, CDC
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: State of Alaska Board of Professional Counselors
Education: Beth earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., and she holds a Master of Science in Education majoring in counseling and guidance from City University in Seattle. She holds Licensed Professional Counselor and Chemical Dependency Counselor credentials from the State of Alaska. Before joining the staff at SEARHC, Beth worked in Sitka as a therapist for Neurobehavioral Consultants and a clinician for Sitka Counseling and Prevention Specialists. She also worked as a therapist for the Institute of Family Development in Everett and Bellingham, Wash., and as a family service specialist/father involvement coordinator with Skagit Island Head Start at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Wash.
Special Interests: Beth's medical special interests are children, adolescents, parenting skill development, families and substance abuse counseling. She also enjoys speaking Spanish and other languages, hiking, fishing, boating and her Sitka family.
Sally A. Caldwell, MEd, LPC, MAC
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: Licensed Professional Counselor (State of Alaska), Chemical Dependency Counselor I (State of Alaska), State of Alaska-certified fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) trainer and State of Alaska-certified SOAR (Senior Outreach, Assessment and Referral) project case manager.
Education: Sally earned a Masters of Education degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she completed internships in school counseling, mental health inpatient treatment for youth and in trauma-informed therapy with child victims of sexual abuse. Sally also has completed internships in adolescent inpatient alcohol and in drug rehabilitation treatment for women with children. She did graduate study in special education with a specialty in learning disabilities and emotional disturbance exceptionalities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional writing from the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
Awards & Honors: Sally was the first recipient of the Strength Through Diversity scholarship from the Fairbanks North-Star Borough School District for her advocacy in addressing the issues of racial prejudice and descrimination in the school system. She was a nominee for The Arc Distinguished Research Award for her work with FASD, and she is a published author who has written on topics related to FASD (including a chapter in the book, "Fantastic Antone Succeeds").
Special Interests: Sally specializes in mental health and substance abuse counseling and she provides case management services at the SEARHC Front Street Clinic in Juneau. She also works with clients with FASD and provides in trauma-informed therapy for child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. She is a professional member of the American Mental Health Counselors Association. Sally also enjoys being a community volunteer, and she provides coordination and support for a cadre of children's class teachers, junior youth empowerment group facilitators and human development program tutors.
Sonny Chandler, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: Sonny earned a degree from the University of Washington.
Interests: Sonny has practiced in family occupational and emergency medicine settings for over 34 years. He sees SEARHC patients who need to be treated on short notice.
Jeff Chelmo, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Mount Marty College in Yankton, S.D., and attended graduate school at Marquette University in Milwaukee. He earned a Doctor of Dental Science (DDS) from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Omaha, Neb., and was a practicing dentist in southcentral South Dakota for 10 years before suffering a hand injury. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Creighton University in Omaha and worked as an emergency room and intensive care unit nurse for 2 1/2 years. Jeff then earned his Physician Assistant degree from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D., and he worked as a PA in northcentral Montana for 11 years before moving to Hoonah.
Awards & Honors: Jeff was league champion at the Kimball, S.D., Golf Club (Sand Greens) in 1987 and club league champion in 1994 at Lake Platte golf course in Montana. He was most improved bowler in 1982 with Kimball Men's League.
Special Interests: Jeff has a special medical interest in rural health care, and he and his wife, Jenni, were trauma medical director and trauma medical coordinator for a small rural hospital in Montana. Jeff's personal interests include his wife and kids, woodworking, gardening, cooking, fishing and hunting.
Robert F. "Bob" Crochelt, MD
General Surgery
Certification: American Board of Surgery
Education: Dr. Crochelt earned MD and PhD degrees in medicine and gastrointestinal pharmacology from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and he completed a five-year surgical residency at the University of California at San Francisco. He also earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, awarded magna cum laude (with high honors) from Columbia College in New York City. Before moving to Sitka, Dr. Crochelt worked as a surgeon in rural Minnesota, Ketchikan and rural West Virginia.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Crochelt is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Society of Surgeons of the Alimentary Tract, the Alaska State Medical Society, and he is a member of the executive council of the Nafziger Surgical Society.
Special Interests: Dr. Crochelt's professional interests include biliary surgery, trauma systems and patient care, pacemakers and endoscopy. Besides spending quiet time with his wife, Dr. Crochelt enjoys fishing, hiking and fiddling with computers and cameras.
Katie Cranor, MA
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Education: Katie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and theology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. She also has a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Loyola University of Chicago. Before joining SEARHC, Katie worked in Juneau as a direct service provider at the AWARE (Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies) Shelter and at the traditional housing facility for homeless families operated by St. Vincent DePaul.
Special Interests: Katie has behavioral health interests in addiction, anxiety, domestic violence, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sexual assault. In addition to her behavioral health work, Katie also has been a university chaplain and a postpartum doula working with new mothers. Katie is behavioral health clinician and clinic manager at SEARHC's Front Street Clinic, which provides health care to Juneau's homeless.
Cal K. Curt, Nurse Practitioner
Family Medicine
Certification: American Nurse Credentialing Center.
Education: Cal earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and his family nurse practitioner certification from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Before moving to Hoonah, Cal spent 22 years working for a variety of rural clinics in northern New Mexico.
Special Interests: Cal has a special medical interest in rural health care and emergency medical services. Cal's personal interests include hunting, fishing, the outdoors, farming, ranching, reading, and watching his kids and grandkids.
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Somerset M. "Somer" Dunn, AuD, CCC-A
Audiology
Certification: American Academy of Audiology.
Education: Dr. Dunn earned her Audiology Doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in psychology and speech, language and hearing sciences. She comes to SEARHC from Colorado, where she worked in a six-physician otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat) practice that included four audiologists.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Dunn holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) credential from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (F-AAA).
Special Interests: Dr. Dunn enjoys all aspects of audiology. She also loves to ski and hike, and she loves trying new foods.
Taylor Dunn, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Dunn earned a medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle and completed a residency at the Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura, Calif.
Special Interests: Dr. Dunn provides a full range of general family practice with a particular interest in procedures.
Valerie S. Edwards, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Edwards earned her undergraduate degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., and she earned her Medical Doctorate from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. She completed her residency through the Alaska Family Medicine Residency program in Anchorage, a program that included field work in Bethel, Kodiak and Unalaska.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Edwards was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor fraternity as an undergraduate student.
Special Interests: Dr. Edwards' interests include the full spectrum of Family Medicine services, including women's health, adolescents and disease prevention. She also enjoys outdoors activities such as hiking, skiing and kayaking, traveling for the cross-cultural experiences and knitting. In addition to working at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka, Dr. Edwards will provide services to the community of Kake.
