ANTHC awards 20 health scholarships for 2026-2027 academic year

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium's Board of Directors has awarded 20 scholarships to Alaska Native and American Indian students studying health care fields for the fall 2026 and spring 2027 terms. Ten awards are worth $5,000 and 10 are worth $2,500. The $2,500 tier is new this year and opens eligibility to part-time students. Recipients may use the money for tuition, room and board, books or fees. The consortium received 142 applications for this round.

Keely Baumgartner, who listed the Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association as her tribal health organization, is pursuing a master's in nurse midwifery at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. She aims to work as a certified nurse-midwife in rural Alaska. Renee Fliris, who listed Eastern Aleutian Tribes, is completing a Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Minnesota and aims to work within the Indian Health Service. Andrea Storer, who listed Arctic Slope Native Association, received $5,000 toward her medical degree at the University of Washington School of Medicine, training to become a board-certified pediatrician for Alaska Native communities. Scarlett Rednall received $5,000 for dual master's degrees in nursing and business administration at Southern Utah University. Angelene Ketah received $2,500 for a family nurse practitioner master's at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The remaining 15 recipients listed regional tribal health organizations including Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation, Norton Sound Health Corporation, Maniilaq Association, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation and Southcentral Foundation. Their fields range from clinical psychology and psychiatric mental health nursing to civil engineering, business administration, health information management and strategic communications. The consortium's announcement lists all 20 awardees with their schools, degrees and career goals. Questions go to the consortium's Human Resources Department at [email protected] or 907-729-1301.

The awards sit inside a larger problem for Alaska's rural health system, which depends on training pipelines that produce clinicians likely to practice in remote or tribal communities rather than leave for urban centers. Tribal health organizations are responsible for recruiting and retaining those clinicians. Village residents bear the cost when care requires travel instead of a local provider.

The announcement records intent, not placement.

Applications for the 2027-2028 scholarship cycle open March 1, 2027.