Author: Ahliil Saitanan

Wasilla, Alaska – Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) president and CEO Elizabeth Ripley is taking a sabbatical from July 1 through October 31. This is made possible by the Rasmuson Foundation Sabbatical Program and with the support of the Mat-Su Health Foundation Board of Directors and talented staff.  She has led the foundation since 2008 and is looking forward to returning on November 1. During the sabbatical she hopes to spend more time with her husband, children, first grandchild and parents, as well as relaxing on various trips including rafting the Colorado River.

During Ripley’s absence, MSHF CFO Chris Emond will serve as Acting President and CEO. Chief Communications Officer Robin Minard and Vice President of Programs Karen Koenemann will represent MSHF more broadly out in the community and across the state. Karen will represent the foundation at the programmatic level. Robin will handle all media relations, public affairs, government relations, and external communications in coordination with the leadership team.

Wasilla, Alaska – The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has welcomed three new members to its Board of Directors: Tammy Bruce, Marisa Chud and Dr. Barb Doty.

Tammy Bruce joined the MSHF Board of Directors in June 2021. Born and raised in Alaska, she brings with her more than 10 years of experience working in finance with Edward Jones, as well as a history of working in marketing with the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tammy previously served as the president and has been a member of the Palmer Rotary Club for 20 years. In addition, she was the lieutenant governor for District 5010, as well as served on the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for three years and the MTA Board of Directors for four years in the past. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1998.

Marisa Chud joined the MSHF board in June 2021. She not only has experience working in the nonprofit realm with the YWCA, but also has 6 years of professional experience working in the legal field in various capacities. Marisa began as a law clerk at the Palmer Superior Courthouse and presently works as an attorney with Denali Law Group. She serves on committees at Northgate Alaska, and has previously volunteered with Triumphant Mercy, a center for refugees in Beirut, Lebanon, as well as Catholic Social Services. Marisa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from the University of Missouri Kansas City in 2008 and earned her Juris Doctor from New England Law Boston in 2013.

Dr. Barb Doty is a board certified family physician who has completed fellowships in Medical Education and Faculty Development, Acupuncture, Integrative Medicine and Rural Health. She joined the MSHF board in June 2021. Barb has more than 40 years of experience studying, contributing to and working in healthcare. She is presently a WWAMI-Alaska assistant clinical dean with the University of Washington School of Medicine. Barb is currently a member of the Mat-Su College Advisory Board and has served different groups in many capacities in the past including as Board Chair for Mat-Su Behavioral Health, assembly member for the Mat-Su Borough and as a federal appointee on the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Washington State University in 1977 and has since attended many educational programs at a range of institutions including the University of Washington, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the University of Colorado and the University of Arizona.

At the same board meeting where the new members were elected, board officers were named. Lebron McPhail was chosen to continue in his role as chair. Lisa Wade was selected to serve as vice-chair and Teri Namtvedt for the role of secretary-treasurer.

Service on the Mat-Su Health Foundation Board of Directors is on a volunteer basis. Interested Mat-Su residents may apply through a process that includes a written application and interview. Board members serve an initial three-year term, and each term may be renewed for two additional three-year terms. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org/about/board-of-directors.

Wasilla, Alaska – The Mat-Su Borough School District (MSBSD) Health Advisory Team (HAT) has been recognized with the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s (MSHF) Bert Hall Award for Commitment to the Health of the Community. The “Bertie” is an annual award presented to an individual or organization that consistently exemplifies commitment to working at the systems level to improve the health and wellness of Mat-Su residents. This year is the first it has been awarded to a team rather than an individual. The HAT was chosen for this honor because of their exceptional to commitment to community health which made allowing in-person instruction in the Mat-Su without significant COVID-19 spread possible.

The group of nearly a dozen HAT members, comprised of district administrators, community health members, a local physician and a public health nurse liaison, established operational zones and created pandemic-necessary protocols such as conducting classroom investigations, providing transportation, creating indoor foot traffic routes, disinfectant processes and the handling of extra-curricular activities. The team also set up contact trace training for school nurses to help alleviate a bottleneck of investigations delaying family notifications and school re-openings. Because of their tireless collaborative efforts, all 46 schools in the MSBSD were able to stay functional most of the year.

“The Mat-Su Borough School District’s HAT kept Mat-Su youth and teachers healthy and in school during a pandemic that shuttered schools across the globe,” said MSHF President and CEO Elizabeth Ripley. “This was uncharted territory, but they found a way through extraordinary effort that involved high-level collaboration and communications, dedication to science and data analysis and focus on a solution-based approach. They spent their evenings and weekends after working long days to track cases, maneuver challenges and communicate with staff, students and families—heroic work resulting in a huge win for our families, kids and community.”

