Obesity has become a major health problem for Alaskans; about 1 in 3 children in Alaska is overweight or obese, and 2 out of 3 Alaska adults are overweight or obese. Obesity and related chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, put children’s health at risk. To help raise awareness about the health risks of childhood obesity, ANTHC’s Alaska Native Epidemiology Center used funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to partner with the Alaska Department of Health ...

Every year, ANTHC hosts an in-person Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) Training on the ANMC Campus. The training started in the fall of 2006 when ANMC decided to go tobacco free as a campus.  Since the inception of the training, more than 350 health care professionals from across Alaska and the United States have become trained as Tobacco Treatment Specialists. Registration for the annual training is now open, with early bird savings available until Aug. 15. Interested participants are encouraged to ...

Last month, three Alaska Native Health Campus employees volunteered to help with the annual American Diabetes Association (ADA) Camp K: Dr. Rachel Lescher, pediatric endocrinologist, Sherry Hammock, NP, RN, CDE, Dr. Lescher’s case manager and Ann Marie Mayer, NP, MPH, diabetes consultant. They helped care for medical needs of camp participants, which includes blood sugar checks, insulin dosing and monitoring, plus participation in the various camp activities with the kids. The American Diabetes Association Camp K has been enriching the ...

For years, Alaska Native leaders negotiated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for permission to serve traditional foods to those who could significantly benefit from their healing and comforting effects. ANTHC has long been at the forefront communicating the positive aspects of harvesting and eating traditional foods and advocating for permission to serve them to our patients and visitors at the Alaska Native Medical Center. In 2013, a bill from former Alaska U.S. Sen. Mark Begich called The Traditional Foods ...

Careline’s important crisis intervention services and referrals for more information are now available in a mobile app in the Apple App Store for iOS and on Google Play for Android. Careline is Alaska’s statewide 24/7 crisis line and a part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline system. Careline provides crisis intervention for individuals considering suicide or experiencing crisis, isolation, or depression. The services have been available via a toll-free phone call 24 hours a day, seven days a week at ...

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new regulations that extend its authority to include new products that meet the definition of “tobacco products.” The new regulations now include the sales and health evaluation of e-cigarettes, cigars and hookah, among others. More information on the new regulations can be found in this article from the FDA: “Extending Authorities to All Tobacco Products, Including E-Cigarettes, Cigars, and Hookah”. These new regulations go into effect on August 8, 2016. ...