Peggy J. Englebrake, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: Previous certification by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
Education: Dr. Englebrake earned her medical degree and completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at the University of Kansas Medical School in Kansas City, Kan. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. Dr. Englebrake is certified as a certified instructor in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and pediatric advanced life support (PALS), and she is certified in neonatal resuscitation programs (NRP) and advanced trauma life support (ATLS). Dr. Englebrake returned to the Alicia Roberts Medical Center (ARMC) in Klawock in December 2009 after spending three years on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. She also worked at ARMC from 2001-2006, and before that was medical director for the Ketchikan General Hospital emergency department for five years.
Special Interests: Dr. Englebrake has special medical interests in diabetes, cardiology, emergency medicine and trauma. When she first worked at ARMC, she helped launch the clinic's emergency medicine, hospice and diabetes programs. She also enjoys books, rock climbing, surfing, skiing and her three Klawock cats that direct her life.
Stephen L. Ericksen, DMD
Dentistry
Education: Dr. Ericksen earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Lousville in Kentucky. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in public health from Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Before coming to SEARHC, Dr. Ericksen worked for the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, N.M., and the Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome.
Special Interests: Dr. Ericksen is interested in hunting, fishing, computers, Mexican cuisine, remote control aircraft and spending time with his family. He provides dental services at the Alicia Roberts Medical Center in Klawock and makes regular trips to the Hydaburg Health Center for clinics.
Kelly Erickson, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission of Physician Assistants.
Education: Kelly earned a Master of Physician Assistant degree from Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.
Special Interests: Kelly practices Family Medicine acute care. She has a special interest in providing preventive medicine and in treating teenage patients.
John Everson, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: John earned a physician assistant certificate from the Stanford Primary Care Associate program.
Special Interests: John directs the Com-munity Health Aide Training Center in Sitka.
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Shannon B. Farr, OD
Optometry
Certification: American Academy of Optometry.
Education: Dr. Farr earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. She also holds certification in infant vision and aviation vision. She is a Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Before moving to Juneau, Dr. Farr worked at the Norton Sound Health Corp. in Nome from 2001-07, at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. in Bethel from 1997-2001, and she completed a Navajo Nation residency in Winslow, Ariz., from 1996-97.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Farr is a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. She has won various U.S. Public Health Service awards, including an achievement medal, unit commendations, hazardous duty and isolated hardship awards.
Special Interests: Dr. Farr has an interest in ocular disease, such as common inflammations known as "iritis." She also enjoys shooting billiards/pool and volunteering in the community.
Steven Forde, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: Steven completed his undergraduate and physician assistant education at the University of Florida School of Medicine in Gainesville, Fla. Before joining SEARHC, he spent 17 years working in internal medicine, geriatric care and acute care in a hospital setting at Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring, Fla. He also was a medic in the U.S. Air Force.
Awards & Honors: Steven received the Gold Seal award from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants for being in its top 10 percent of applicants.
Special Interests: Steven has special medical interests in acute, intensive care unit and cardiac care, and internal medicine. He also enjoys spending time with his family, baseball, hiking, hunting and fishing.
Steve Gage, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: Steve earned a physician assistant certificate from the University of Washington.
Awards & Honors: Steve won Physician Assistant of the Year Award for 2008 from the Alaskan Academy of Physician Assistants.
Robert D. Gannon, MD
Family Medicine/Emergency Medicine
Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine.
Education: Dr. Gannon earned his medical degree from the St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. He completed a residency in emergency medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to joining SEARHC, Dr. Gannon spent 15 years working at the Salt Lake Veterans Affairs Hospital and also spent the five of those years working in the emergency room at Mountain West Medical Center in Tooele, Utah. Before that, Dr. Gannon spent 10 years working in the emergency room at the Salt Lake Regional Medical Center and three years with the emergency room at Duchesne County/Uintah Basin Medical Center in Roosevelt, Utah.
Special Interests: Dr. Gannon has special interests in emergency medicine. He also enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and he hopes to learn kayaking in the near future.
Lynn E. Gras, Nurse Practitioner
Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital Nursing Manager
Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center
Education: Lynn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Hope College in Holland, Mich., and a Masters of Science degree in Nursing from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. Lynn has been a traveling emergency room and neonatal intensive care unit nurse for more than a decade, working in the Lower 48, Alaska, U.S. Virgin Islands and England; then as a family nurse practitioner locums in remote villages, including Prince of Wales Island, the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands, and flying medevacs for the Norton Sound region. She also volunteered for refugee work in the Middle East and was medical officer for a high-altitude deep field camp in Antarctica.
Awards & Honors: Lynn received an activism award for her humanitarian work with refugee camps in the Middle East.
Special Interests: Lynn's medical interests include remote site, village and refugee camp nursing; emergency and flight medicine; and neonatal resucitation/stabilization. She also enjoys the violin, climbing and paragliding.
H. Martin Grasmeder, III, MD
Pediatrics
Certification: American Board of Pediatrics.
Education: Dr. Grasmeder earned a medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pa., and completed a residency at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Dr. Grasmeder is the medical director at SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital.
Steven O. Greer, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Greer earned his medical degree from the University of California San Diego and completed a residency in Family Medicine with the University of California Davis Shasta Cascade Family Medicine Residency Program. He earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in microbiology and chemistry. Before moving to Juneau he worked in private practice in Red Bluff, Calif., in emergency medicine in Redding, Calif., and for a multispecialty group practice in Bend and Sisters, Ore.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Greer won the Reithmeyer Award for excellence in undergraduate Family Medicine at the University of California San Diego.
Special Interests: Dr. Greer has a special interest in full-spectrum Family Medicine, occupational medicine and medical research. He also enjoys the beautiful outdoors: fishing, skiing, hiking, running, kayaking, western horse riding (when he was in Oregon), spending time with his wife and grown kids, and participating in Rotary Club activities. He said he always wanted to work in Alaska.
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Janice L. Hamrick, LCSW, BHP
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: Association of Social Work Boards and Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners.
Education: Janice holds a Master of Social Work degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology with a social work emphasis, both from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Janice is certified in Alaska as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and as a Behavioral Health Practitioner (BHP). Before joining SEARHC, Janice spent five years as Director of Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic and Village Services with the Bethel-based Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. (YKHC), where she has extensive behavioral health contacts throughout rural Alaska. At YKHC, Hamrick supervised the outpatient mental health clinic in Bethel and provided services for 46 villages, including emergency services, the Family Spirit Project and the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program. She is the chair of the Alaska State Behavioral Health Academic Review Committee and serves as co-chair of the Behavioral Health Aide Manual Committee that is developing a manual the recently adopted state criteria for the Behavioral Health Aide/Practitioner program.