The Bert Hall Award is named in honor of Mat-Su resident Bert Hall who helped put together the Valley Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and has been a Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Trustee. Bert has also served Alaska in many other capacities, including as a Mat-Su Regional Medical Center board member, associate director of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services, director of Health and Social Services for the Municipality of Anchorage and as the Alaska liaison to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Bert has been president of the Alaska Public Health Association, represented Alaska on the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association and served on the Alaska Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

MSBSD Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani accepted the award this year on behalf of the HAT. Other members of the team included Luke Fulp, deputy superintendent; Justin Ainsworth, MSBSD associate superintendent; Reese Everett, associate superintendent; DeeDee Hanes, associate superintendent; Jillian Morrissey, public information officer; Katherine Gardner, executive director of human resources/payroll; Katherine Ellsworth, executive director of federal programs; Dan Molina, executive director of student support services; Rhonda Lackey, districtwide nurse; Justin Michaud, IT supervisor; Dr. Anne Zink, State of Alaska Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Joseph McLaughlin, State Epidemiologist; Dr. Elizabeth Ohlsen, State of Alaska staff physician, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS); Debra Golden, State of Alaska perinatal nurse consultant; Dr. Therese Thomasoski, pediatrician for Ptarmigan Pediatrics; Karrin Parker, RN, DHSS Public Health nurse consultant; Renee Dillow, RN, DHSS Public Health nurse; Bridget Roughneen, RN, DHSS Public Health nurse manager.

Previous Bert Hall Award recipients include Kimberly Schlosser (2020), Lt. Tom Dunn (2019), Rachel Greenberg (2018), Bill Hogan (2017), Herman Thompson (2016), Margaret Volz (2015), Craig Thorn (2014) and Bert Hall himself (2013).

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About Mat-Su health Foundation: Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital to protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution. The MSHF mission is to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su and the tools it uses include grantmaking, convening of local partners, and policy change. The foundation’s work has resulted in significant improvements in systems that support the health of Mat-Su residents in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce development, transportation, housing, and senior services. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org.

Wasilla, Alaska – Executive Director of Sunshine Transit, Kim Schlosser, has been recognized with the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s Bert Hall Award for Commitment to the Health of the Community. The “Bertie” is an annual award presented to an individual who consistently exemplifies commitment to working at the systems level to improve the health and wellness of Mat-Su residents. Schlosser was chosen for this honor because of her work to leverage transportation services in the Upper Su region of Mat-Su, resulting in improvements to health and wellbeing of community members.

“We are proud to honor Kim Schlosser and her incredible dedication to keeping inclusivity and equity at the forefront of her work in the Mat-Su,” said Mat-Su Health Foundation CEO Elizabeth Ripley. “Under her leadership there has been significant expansion in Sunshine Transit’s services, leading to improved access to healthcare, afterschool programs, food security, senior services, social connections, and other safety net services.”

Schlosser has been an active participant in the Mat-Su Central Dispatch pilot project with an interest in not only increasing efficiency, but also providing the best possible experience for riders. Routes are now aligned so that Upper Su residents can seamlessly use public transportation to access services in Mat-Su’s core area and Anchorage, and the transit is a certified Medicaid route provider. Schlosser has also led Sunshine Transit to assist nonprofits with safe shuttle options during vital fundraisers, accommodate delivery of groceries and supplies to residents sheltering in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, and temporarily repurpose its fleet of vehicles to transport first responder hotshot crews to wildfires.

Prior to working with Sunshine Transit, Schlosser’s varied background included time in the veterinary, machine and tool, and aerospace industries. She earned associate degrees at Northcentral Technical College and Argosy University and has completed The Foraker Group’s Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence courses, as well as the Triple Impact Leadership program. She serves on the board of directors of Upper Susitna Seniors, Inc.

The Bert Hall Award is named in honor of Mat-Su resident Bert Hall, who helped put together the Valley Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and has been a Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Trustee. Bert has also served Alaska in many other capacities, including as a Mat-Su Regional Medical Center board member, associate director of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services, director of Health and Social Services for the Municipality of Anchorage, and as the Alaska liaison to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Bert has been president of the Alaska Public Health Association, represented Alaska on the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association, and served on the Alaska Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

Previous Bert Hall Award recipients include Lt. Tom Dunn (2019), Rachel Greenberg (2018), Bill Hogan (2017), Herman Thompson (2016), Margaret Volz (2015), Craig Thorn (2014), and Bert Hall himself (2013).

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Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital to protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution. The MSHF mission is to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su and the tools it uses include grantmaking, convening of local partners, and policy change. The foundation’s work has resulted in significant improvements in systems that support the health of Mat-Su residents in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce development, transportation, housing, and senior services. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org.