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 Alaska Health Center Superstar program recognizes any 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.
2023 Health Center Super Stars
Amber Kreuzenstein
Certified Medical Assistant - Anchorage Neighborhood Community Health Center
Heidi Kalmakoff
Patient Services Representative Lead - Anchorage Neighborhood Community Health Center
Jon Bongolan
Nurse Practitioner - Bethel Family Clinic
Denise Kinegak
Human Resources Director - Bethel Family Clinic
Juliana Abreu
PA - Copper River Native Association
Kayla Taylor
Vaccine Coordinator - Copper River Native Association
Dakota Smith
Certified Medical Assistant - Dahl Memorial Clinic
Shannon Watson
Administrative Assistant - Dahl Memorial Clinic
Sarah Andrews
Registered Nurse - Girdwood Health Clinic
Clare Jackson
Chief Operating Officer - Girdwood Health Clinic
NaQuan Fearrington
CMA - Identity Health Clinic (friends of APCA)
Asia Berry
CM/Back Office Admin - Identity Health Clinic (friends of APCA)
Sarah Haggard
Revenue Cycle Director - Kodiak Area Native Association
Kelly Slaven
Lead Patient Advocate - Kodiak Area Native Association
Jennifer DiSalle
Quality/Risk Manager - Kodiak Community Health Center
Misty Lee
HR Manager - Kodiak Community Health Center
Richelle Fisher
Physician Assistant - Nome Primary Care Clinic (Norton Sound Health Corporation)
Sopheany Stevens
Village Nurse Practitioner - Little Diomede Clinic (Norton Sound Health Corporation)
Andrea Rodriguez
Front Desk Supervisor - Seward Community Health Center
Jude Gallt
Revenue Cycle Manager - Seward Community Health Center
Bernadette Clark
Nurse Practitioner - Lake Clark Wellness Center, Illiamna Lake Region
Christina Price
Community Health Aid Practitioner - Pedro Bay Health Center
Sierra Smith
Community Relations Manager - Sunshine Community Health Center
Catherine “Cricket” Stankowitz
Chief Quality Officer - Sunshine Community Health Center
Melissa Clemente
Community Coordinator - Tanana Chiefs Conference
Abby Zito
Performance Improvement & Compliance Administrator - Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation SubRegional Clinic
Dr. Susan Wheeler
Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation
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 Award
Lisa Aquino
This award acknowledges an individual’s outstanding work in health policy and advocacy.
2022 Health Center Awards
Lifetime Contribution Award
Angie Norton and Dr. Bruce Chandler
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
Clare Jackson
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
Linda Mankoff
This award acknowledges an individual’s contributions to Alaska’s population health.
Steelhead Award
Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center’s Pharmacy Team
This award commemorates an individual who has made exceptional contributions toward emerging health issues.
Sockeye Award
Alaska Area Health Education Centers Program
This award recognizes an individual who has made exceptional contributions toward health workforce development.
Chinook Award
Dr. Charlie Procknow
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exemplary contributions to the support of accessible and affordable healthcare for all Alaskans.
Coho Awards
Representative Ivy Spohnholz
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.