PRESORTED STANDARD Volume 12, Issue 2 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Page 1 April-June 2009 PERMIT NO. 630 Mukluk ANCHORAGE, AK Telegraph A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE CUSTOMER-OWNERS OF THE ALASKA NATIVE TRIBAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM Division of Second annual Raven’s Ball a triumph Inside … Environmental Health and Tribal leaders surveyed on Native health priori- Engineering ties puts stimulus Page 2 funds to work Alaska eHealth Network By Andrew Gildersleeve improves Alaska health- care infrastructure The American Recovery and Page 3 Reinvestment Act’s $787 billion stimulus package is helping the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium move toward our vision that Alaska Natives are the healthiest people in the world. The Raven's Ball, a gala event to benefit ANTHC’s Healthy Alaska Natives More than $60 million in Foundation, was an enormous success. Above, celebrity guest and Tlingit stimulus funds are poised to ben- storyteller Gene Tagaban performs a dance in raven regalia. See the story efit health facilities and rural san- and more photos on Pages 4-5. Photo by Wayde Carroll. itation projects statewide. Of that figure, ANTHC recently received benefit important projects that have ture are underway. Center for Climate and the go-ahead on roughly $40 mil- been stalled by coverage gaps in Dixon is optimistic about Health established lion in water and sewer sanitation state and federal regulations. “This receiving the funds soon. “We’ve Page 5 projects. allows us to fund and build projects been tracking this since it was in “Our focus is moving quickly that otherwise would have been committee,” he said. “Now we on projects that are shovel- years away,” says Dixon. are moving forward.” ready,” said Matt Dixon, Director One such project is in Kipnuk, ANTHC and DEHE are put- of Operations for ANTHC’s located on the Yukon-Kuskokwim ting stimulus funding to use all Division of Environmental Health Delta about 85 miles from Bethel. A across Alaska — from Hoonah to and Engineering (DEHE). “That bureaucratic glitch left Kipnuk on Ft. Yukon and beyond — build- means designs have been com- the outside looking in when it came ing safer, healthier communities pleted, everything’s ready to go to clean water and sewer improve- for the people we serve. and we can hire people and start ments. But now, thanks to stimulus ANTHC’s Dr. McMahon building.” funding, water and sewer upgrades Andrew Gildersleeve is a honored for advancement The funding also stands to to the core community infrastruc- Technical Writer for DEHE. of Hepatitis science, medicine Page 6 New Administrator brings experience, leadership to ANMC The Alaska Native Medical development, implementation of Center is pleased to announce quality driven programs, and that Interim Administrator Dan achieving strong operations and Neumeister, FACHE (Fellow of financial results. Before he came to the American College of ANMC, he was the CEO for Enloe Healthcare Executives), has just Medical Center in Chico, Calif., agreed to come onboard perma- where he also served as System nently as the Administrator for Senior Vice President and Chief Division of Environmen- tal Health and Engineer- ANMC. Operating Officer. ing brings better water to Neumeister began working As CEO of Enloe Medical Saxman for the Alaska Native Tribal Center, he led a 391-bed regional Health Consortium in January. non-profit medical center that pro- Page 7 Dan Neumeister His background includes exten- vided tertiary, Level II trauma, psy- sive experience in consulting chiatric and rehabilitation services bilitation, behavioral health, and and executive management for across three campuses, with $270 ANTHC brings suicide patient safety. healthcare organizations. million in net revenue, 330 medical prevention messages to Neumeister’s other experience the airwaves Throughout his 25 years of staff, 2,200 employees and 800 vol- includes Vice President of Sales Page 8 hospital leadership, Neumeister unteers. During his tenure, Enloe and Marketing, Acquisitions of has specialized in organization- Medical Center was recognized for See on Page 3 al change, physician and board excellence in cardiac, cancer, reha- Administrator Page 2 Mukluk Telegraph April-June 2009 Voice of the People Tribal leaders surveyed on Native health priorities What’s your springtime tradition? “Cleaning the yard Research department reorganizes to meet needs and washing the of Natives, healthcare providers car.” – Agnes Beans Palmer By Emily Wilder tribal organizations in the Lower “I look forward to When it comes to Native health, 48. Yet recent staff turnover led getting out, doing the people who know what kind of Gilbert and his team to examine some hiking. I research the Alaska Native Tribal the organization