Awards & Honors: While working in Mississippi, a boys group home was named "Hamrick House" in honor of Janice's work there, she was recognized as a Delta Point of Pride for her work with developmentally disabled adults, and in 1997 her peers named her outstanding clinician.
Special Interests: Janice's special interests are learning about the culture of areas and empowering front-line workers in remote locations with few resources to feel confident in the services they provide. She also has an interest in family recovery vs. providing treatment for individuals. She enjoys the outdoors, hiking, camping and just walking. Janice is based in Sitka where she supervises SEARHC's Community Family Services program, which provides behavioral health care services in nine communities - Angoon, Craig, Haines, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Kake, Klawock, Klukwan and Petersburg.
Richard W. Hart, OD
Optometry
Education: Dr. Hart earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. He practiced 14 years in Logan, Utah, prior to coming to SEARHC.
Special Interests: Dr. Hart provides primary eye care services to patients of all ages, with special interest in contact and geriatric eye care. In addition to optometric experience, Dr. Hart spent years in the optical business.
Charles Hazen, DDS
Dentistry
Education: Dr. Hazen earned a dental degree from the University of Michigan.
Interests: Dr. Hazen enjoys all areas of dentistry, including basic restorative work, crown and bridge, complete dentures and partial dentures, endodontics and periodontics.
Julia Heinz, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Heinz earned a medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia and completed a residency at Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, S.C.
Diane E. Hill, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: Diane earned an associate's degree in nursing from Anchorage Community College (now part of the University Alaska Anchorage). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in general studies and completed her physician assistant certification training at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks, N.D. She spent 25 years as a registered nurse (RN) at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, including the last 20 years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a certified emergency nurse (CEN) from the Emergency Nurses Association. She also spent 10 years as a certified sexual assault nurse examiner in Fairbanks.
Special Interests: Diane's medical interests are emergency and internal medicine. She enjoys ornamental horticulture, swim-ming, biking, reading, politics and the study of human behavior. She holds regular office hours at both the Alicia Roberts Medical Center and the Thorne Bay Health Center. Her practice includes a focus on women's health.
Kristen L. Homer, Nurse Practitioner
Primary Care
Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Education: Homer holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree and certificate in nursing from the Yale University School of Nursing. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and anthropology from Middlebury College. She is board certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Before joining the staff at the SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe High School Student Health Center, Kristen spent 6 1/2 years working at the U.S. Coast Guard-Air Station Sitka Medical Clinic. Before that she was a public health nurse with the state's Sitka Public Health Center and a community health aide/practitioner supervisor/field clinician for SEARHC. Kristen also has worked with Planned Parenthood of Alaska. She first came to Sitka as a health-planning intern with the SEARHC in 1990. Before that, she worked in tribal health with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa in Michigan.
Special Interests: Kristen has medical interests in pediatrics, adolescent and women's health. She also enjoys reading, hiking, running and spending time with her family.
Kim N. Hort, DMD
Pediatric Dentistry
Certification: Diplomate status with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
Education: Dr. Hort earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Albright College of Reading, Pa. After working at the SEARHC Juneau Medical Center from 2000-05, Dr. Hort took a leave of absence to go to Anchorage to complete a residency in pediatric dentistry at the Alaska Native Medical Center that is administered by Lutheran Medical Center of Brooklyn, N.Y. She returned to the SEARHC Juneau Medical Center in August 2007 after completing the program.
Special Interests: Dr. Hort has a special interest in the prevention of childhood caries (tooth decay) and raising cavity-free kids. "I am excited to be rejoining the caring and vibrant SEARHC family in my new role," Dr. Hort says.
Janice A. "Jan" Hotze, MA, MD, LPC, CDC II, NCAD I
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: Licensed Professional Counselor (State of Alaska), state and na-tionally certified addictions counselor.
Education: Jan has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Blackburn College in Carlinville, Ill., a Master of Divinity degree from Seabury-Western Theological Semin-ary in Evanston, Ill., and a Master of Arts degree in community psychology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She also holds a certificate in Rural Human Services from UAF and a certificate in Corporate Ministries from St. Louis University in Missouri. She started working for SEARHC in 1990 as a halftime Community Family Service Worker and halftime Community Health Practitioner, and in 2000 she began working fulltime for Behavioral Health.
Special Interests: Jan's specialty is mental health and addictions counseling. She currently serves as secretary for the Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification and she is a professional member of the American Counseling Association.
William R. "Bill" Hupp Jr., LMSW
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners
Education: Bill has a Master of Social Work degree from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich., and a Bachelor of Science degree in social work from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Before joining the SEARHC staff in Hoonah, Bill worked as a program manager/itinerant counselor with the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments in Fort Yukon. He also worked as a residential manager for Griffin Street Apartments in Toledo, Ohio, working with previously homeless veterans with severe and persistent mental illness.
Special Interests: Bill's medical interests include mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). He also enjoys fishing, hiking, reading, meditation and goofing off. "I'm grateful for all of the resources available to our clients now that we are part of SEARHC," Bill said.
Grace T. Hwang, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Hwang earned her medical degree from the Boston University School of Medicine. She returned to Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in spring 2008 after spending 3 1/2 years working in Fargo, N.D. Prior to that, Dr. Hwang spent seven years working all over Alaska, including Sitka, Juneau, Haines, Craig, Ketchikan, Wasilla, Dillingham, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome and Barrow. She also has worked in Hawai'i, Colorado and Oregon.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Hwang won 2007 and 2008 North Dakota Diabetes Care Provider Gold Awards from the North Dakota Department of Public Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.
Special Interests: Dr. Hwang has a special medical interest in obstetrics. She enjoys hiking, traveling, fishing, reading and spending time with her family. "I am excited to be a part of the SEARHC community again," she said.
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Katherine Ingallinera, Nurse Practitioner
Family Medicine
Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Education: Katherine earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from the Medical College of Virginia Hospital in Richmond.
Awards & Honors: Received RN Excellence In Practice Award in 1988 from the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals.
Special Interests: Katherine provides urgent care for all ages and has a special interest in health care for women and adolescents.
Thomas Jordan, DMD
Dentistry
Education: Dr. Jordan earned a dental degree from the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland and completed a residency in general practice at Denver General Hospital in Colorado.
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Ellen Kemper, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine
Education: Dr. Kemper earned her medical degree from Hahnemann College of Medicine (which now is part of Philadelphia's Drexel University). She completed a residency in family practice in LaGrange, Ill.
Special Interests: Dr. Kemper has a particular interest in rural medicine and electronic health records.
