TCC graduates three new Community Health Aides for Interior villages

Three communities in Interior Alaska will have trained frontline medical workers after Tanana Chiefs Conference recognized a new class of Community Health Aides who completed the Basic Training requirements of the Community Health Aide Program. Loren Thomas returns to her home community of Tetlin. Chance Shank goes to Dot Lake. Karissa McCarty will provide care in an itinerant role throughout the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments region.

TCC is an Alaska Native nonprofit that provides health care, social services, and technical assistance to member villages across Interior Alaska. In those communities, Community Health Aides are often the first point of contact for patients.

"Their graduation reflects months of rigorous training and a commitment to delivering quality care in rural communities where Community Health Aides are often the first point of contact for patients," TCC said in its June 25 announcement.

The ceremony was led by Terri Cadzow, Executive Assistant of Health Services, with remarks from Senior Medical Director Dr. Michael Brumage and CHAP Training Center Manager Dr. Gabe Schuldt. Dr. Alisa Alexander also spoke, describing the lessons she said she learned from Community Health Aides while training to become a physician.

Family, friends, colleagues, and mentors gathered to mark the accomplishments of Thomas, Shank, and McCarty.