of the research look forward to hunting. I do bead- Health Consortium should focus department and see where efforts work and Native on are the Alaska Native people could be streamlined. American artwork, themselves. To that effect, ANTHC reorga- Agnes Beans and I get ready to sell it to the tour- That’s why ANTHC’s Division nized its research team into the ists.” of Community Health Services Clinical and Research Services – Frank Hobson II (DCHS), in a recent survey, asked Department. Janet M. Johnston, Copper Center/ tribal leaders what they think our Tazlina former Senior Epidemiologist with health research priorities should the Alaska Native Epidemiology Frank Hobson II “We get prepared be. Center, is ANTHC’s new Health for whaling. My “It was part of a national, Research Director. Her job is to brother has a whaling crew, so Indian Country–wide effort to work with partners on research we send supplies define what the health research projects that reduce health dispari- to help. We also go priorities were among American ties related to chronic diseases, geese hunting every spring. Indians and Alaska Natives,” said and to address other health con- Everything is DCHS Director Tim Gilbert. cerns important to Alaska Native shared.” The 50 Alaska tribal health people — like the ones the tribal – Arlene Thomas Barrow leaders who were surveyed tended leaders identified in the survey. to agree that cancer concerns easi- The goal is to conduct research Arlene Thomas “Cleaning up the ly top the list. Among those con- that meets two requirements: that whole house.” cerns are screening and early iden- it counts toward not only what our – Robert Beans Palmer tification, treatment, rural access, doctors and nurses need to know, causes and prevention. but what the people say they need. “I mostly get ready Robert Beans Following cancer concerns, the “We’re trying to ensure the for summer — I do other top health research priorities research we carry out falls into a lot of work before the summer comes. are chronic disease management what tribal leaders say is impor- I’m an artist — I (especially diabetes and cardiovas- tant, and that it’s useful to our paint, and carve cular diseases), prevention (such providers — that it’s affecting pol- ivory and soap- stone.” as tobacco and drug use, suicide icy or a standard of care delivery,” – Thomas Lisbourne and domestic violence), behavioral Gilbert said. Point Hope health (like substance abuse and Results from the health priori- Thomas Lisbourne mental health), elder care and oral ties survey will soon be available health. at www.anthc.org/cs/chs. Joel Neimeyer named Grantmaker of the Year ANTHC enjoys excellent research capacity — we’re fortu- Emily Wilder is a Program Joel Neimeyer has been named Neimeyer is a Commander in nate in that regard, Gilbert said, Manager with the ANTHC recipient of the Louis T. Delgado the U.S. Public Health Service especially when compared to other Marketing Department. Distinguished Grantmaker Award Commissioned Corps. He is for 2009, for his successful work on assigned to the Rasmuson housed at ANTHC, trains and certi- understand the Dental Health Aide Therapist Foundation through a unique per- fies mid-level oral health providers community program. sonnel agreement with the Alaska who return to their own rural needs and The award, granted by Native Native Tribal Health Consortium Alaska communities to practice. effectively Americans in Philanthropy, recog- and the Indian Health Service. In her nomination of Neimeyer, communicate nizes those who work to cultivate Neimeyer was instrumental in Rasmuson Foundation President about issues understanding between indigenous the 2001 statewide rural dental care Diane Kaplan described him as a regarding proj- communities and mainstream phi- needs assessment that resulted in philanthropy professional who ect viability lanthropy, and who work to encour- the creation of the Dental Health “demonstrates an understanding of and sustainabil- age philanthropic investment in Aide Therapist program. The both cultural tradition and modern ity.” Joel Neimeyer those communities. extremely successful program, infrastructure in his ability to Letters Editorial Staff The to the Editor Mukluk Telegraph Readers of the Mukluk Telegraph Joaqlin Estus are encouraged to comment on Public Communications Director The Mukluk Telegraph is the official newsletter of the Alaska Native subjects covered in the newsletter. Emily Wilder Tribal Health Consortium. It is published quarterly and distributed to Your opinions may be shared with Program Manager patients, employees and associates of ANTHC statewide. readers of subsequent issues of the Mukluk. Letters may be edited Brandy Dixon 4000 Ambassador Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508 for length, taste and clarity. We will PR Manager,