Michelle Kennedy, Nurse Practitioner
Women's Health
Certification: National Certification Corporation (NCC) as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner.
Education: Michelle earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. She completed a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner certification program through Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which is affliated with Drexel University in Philadelphia. She currently is exploring a Master of Science in a Nursing completion program through the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, N.J. Before coming to SEARHC in 2008, Michelle spent the previous 12-plus years as a public health nurse with the State of Alaska, traveling to Angoon, Yakutat, Pelican and Port Alexander where she worked with CHAPs in providing preventive health care. She has been a nurse for more than 33 years, with a wide variety of nursing experiences in and out of Sitka.
Awards & Honors: Michelle received the Public Health Nursing Outstanding Professional Award in 2002 and the 2006 Soroptomists International of Sitka Honored Woman Award.
Special Interests: Michelle's medical interests include adolescent reproductive health education and both male/female reproductive health. Her nursing specialty is obstetrics/gynecology and reproductive health. She is an instructor with the Community Health Aide/Practitioner training center at SEARHC's Sitka campus and also will see patients at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital.
John K. "Kennon" Kirk, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine
Education: Dr. Kirk earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Va. He completed a residency in Family Medicine with North Colorado Family Medicine in Greeley, Colo.
Special Interests: Dr. Kirk's special medical interests include obstetrics, newborns, pediatrics, hospital work, procedures and family planning. He also enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and camping, running, travel, Barbara Kingsolver novels, folk medicine and fresh seafood.
Richard L. Kraft, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Kraft earned a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology from South Dakota State University in Brookings. He earned his Medical Doctorate from the University of South Dakota Medical School in Vermillion and completed a residency in family practice at the University of North Dakota in Bismarck. He worked at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka from 1987-95, and returns to SEARHC as a hospitalist in 2008 after 13 years working at Indian Health Service sites in South Dakota (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and Standing Rock).
Special Interests: Dr. Kraft has special medical interests in dermatology and sports medicine. He also enjoys spending time with his family, the outdoors, sports and crafts. "The atmosphere of the entire medical staff is wonderful. It is great to be back," Dr. Kraft said.
Connie Kreiss, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Kreiss earned a medical degree from Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. She completed a residency at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine.
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William J. LeMaire, MD
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, certified in both obstetrics and gynecology and in reproductive endocrinology.
Education: Dr. LeMaire earned a Medical Doctorate from the University of Louvain in Louvain, Belgium, and a Doctor in Tropical Medicine from the Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium. While attending University of Louvain, Dr. LeMaire completed an internship at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y. He earned an undergraduate degree in humanities from Onze Lieve Vrouwe (OLV) College in Antwerp, Belgium. Dr. LeMaire currently is a clinical professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Miami, Fla. Dr. LeMaire officially is retired, but works part time at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. He worked full time at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital from 1993-99, and since his 1988 retirement as head of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Dr. LeMaire has worked at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital, the Alaska Native Medical Center, and at hospitals in New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, the West Indies, Japan and Pakistan.
Awards & Honors: Dr. LeMaire completed the Fogarty Senior International Fellowship in the Departments of Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Goteberg, Sweden, and he completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the U.S. Public Health Service at the endocrine laboratory at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Florida. He also has been published more than 150 times in national and international journals.
Special Interests: Dr. LeMaire has medical interests in reproductive endocrin-ology and cross-cultural obstetrics and gynecology. He enjoys the outdoors, camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, swimming and traveling. "Every time I come back to Sitka, it's like coming home," he said.
Pornson P. Linton, Nurse Practitioner
Family Medicine
Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Certification.
Education: Pornson earned a Masters Degree in Nursing and a certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Texas-Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas. Prior to moving to Haines, Pornson spent three years as the clinic director at the SEARHC Kake Medical Center in Kake. She also worked at two clinics in Texas.
Special Interests: Pornson is interested in Family Medicine and preventive care. She also enjoys mushrooms and berry picking
James L. "Jim" Lontine, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: Jim completed his physician assistant studies at the Northeastern University Physician Assistant Program in Boston, and he completed a residency in emergency medicine with Los Angeles County/University of Southern California. Prior to moving to Hydaburg, Jim spent 23 years with the Island Pond Health Center in Island Pond, Vt. He also has held several other urgent and emergent care positions, served as a U.S. Army medic and as a Peace Corps health assistant.
Special Interests: Jim's specialty is the primary health care of adults and children, and his special interests are primary care and urgent care. He also enjoys outdoor activities, hunting, and fishing and is interested in Native culture.
Kari Lundgren, Physician Assistant
Primary Care
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: Kari earned a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Special Interests: Kari is clinic administrator for the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Student Health Center. She enjoys serving as a "floating clinician" for SEARHC's community-based clinics and the Juneau Medical Center.
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MaryAnne Maxson, LPC
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: State of Alaska Board of Professional Counselors
Education: MaryAnne earned a Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from the University of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Ariz., and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash. She has 30 years experience as a nurse/community health educator for Planned Parenthood in Montana, and as a public school nurse. She also has been a behavioral health clinician at SEARHC for 14-plus years.
Special Interests: MaryAnne's medical interests include health and wellness. She also enjoys hiking, river rafting, travel, home decorating and cross-country skiing.
M. Sara McMahon, MA, LPC
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: Licensed Professional Counselor (State of Alaska)
Education: Sara earned a Master of Arts degree in marriage and family therapy from Antioch University New England in Keene, N.H. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in dance and movement education from Burlington College in Burlington, Vt.
Special Interests: Sara specializes in behavioral health issues such as trauma and body image. She also enjoys dance and fiber arts.
Richard B. McMaster, OD
Optometry
Education: Dr. McMaster earned a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from the University of Montana in Missoula. He earned his Doctor of Optometry degree (OD) from the Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Ore. He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Montana Optometric Association. He owns All Family Vision Care in Lewistown, Mont., where he practiced for 19 years before joining SEARHC. Dr. McMaster is starting an eye clinic on Prince of Wales Island.
Special Interests: Dr. McMaster's medical interests include glaucoma management, retinal disease and treating ocular injuries. He also enjoys flyfishing, bowhunting, woodworking and hiking.
Jennifer S. McNichol, MD
Pediatrics
Certification: American Board of Pediatrics
Education: Dr. McNichol earned her medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, Vt., and she completed an internship and residency at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, in Davis, Calif. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Brown University in Providence, R.I. Before returning to SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital as a part-time pediatrician, Dr. McNichol worked as a part-time pediatrician at Sitka's Moore Clinic and as a full-time staff physician for SEARHC.
Special Interests: Dr. McNichol has a special interest in all aspects of pediatrics.
