Volume XIII No. 4 • April 15, 2008 Gathering story, pictures and priorities, start on page 5 Paningayaq Dyment and Canaar Charlie from Angass’aq Samson’s kindergarten class at Ayaprun Elitnaruvik salute for the Pledge of Allegiance at the Tribal Gathering’s opening ceremonies. Photo by Michael Faubion. INSIDE: Future Nurse, p. 3 • Smile Style, p. 11 • Blackhawk Rescue, p. 16 Volume XIII No. 4 • April 15, 2008 YKHC Board of Directors Unit 1 Unit 5 Raymond F. Waska, Sr. Bill Kristovich Chuloonawick Kotlik Unit 11 P.O. Box 46 P.O. Box 1037 Emmonak Billmore Slough Alakanuk Hamilton R Emmonak, Alaska 99581 Bethel, Alaska 99559 Grayling E Nunam I V Iqua Unit 1 R 907-949-1514 907-543-4151/2212 O McGrath Anvik K Paula Ayunerak Henry Hunter, Sr. Mountain Village Shageluk O St. MaryÕs N Scammon N Paimute I P.O. Box 5 P.O. Box 632 Bay PitkaÕs Andreafski Point Chevak Pilot Station Alakanuk, Alaska 99554 Bethel, Alaska 99559 Hooper Bay Holy Cross Marshall YUKON RIVER 907-238-3212 907-543-7963 Unit 9 Unit 2 Russian Mission Ohogomuit Crooked Creek Georgetown Gloria Simeon Upper Kalskag Aniak Stony River Unit 2 Unit 6 Lower Chuathbaluk Newtok Red P.O. Box 308 Kalskag Napaimute Sleetmute Ray Alstrom Unit 8 KUSKOKWIM RIVERDevil Bethel, Alaska 99559 Nunapitchuk Tuluksak Tununak Kasigluk R Akiak E P.O. Box 8 Mekoryuk Toksook BayAtmautluak Bethel Unit 3 907-543-5676 Umkumuit Akiachak Unit 4 I V Lime Village Nightmute Napakiak Kwethluk R Marshall, Alaska 99585 Oscarville A Joseph C. Bavilla Napaskiak N Unit 5 T 907-679-6320 I P.O. Box 6011 Chefornak Tuntutuliak L James C. Landlord Eek Unit 10 O Napaskiak, Alaska 99559 Kipnuk H P.O. Box 32168 Kongiganak 907-737-7665 Unit 7 Kwigillingok Mt. Village, AK 99632 Quinhagak 907-591-2531 Unit 6 Unit 3 Esai Twitchell, Jr. P.O. Box 121 Goodnews Bay Wayne Morgan Kasigluk, Alaska 99609 Platinum P.O. Box 234 907-477-6309 Aniak, Alaska 99557 907-675-4264 Unit 7 Unit 9 Unit 11 George S. Morgan David O. David Elmer G. Simon Kathy W. Chase P.O. Box 54 PO Box 78 P.O. Box 64 P.O. Box 41 Upper Kalskag, Alaska 99607 Kwigillingok, Alaska 99622 Hooper Bay, Alaska 99604 Holy Cross, Alaska 99602 907-471-2490 907-588-8484 907-758-4109 907-476-7162 Unit 4 Unit 8 Seat Vacant Honorary Board Member James Nicori James R. Charlie, Sr. Unit 10 Paul John P.O. Box 41 P.O. Box 37012 Sam W. Alexie P.O. Box 37067 Kwethluk, Alaska 99621 Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637 P.O. Box 57 Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637 907-757-6837 907-427-7114 Eek, Alaska 99578 907-427-74l4 Moses Peter James Sipary 907-536-5428 P.O. Box 57 P.O. Box 37134 Tuluksak, Alaska 99679 Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637 907- 695-6426 907- 427-7816 Numbers to Call YKHC Main Operator ..................................................543-6000 Subregional Clinic Appointments Toll Free .........................................................1-800-478-3321 Aniak .........................................................................675-4556 Public Relations ............................................................543-6038 Emmonak ..................................................................949-3500 Media Services .............................................................543-6030 St. Mary’s ..................................................................438-3500 Offi ce of Environmental Health & Engineering .............543-6420 Toksook Bay..............................................................427-3500 Technology Help Desk ..................................................543-6070 Public Health Nursing ...................................................543-2110 Human Resources ........................................................543-6060 Pharmacy .....................................................................543-6382 Administration ...............................................................543-6020 Travel Management Center ..........................................543-6360 Hospital.........................................................................543-6300 WIC Program ................................................................543-6459 Emergency Room .........................................................543-6395 Health Services ...........................................................543-6024 Hospital Community Relations .....................................543-6350 Village Operations ........................................................543-6160 Social Services .............................................................543-6225 CHAP ........................................................................543-6160 Family Medicine Clinic Appointments ...........................543-6442 ICEMS .......................................................................543-6080 1-800-478-3321 Community Health & Wellness .................................543-6190 Dental Appointments ....................................................543-6229 Behavioral Health Services ..........................................543-6100 Optometry Appointments ..............................................543-6336 Phillips Ayagnirvik .....................................................543-6700 Audiology Appointments ...............................................543-6466 Village Services ........................................................543-6740 Home Care Services ....................................................543-6170 2 Volume XIII No. 4 • April 15, 2008 YKHC Board High school & Committee student Meetings takes 2008 up-close April 22 Finance Committee look at April 23–25 Semi-Annual Full Board Meeting nursing May 27 Finance Committee career May 27–28 Hospital Governing Body Nikki Pollock is a student who loves science... August 19 Finance Committee She is the daughter of Helen Kinegak of Bethel and Nick Pollock from Nunn, Colo- rado. She is one of eight local high school students participating in job shadow expe- August 20–21 riences at YKHC this year. Executive Board “I love to help and meet people,” said Pollock. “I wanted to see what it would be like being a nurse.” September 23 Finance Committee Pollock shadowed Donna Hutcherson, RN, for several months at Obstetrics (OB) to see the nursing profession up-close in a clinical setting. “It was great,” said Pollock. September 23–24 “I met so many new, interesting people and got a lot of new information.” Hospital Governing Body Obstetrics Nurse Manager Tania Thomas, RN, said the OB staff enjoyed having Pol- lock at their unit. “Nikki was like a sponge absorbing information,” said Thomas. “She October TBA (@AFN) really raised our expectations of what having a student here meant. Her passion to Finance Committee & be useful inspired us to invest our time and knowledge in her. We worked hard to Executive Board expose her to as many experiences as we could.” November 18 Pollock concluded her shadow in December to start pre-nursing college courses at Finance Committee KuC and to complete her fulltime studies at Bethel Regional High School. In addition to college and high school studies, Pollock is also involved in the RRANN program November 19–21 (Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives in Nursing) as a pre-nursing student. Full Board of Directors “I’ve learned from job shadowing at OB that nurses are the fundamentals of the unit, they’re a very important aspect of keeping things running smoothly,” said Pollock. “I December 16 got fi rsthand experience in what my future holds for me.” Finance Committee The Messenger is produced by the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation’s Public Relations Department as a report to Tribal Members. It is published monthly on-line Look for the next Messenger Quarterly at www.ykhc.org/messenger and printed quarterly. For questions, comments, submis- sion of articles, or subscription information, write to Public Relations Senior Editor, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, P.O. Box 528, Bethel, Alaska 99559; to arrive in your mailbox June 15 or call 907-543-6035. E-mail: [email protected]. Deadline is the last day of the month preceding publication. Publication is on the 15th of every month. Anchorage Office: 4700 Business Park Blvd. Suite E25, An- The Messenger is published monthly online at chorage, Alaska 99503. 907-677-2232. Please ask permission to reprint www.ykhc.org/messenger articles or pictures. © 2008, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. 3 Volume XIII No. 4 • April 15, 2008 A Future Free of Diabetes Annette Coyle tests Board Member Bill Kristovich’s blood glucose at Tribal Gathering. Photo by Danielle Dizon. By Annette Coyle, RD LD, Clinical Diabetes Educator The theme of this year’s Tribal Unity Gathering was “Our Chil- feeling very tired, and losing weight without trying. Dark skin on dren – Their Future.” We hope that our children’s future will be the neck or under the arms is also a warning sign. If you have one free of type 2 diabetes. However, as Michael Steele said, any of these risk factors or signs, make an appointment at your “Without action, hope passively waits on others to solve prob- local health clinic for a blood glucose screening. lems. Without action, hope looks to next year instead of doing Kids can lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by eating the hard work required today. Without action, hope is powerless traditional Native foods, whole grains, and lots of fresh, frozen or to transform lives.” canned vegetables and fruits. Limiting Kool-aid, soda pop, candy As community leaders, elders, teachers, health care profes- and junk food will help kids maintain a healthy weight. Most sionals, parents, grandparents and friends, what can we do to