Alaska Primary Care Association
Awards
The Alaska Primary Care Association is proud to recognize community health leadership and accomplishment through two annual recognition programs.
The annual Alaska Health Center Super Stars event recognizes health center staff who go above and beyond in serving their patients and community. Nominations for this program are open during the summer and awarded in conjunction with National Community Health Center Week.
APCA’s annual Health Center Awards focus on leadership in advocacy, clinical practice, and innovation. Its highest awards recognize lifetime achievement and emerging leadership. Nominations for this program are open in the fall and awarded in conjunction with APCA’s annual membership meeting.
2024 Health Center Super Stars
Danelle Shellikoff
Case Manager/EHR Specialist
Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association
Janeen Kairaiuak
Behavioral Health Office Administrator
Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association
Angelica Gould
Referral Coordinator
Anchorage Neighborhood Community Health Center
Joseph Mongold
Social Worker/Navigator
Anchorage Neighborhood Community Health Center
Shadi Rabi
Operations Director
Bethel Family Clinic
Matthew Lorenz
EMS/MIH Operations Manager
Copper River Native Association
Tara Stockhausen
Registered Dental Hygienist
Copper River Native Association
Dale Varra
Operations Administrator
Cross Road Health Ministries
Steve Gallagher
Operations Administrator
Cross Road Health Ministries
Nicholas Tanner
Lead Medical Assistant
Dahl Memorial Clinic
Shauna Thomas
Seasonal Nurse
Dahl Memorial Clinic
Jennifer Swift
Nurse Practitioner
Girdwood Health Clinic
Leanna Rudert
Clinical Staff Coordinator
Interior Community Health Center
Michael Davis
Quality Supervisor
Interior Community Health Center
Betty Christian
Family Nurse Practitioner
JAMHI Health & Wellness
Michelle McClure
Quality Officer
Kodiak Area Native Association
Sarah Arneson
Clinical Operations Director
Kodiak Area Native Association
Katie Linduska
Physician Assistant & HER Provider Builder
Kodiak Community Health Center
Raquel McIntyre
Quality Manager
Kodiak Community Health Center
Nova Maltby
Billing Manager
Mat-Su Health Services
Martha (Marti) Goff
SDOH Care Coordinator/Community Health Worker
Mat-Su Health Services
Abigail (Abby) Timmerman
Director of Optometry
Norton Sound Health Corporation
Faith Walsh
Registered Nurse
Norton Sound Health Corporation
Patty Eissler
Human Resources Director
Peninsula Community Health Services of Alaska
Bridgette Colton
Lead Care Coordinator Assistant
Seldovia Village Tribe Health & Wellness
Judy Kepes
RN Case Manager
Seward Community Health Center
Susanna Wassillie
CMS
Southcentral Foundation
Natalia Navarro
CHP
Southcentral Foundation
Barbara Gugleman
Medical Assistant
Sunshine Community Health Center
Donald Keefe
Housekeeping
Sunshine Community Health Center
2024 Health Center Awards
Lifetime Contribution Award
Suriayani Raip & LaVada "Sam" Bush
This award recognizes the long and inspiring careers of employees and Board members who have made lasting impacts on Alaska’s community health center system.
Tom Taylor Emerging Leader Award
Sky Pride
This award recognizes emerging and future leaders in community health and acknowledges their contributions to support accessible and affordable healthcare for all Alaskans.
Rainbow Award
Charlee Laurie
This award acknowledges an individual’s contributions to Alaska’s population health.
Steelhead Award
Norton Sound Health Corporation TB Team
This award commemorates an individual who has made exceptional contributions toward emerging health issues.
Sockeye Award
Naomi Digitaki
This award recognizes an individual who has made exceptional contributions toward health workforce development.
Chinook Award
Rachel Samuelson, MD
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exemplary contributions to the support of accessible and affordable healthcare for all Alaskans.
Coho Award
Melissa Merrick
This award acknowledges an individual’s outstanding work in health policy and advocacy.
2023 Health Center Awards
Lifetime Contribution Award
Heather Geocke and Suzanne Niemi
This award recognizes the long and inspiring careers of employees and Board members who have made lasting impacts on Alaska’s community health center system.
Tom Taylor Emerging Leader Award
Erik Linduska
This award recognizes emerging and future leaders in community health and acknowledges their contributions to support accessible and affordable healthcare for all Alaskans.
Rainbow Award
Ryan Romans
This award acknowledges an individual’s contributions to Alaska’s population health.
Steelhead Award
Mat-Su Health Services
This award commemorates an individual who has made exceptional contributions toward emerging health issues.
Sockeye Award
Mark Hayward
This award recognizes an individual who has made exceptional contributions toward health workforce development.
Chinook Award
Bonnie Graeber
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exemplary contributions to the support of accessible and affordable healthcare for all Alaskans.
Coho Awards
Lisa Aquino
This award acknowledges an individual’s outstanding work in health policy and advocacy.
APCA Award Descriptions
Lifetime Contribution Award
Recognizes the enduring and impactful careers of dedicated health center employees and Board members who have left a lasting imprint on Alaska’s community health center system. This award is solely merit-based, and there is no predetermined or restricted limit to the number of recipients.
Tom Taylor Emerging Leader Award
Identifies and celebrates emerging leaders within community health. It honors their contributions and fosters ongoing involvement in vital discussions and initiatives aimed at supporting accessible and affordable healthcare for all Alaskans.
Rainbow Award
Acknowledges contributions in the area of Population Health, including Social Drivers of Health, Substance Use Disorders, Behavioral Health Integration, and more.
Steelhead Award
Commemorates an individual who has made exceptional contributions toward Emerging Health Issues.
Sockeye Award
Given to an individual who has distinguished themselves with contributions to the field of Health Workforce Development.
Chinook Award
Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated exemplary contribution to the support of accessible and affordable healthcare for all Alaskans.
Coho Award
Recognizes exceptional achievements in health policy and advocacy.
Quality Awards
Honor community health centers achieving multiple milestones in the previous year, including:
- Current, patient-centered medical home recognition
- Progress toward achieving 80% hypertension control among patients
- Utilization of innovation and data-driven decisions resulting in at least 10% improvement across three UDS clinical measures.