James Mellema, Nurse Anesthetist
Anesthesia
Certification: Council on Recertification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
Education: James earned a diploma in nursing and a bachelor's degree in health sciences from the Butterworth Hospital School of Nursing in Grand Rapids, Mich. He trained as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in the Navy Nurse Corps at Camp Pendleton, Calif. In addition, James has a Bachelor of Science degree from Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and a Master of Arts degree in Computer Resources and Management from the Webster University campus in San Diego.
Special Interests: James has a special interest in acute and chronic pain management.
John "J.R." Myers, LPC, NCC, MHS, MPC
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Education: J.R. has a Master of Human Services degree and a Master of Professional Counseling degree, both from the University of Great Falls in Great Falls, Mont. Myers has worked in Soldotna, Homer and Montana, and he is a former vice president of the Alaska Counseling Association and former president of the Kenai Peninsula Counseling Association. He is a licensed professional counselor and regional behavioral health supervisor in Haines.
Special Interests: J.R.'s medical interests include trauma and healing, role recovery, strength-based therapy and patient advocacy. He also enjoys art, nature, learning and community involvement.
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Lúcia H. Nascimento, DDS
Dentistry
Certification: Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Education: Dr. Nascimento earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wis. She completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the SEARHC Ethel Lund Medical Center through Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla., and an Associate of Science degree from City College of San Francisco in California.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Nascimento won the 2006 High Achievement in the Undergraduate Curriculum in Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities Award from the Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disability.
Special Interests: Dr. Nascimento has medical interests in prosthodontics and periodontics. She also enjoys wood carving.
Reeve S. Newton, DDS
Dentistry
Education: Dr. Newton earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California-Berkeley, and he earned his Doctorate of Dental Science from the University of California-San Francisco. Before arriving in Juneau to work for SEARHC in 2006, Dr. Newton was in private practice in California for 23 years, then he worked for three years in American Samoa, four years in Germany and four more years in California.
Special Interests: Dr. Newton enjoys the great outdoors. When asked about working for SEARHC, Dr. Newton said he is "impressed by the organization's efforts to provide the best possible care for our patients."
Henry M. Owen, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Owen earned a medical degree from the University of New Mexico and completed both an internship and residency at St. Peter Family Practice in Olympia Wash. Dr. Owen provides itinerant services to the community of Angoon.
Mary Owen, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Owen earned a medical degree from University of Minnesota and completed a residency in family practice at University of Minnesota.
Special Interests: Dr. Owen enjoys all areas of family practice and is particularly interested in rheumatology and diabetes.
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Ann D. Patterson, MD
Anesthesia
Certification: American Board of Anesthesiology
Education: Dr. Patterson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and completed her medical degree at Louisiana State University School of Medicine Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She did her internship and anesthesia residency at the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation and at Louisiana State University Charity, both in New Orleans. Before joining SEARHC, Dr. Patterson worked in private practice in Brandon and Canton, Miss., the past three years. Before that, Dr. Patterson spent 11 years as an anesthesiologist in Baton Rouge, La., and four years in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Special Interests: Dr. Patterson's special medical interests are critical care patient care. She also enjoys spending time with her family, LSU sports, playing Scrabble and her dog Giselle, a Rhodesian ridgeback.
Paul L. Peters, MD
Radiology
Certification: American Board of Radiology
Education: Dr. Peters earned his medical degree and a Bachelor of Science in medical studies from the University of Nebraska in Omaha. He completed a residency in radiology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City. During his undergraduate studies, Dr. Peters earned an Associate of Science degree in nuclear medical technology from the University of Nebraska in Omaha, and he took undergraduate classes in the zoology and microbiology majors at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. After earning his medical degree and completing his residency, Dr. Peters spent three years as a U.S. Air Force radiologist at Scott Air Force Base in Scott, Ill., He then spent 23 years as a radiologist with Casper Medical Imaging/Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyo., before moving to Sitka
Awards & Honors: Dr. Peters is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society.
Special Interests: Dr. Peters is interested in general diagnostic radiology. He also enjoys photography, running, hiking, hunting and history (especially the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln).
Dennis L. Pilgrim, PhD
Psychology
Certification: Alaska Board of Psychologist Examiners.
Education: Dr. Pilgrim attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, a Master of Arts in psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy in clinical psychology. He completed a predoctoral residency in clinical psychology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. During his more than 30 years of private practice, Dr. Pilgrim has been affiliated with the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Presbyterian Health Care Systems in Albuquerque, N.M., Charter-Heights Psychiatric Hospital in Albuquerque, and Wichita Falls State Hospital in Wichita Falls, Texas. In 2000-01, he was a behavioral health clinician at the SEARHC Alicia Roberts Medical Center in Klawock.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Pilgrim is former president of the Bexar County Psychological Association in San Antonio, Texas, and former president of the New Mexico Psychological Association.
Special Interests: Dr. Pilgrim's medical interests include community rural health (mental health and substance abuse) and special needs children (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and others). He also enjoys woodcrafting, riding his Harley-Davidson "Bagger" motorcycle, hiking and reading. Dr. Pilgrim heads SEARHC's telebehavioral health program.
Ben L. Pinney, DMD
Dentistry
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Pinney earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Dr. Pinney completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program at SEARHC's Juneau Dental Clinic, a program sponsored by the Lutheran Medical Center in New York City.
Special Interests: Dr. Piney enjoys most outdoor activities.
Magil Pratt, PhD, LPC, RPT
Behavioral Health, Psychology
Certification: Alaska Board of Psychologist and Psychological Assistant Examiners.
Education: Dr. Pratt earned a doctoral degree in counselor education from the University of South Dakota.
Awards & Honors: Invited to present a paper at the 2004 World Meeting of the International Society for Research on Aggression in Greece.
Special Interests: Dr. Pratt is a registered play therapist and has expertise in treating children who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault.
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Douglas M. Rather, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Education: Douglas completed his Physician Assistant studies at Touro University in Henderson, Nev. He also practiced as a chiropractor for several years before going to school to become a physician assistant.
Awards & Honors: Douglas was an Eagle Scout and completed a Latter Day Saints mission to England.
Special Interests: Douglas has special medical interests in rural Alaska Family Medicine. He also enjoys flying airplanes (he is a private pilot), stream fishing for coho salmon, boating and spending time with his wife and three children.
Claire M. Reilly, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Education: Claire earned a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology and physician assistant medicine from the University of Washington in Seattle. She earned a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. Claire was in the U.S. Coast Guard and after leaving the service she worked for two years as a flight medic/EMT-3 for the SEARHC Air Medical Service. She joined the U.S. Army and worked as a physician assistant, and now is an instructor with the SEARHC Community Health Aide Training Center in Sitka.
