Patient Housing at ANMC Grand Opening Celebration
January 13, 2017
After years of planning and months of construction, the patient housing facility at ANMC opened on Jan. 2 for guests. This week, ANTHC hosted a grand opening celebration to bless the facility and thank those who were instrumental in making our leadership’s vision a reality.
The ANTHC Board of Directors shared this special celebration with our key partners including State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Valerie Davidson, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington and Alaska, Rasmuson Foundation, IHS Alaska Director Chris Mandregan, Alaska Senate President Pete Kelly, Jeffrey Koonce of KPB Architects, Jerry Neeser of Neeser Construction and Myra Munson, Gary Bromwell and Marissa Flannery of Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Miller & Munson, LLP. This project would not have been possible without these partners. Donors and other information on the facility can be found at http://inspiringgoodhealth.org/special-funding-need-anthc-patient-housing/.
The event was attended by many of our Tribal health partners and other well-wishers. Acclaimed Yup’ik musician Byron Nicholai opened the event by singing a few original songs and the Lepquimn Gumilgit Gagoadim Tsimshian Dancers followed with traditional song and dance.
Remarks were made by the ANTHC Chairman and President on the critical role patient housing will make in removing barriers to care, by Commissioner Davidson on the personal benefits for our Alaska Native people and by Brian Jacobsen, Board Chair, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington and Alaska about the first Ronald McDonald House in Alaska, hosted on the top floor of our facility. ANTHC Vice Chair, Lincoln Bean, Sr. provided an invocation and blessing of the facility.
The family of the late Mike Zacharof, a longtime ANTHC board member who was integral to Patient Housing at ANMC becoming a reality for our people, was recognized and the facility was dedicated in Zacharof’s honor. Julie Zacharof, Mike Zacharof’s widow was welcomed to the stage for the presentation of a special plaque in his honor that will be displayed in patient housing.
After the ceremony, guests were treated to a buffet reception of traditional Alaska Native foods, which was prepared by NANA Management Services, the contractor that operates both the patient housing and ANMC Cafeteria Food Courts.