Beverly A. "Bev" Rivard, LCSW, MA, MSW
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: Association of Social Work Boards and Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners.
Education: Bev holds a Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass. She also holds a Master of Social Work degree from Walla Walla University in College Place, Wash. Bev is a licensed clinical social worker who works as a behavioral health clinician with SEARHC's Gunaanastí Bill Brady Healing Center and Déilee Hít Safe Harbor House adult residential substance abuse treatment programs in Sitka. Before coming to Alaska, she was in private practice in Wyoming. She also has worked as an outpatient behavioral health clinician with Alaska Island Community Services in Wrangell.
Awards & Honors: Bev was an honor student throughout her academic career.
Special Interests: Bev has special behavioral health interests in the holistic approach to counseling and mental health therapy. She also has a special interest in co-occurring diagnosis clients and those with a history of trauma and abuse. She is a certified clinical hypnotherapist, writer and artist. She is interested in multicultural awareness. Bev participates in the Mountain Man Rendezvous in Sublette County, Wyo. She also speaks French.
Beveraly Rivard
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Profile coming soon
Destiny Sargeant, PhD
Behavioral Health, Psychology
Certification: Alaska Board of Psychologist and Psychological Assistant Examiners.
Education: Dr. Sargeant earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Alliant University in San Diego.
Awards & Honors: Award from Critical Incident Stress Foundation for work at Ground Zero following 9/11 incident.
Special Interests: Dr. Sargeant provides a full spectrum of psychological therapy. She has a special interest and expertise in trauma and critical incident stress management. She enjoys using eye movement desensitization reprocessing and thought field therapy to assist people who suffer from trauma.
Thomas P. "Pete" Ryan, LCSW
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners.
Education: Pete earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Lewis-Clark State College (now called Lewis-Clark State University) in Lewiston, Idaho, and a Master of Social Work degree from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Wash. Pete returned to SEARHC in 2011 after working the previous four years in children's mental health with Community Connections in Craig. Pete worked as a behavioral health clinician at the SEARHC Alicia Roberts Medical Center from 2005-07. Before that he worked with Idaho Child Protective Services. He also is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He is behavioral health clinician at the Alicia Roberts Medical Center and regional behavioral health supervisor for Prince of Wales Island.
Special Interests: Pete's clinical interests include domestic violence and child welfare. Pete provides services to individuals and families in all the individual communities of Prince of Wales Island. He has been an active participant in various island groups including HOPE (Helping Ourselves Prevent Emergencies) and the Prince of Wales Health Network.
Julie E. Schanno, Nurse Practitioner
Family Medicine/Women's Health
Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center on Certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and National Certification Corporation as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner.
Education: Julie earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Before moving to Sitka, she spent a year working as a nurse in dermatology and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles and 5 1/2 years in labor and delivery in Nashville, and she spent three years as a nurse practitioner working in internal medicine in Elizabeth City, N.C. She will be an instructor for the Community Health Aide Training Center in Sitka and will fill in as an on-call nurse practitioner at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital.
Special Interests: Julie's interests include women's health and health promotion/dis-ease prevention.
Marna L. Schwartz, MD
Pediatrics
Certification: American Board of Pediatrics.
Education: Dr. Schwartz earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston and she completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College in Williamston, Mass. Dr. Schwartz has worked as a pediatrician with the King County Department of Public Health in Seattle, in addition to serving as a pediatrician at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and at a number of other small private practices in western Washington. Prior to her career in medicine, Dr. Schwartz lived in Juneau and Anchorage. She said she's very happy to be back working in Alaska.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Schwartz is a Fellow in the American Academy of Pedi-atrics.
Special Interests: Dr. Schwartz is inteested in developmental pediatrics, adolescent health, infectious disease, and well-baby, child and teen health care. She also enjoys her family, reading, gardening and skiing.
Jessica R. Scott, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine.
Education: Dr. Scott earned her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle as part of the Alaska WWAMI program. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Scott completed her residency through the Alaska Family Medicine Residency program in Anchorage. She grew up in Kake and Juneau and is a Juneau-Douglas High School graduate.
Special Interests: Dr. Scott's medical interests include the full spectrum of Family Medicine. She also enjoys hiking, biking, fishing and spending time with her family. She is Tlingít, from the Raven moiety and Kaach.ádi (Frog) clan.
Janice Sheufelt, MD
Family Medicine
Certification: American Board of Family Medicine
Education: Dr. Sheufelt earned a medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, and she completed her residency in Family Medicine with the North Colorado Family Residency program in Greeley, Colo. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Washington. Dr. Sheufelt was worked as a family physician at the SEARHC Juneau Medical Center from 1997-2000, when she moved to Yakima, Wash., to be a physician and faculty member at the Central Washington Family Medical Center, a residency program run by the University of Washington. She returned to the SEARHC Ethel Lund Medical Center in 2004, when she was hired as medical director in Juneau. She became clinic administrator/medical director at the Ethel Lund Medical Center in Juneau.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Sheufelt participated in a faculty development fellowship run by the University of Washington Family Medicine Residency Network.
Special Interests: Dr. Sheufelt's medical interests include all areas of Family Medicine. Her personal interests include her family, competitive cycling, running, reading and knitting.
Donna L. Smith, MD
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Education: Dr. Smith earned her Medical Doctorate degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and she completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (now known as the Drexel University College of Medicine). She completed her undergraduate coursework at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. Before moving to Sitka, Dr. Smith spent 13 years in private practice and worked at PeaceHealth Ketchikan General Hospital in Ketchikan, and she spent three years with Davis Memorial Hospital in Elkins, W.V.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Smith is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society.
Special Interests: Dr. Smith's medical interests include quality women's health and her surgical interests include minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery and endometrial ablations. She also enjoys hiking, gardening and cooking.
Mandie L. Smith, DDS
Dentistry
Education: Dr. Smith earned her Doctor of Dental Science degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She also completed a two-year residency at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. in Bethel through Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Texas in Austin. Dr. Smith holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officer Corps, and she spent five years at YKHC in Bethel before moving to Sitka to work for SEARHC.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Smith was awarded the Indian Health Service's Excellence in Clinical Dentistry Award in 2005 and she has won several other U.S. Public Health Service awards.
Special Interests: Dr. Smith has medical interests in TMJ (temporomadibular joint) issues, complex medically compromised patients, complex restorative dentistry and pediatrics. She also enjoys hiking, fishing and enjoying her two young sons.
John D. Sohonage, DDS
Dentistry
Education: Dr. Sohonage earned his Doctorate of Dental Science degree from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry in Morgantown, W.V., and he completed a general practice residency at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Mount St. Mary's College (now University) in Emmitsburg, Md. Dr. Sohonage has worked at the IHS Kayenta Service Unit in Shonto, Ariz., at the Maniilaq Health Center in Kotzebue, and at the SEARHC Alicia Roberts Medical Center in Klawock, the SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka and the SEARHC Juneau Dental Clinic.
Special Interests: Dr. Sohonage enjoys partially completing home renovation projects.
Parcae K. Soule, LPC, CDC-2
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: State of Alaska (LPC), Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification (CDC-2)
Education: Parcae earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., and she earned a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling (MMHC) from Walden University. She holds Licensed Professional Counselor and Chemical Dependency Counselor 2 credentials from the State of Alaska.
Awards & Honors: Parcae is a member of the Walden Chapter of Psi Chi, an international honor society in psychology.
Special Interests: Parcae enjoys spending time outdoors. Parcae works as a behavioral health clinician with the Yéil Jeeyáx Raven's Way adolescent substance abuse treatment program.
Pamela Steffes, OD
Optometry
Education: Dr. Steffes earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Ore., and completed internships at Teplick Laser Center in Portland, Ore., and The Children's Eye Doctors in Redmond, Wash.
Awards & Honors: Fellow, American Academy of Optometry.
Special Interests: Dr. Steffes provides a full range of eye care services to patients of all ages, including diabetic eye exams, contact lens services, refractive surgery co-management and pediatric eye exams.
Carmen M. Sugai, MD
Behavioral Health, Psychiatry
Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Education: Dr. Sugai earned her Bachelor of Science degree in premedical studies and her Medical Doctorate degree from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. She completed a psychiatry residency at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J., and a child psychiatry fellowship at Tulane University in New Orleans, La. She spent several years in private practice in Louisiana, and also worked at the Louisiana State Hospital in Jackson and the Southeast Louisiana State Hospital in Mandeville. She worked at SEARHC in Sitka as a locums (traveling) provider from May to September 2010 and again from January to April 2011 before joining the permanent staff. Dr. Sugai is board certified in adult psychiatry and child psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Awards & Honors: Dr. Sugai is board certified in adult psychiatry and child psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Special Interests: Dr. Sugai's special medical interests include the evaluation of FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) and child psychiatry. She also enjoys quilting, hiking and drawing.
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Debra M. Terry, MS, LMHC, LPC
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Education: Debra has a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling degree from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and a Bachelor of Behavioral Science from Southern Adventist University of Collegedale, Tenn. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida and an Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Alaska. She also is a certified supervisor in Florida and a certified hypnotist. Before moving to Alaska to work at the SEARHC Haa Toowóo Náakw Hít outpatient behavioral health clinic in Sitka, Debra spent 20 years in private practice in Orlando, Fla., was a clinical supervisor of a sexual trauma center, and she developed a trauma training center in refugee camps in the Middle East.
Special Interests: Debra's specialties are trauma, couples counseling and dissociative disorders. Her medical interests include brain psychology, the effect of trauma and dissociative disorders. She enjoys traveling, new experiences, riding her motorcycle, swimming with manatees and spending time with her family.
Gail Tharpe-Lucero, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants
Education: Gail attended MEDEX Northwest, the University of Washington School of Medicine's Physician Assistant Program. Gail was a Community Health Aide/Practitioner in Angoon before she earned her physician assistant certification. After earning her physician assistant certification, Gail returned to Angoon as a midlevel provider. In 2006 she moved to the SEARHC Front Street Clinic to work with Juneau's homeless population, and in 2011 Gail moved to Sitka to take a job as an instructor at SEARHC's Community Health Aide Training Center.
Awards & Honors: Gail was awarded the 2004 Barbara Gunter-Flynn Underserved Award, which honors students from MEDEX Northwest's Spokane or Yakima satellite training sites who demonstrate a commitment to improving access to health care, public awareness of the profession and a commitment to the needs of the medically underserved. She received the 1999 Southeast Region EMS Clinical Provider of the Year Award for her volunteer service and clinical care while working as a CHP in Angoon. She was awarded a 2007 National Health Service Corps Certificate in appreciation for her service to America's underserved communities as a member of the NHSC. She also shared in a 2005 National Director's Award from the Indian Health Service for her work on the committee that rewrote the Alaska Community Health Aide Manual.
Special Interests: Gail is interested in providing health care to underserved populations, with an emphasis in healthy lifestyle education and preventive medicine.
Sul Ross "SR" O. Thorward, MD
Psychiatry
Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (also serves as an examiner in general psychiatry for this organization).
Education: Dr. Thorward earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Texas in Austin. Dr. Thorward completed an internship at Providence Hospital in Seattle and a psychiatric residency at Northwestern University in Chicago. In his more than 30 years as a psychiatrist and health care administrator, Dr. Thorward has served as a unit director of San Antonio State Hospital in Texas; director of outpatient and short-term services for Harding Hospital in Columbus, Ohio; chief of behavioral health at Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, Wash.; president and CEO of Harding Hospital; administrative director for the Ohio State University-Harding Hospital after the hospital's merger with the university; a psychiatrist for the Ohio Department of Mental Health; and a member of the Board of Trustees for OSU-Harding Hospital.
Awards & Honors: In 2008, Dr. Thorward received the Exemplerary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI). He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a three-time winner of the Outstanding Faculty award from The Ohio State University.
Special Interests: Dr. Thorward's medical interests are community health systems, advocacy for mental health and health care financing. His personal interests include the Seventh Day Adventist Church, photography, hiking, theater and fishing.
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David Vastola, MD
Pediatrics
Certification: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Education: Dr. Vastola earned a medical degree from and completed a residency at the University of Connecticut.
Special Interests: Dr. Vastola enjoys adolescent medicine and developmental pediatrics.
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Michael E. Walker, MD
Diagnostic Radiology
Certification: American Board of Radiology.
Education: Dr. Walker earned his medical degree from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, Calif., and did his internship and residency at Loma Linda Medical Center. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Union College (Lincoln, Neb.). Dr. Walker was in private radiology practice in Casper, Wyo., for 25 years before coming to Sitka.
Special Interests: Dr. Walker is interested in all areas of diagnostic radiology. He also enjoys travel, hunting, fishing and gardening.
Benjamin S. Warren, DMD
Dentistry
Education: Dr. Warren earned his doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in Lexington, and he completed a general practice residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., and a Master of Business Administration degree from Marshall University in Huntington, W.V. Dr. Warren has worked short stints as a dentist in Kodiak, Alaska, and Kathmandu, Nepal.
Awards & Honors: While at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Warren earned a Dean's Scholarship and the Dan Seaver Scholarship.
Special Interests: Dr. Warren's medical interests include oral medicine, dental genetic abnormalities and implantology. He also enjoys travel, cooking, music, outdoor activities such as kayaking, running and biking, and SEARHC's laid-back atmosphere.
Bruce Weeks, MD
Behavioral Health, Psychiatry
Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry
Education: Dr. Weeks earned a medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, N.Y.). He completed a psychiatry residency and a geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Montefiore Hospital (Bronx, N.Y.).
Gary M. Weglarz, LCSW, CDC-1
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Certification: Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners (LCSW), Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification (CDC-1)
Education: Gary earned a Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in mental health from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M. He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. Prior to joining SEARHC in Juneau, Gary worked as a behavioral health clinician with the North Slope Borough in Barrow and with Chugachmiut Inc. in Port Graham. He also worked in hospice care and with veterans in Montana.
Special Interests: Gary's medical interests include trauma healing, substance abuse recovery, culture and healing, and working with grief and loss. His personal interests include fly fishing, guitar (Brazilian music), hiking, canoeing/kayaking, cross-country skiing and reading.
Kurt Welser, Physician Assistant
Primary Care
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Education: Kurt earned a degree from the University of Washington.
Special Interests: Kurt has a particular interest in rural health care. Kurt provides intermittant/on-call medical services to the community of Klawock.
Rand West, PsyD
Behavioral Health, Psychologist
Certification: Alaska Board of Psychologist and Psychological Assistant Examiners.
Education: Dr. West earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University New England in Keene, N.H. He completed his psychology residency at Washington State University and the Eastern State Hospital Forensic Ward in Spokane, Wash. He spent two years in New York state teaching, training and supervising trauma therapists. Before becoming a psychologist, Dr. West worked as an ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service and was based in the Tongass National Forest for 15 years. He holds a Master of Science degree in soil science and ecology from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and psychology from Miami University in Miami, Ohio.
Awards & Honors: Dr. West won the Governor's Award for Program Excellence in 2002 for the Trauma Survivor's Resource Center in New York City. As an ecologist, Dr. West won an Outstanding Performance Evaluation for Sustained Superior Performance in 1994 while working at the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forest in Colorado and he won a Sustained Superior Performance award in 1992 while working in the Chatham Area of the Tongass National Forest. He is a member of the Gamma Sigma Delta intercollegiate agricultural honorary society at The Ohio State University.
Special Interests: In addition to coordinating SEARHC's telebehavioral health program, Dr. West has special interests in psychological trauma, psychoanalytic psychology and eco-psychology. He also is interested in the impact of culture on people and, reciprocally, the impact of people on nature. He also enjoys the integration of indigenous and western healing arts.
Kathleen H. Wescott, MA
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Education: Kathleen holds a Master of Arts degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of San Diego. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in recreation therapy and public administration from San Diego State University. She worked as a clinical intern with the Veterans Administration Health Care Family Mental Health Clinic in La Jolla, Calif., providing marriage and couple's counseling. She also worked as a clinical intern with the VA's Wellness and Vocational Enrichment Clinic (WAVE program), providing alcohol and substance abuse intake, and individual counseling. She served as a volunteer coordinator with San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care, spent 15 years as community social services director with the American Red Cross in San Diego, and was director of education and family services at the Parkinson's Association of San Diego.
Awards & Honors: Kathleen won a TWIN (Tribute to Women and Industry) in 2003 from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and she also won an American Red Cross Manager/Leadership Award.
Special Interests: Kathleen has a special behavioral health interest in working with individuals with dual diagnosis, alcohol and substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans, and couples/families. She also enjoys spending time hiking with her spouse, enjoying her young grandson and adult children, walking her golden retrievers, swimming and Zumba.
Mitchell R. Wilkinson, DDS
Prosthodontics
Education: Dr. Wilkinson earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the Texas A&M Health Science/Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, where he also completed his residency in prosthodontics. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Texas Permian Basin in Odessa. He earned a Master of Science degree in oral biology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Dr. Wilkinson spent 17 years in private practice in Austin, Texas, and two years as hospital prosthodontist for Smith and White Hospital in Temple, Texas. He also has been an assistant professor of surgery at the Texas A&M Health Science Center/Baylor College of Medicine.
Awards & Honors: In 1988, Dr. Wilkinson won a Munksgaard International Publishers Award for an article, "Treatment of the Geriatric Patient."
Special Interests: Dr. Wilkinson's med-ical interests include maxillofacial prosthetics, treatment of pre- and post-radiation head and neck cancer patients, implants, partials, dentures, fixed bridgework and research. He also enjoys horses, saddle-making (Native American and Western), archery and the guitar.
Brett E. Wilcox, MEd, LPC, CDC II
Behavioral Health, Clinician
Education: Brett has a Masters of Education degree in educational psychology with a rehabilitation counseling emphasis from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature with a Spanish minor from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and he has an Associate of Science degree in computer science from Weber State. He holds licenses from the State of Alaska as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Certified Dependency Counselor II (CDC II) and an Approved Counselor Supervisor for Professional Counselors.
Special Interests: Brett's specialties are batterers' intervention and adolescent substance abuse. He is treatment supervisor for the SEARHC Yéil Jeeyáx Raven's Way adolescent substance abuse treatment program. In his spare time, Brett enjoys his family, health, nutrition, exercise, longevity, language, culture and travel.
Shirley Workman, Nurse Practitioner
Behavioral Health, Psychiatric Nursing
Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Education: Shirley earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Akron in Ohio. She has more than 30 years experience in psychiatric nursing, including six years in Kotzebue with the Maniilaq Health Center.
Awards & Honors: Shirley won a Veterans Administration Hands and Heart Award.
Special Interests: Shirley's medical interests include the holistic approach in improving mental health across the adult lifespan. She specializes in adult psychiatric mental health nursing, and she has extensive experience in treating patients with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.
Jerry Wright, MD
Radiology
Certification: American Board of Radiology
Education: Dr. Wright earned a medical degree from the University of Colorado in Denver, completed a residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin at Milwau- kee and completed an internship at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
Special Interests: Dr. Wright enjoys all areas of radiology.
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Iola Young, Physician Assistant
Family Medicine
Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Education: Iola earned a degree from the University of Colorado.
Jon Zarley, MD
Internal Medicine
Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine
Education: Dr. Zarley earned a medical degree at the University of Iowa. He completed a residency and internship at the University of Virginia.
Special Interests: Dr. Zarley is particularly interested in cardiology and intensive care.