The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) was recently named the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Carolyn Boone Lewis Living the Vision Award winner for its work in improving the health of Alaska Native and American Indian people through actions that go beyond traditional hospital care.

AHA and the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association (ASHNHA) will present the award to ANTHC leadership at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 12, at ANTHC’s Consortium Office Building (4000 Ambassador Drive). ANTHC’s Board of Directors, leadership and staff will join other Alaska health care leaders at the presentation.

“The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s wide range of health care work fully reflects its philosophy of a lifelong commitment to the people and communities it serves,” said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA President and CEO. “Their efforts touch every part of an individual’s health – from ensuring homes have clean water to improving employee health to helping seniors receive appropriate care. I am pleased and honored to recognize the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for its achievements and commitment to communities.”

ANTHC serves 140,000 Alaska Natives who make up diverse tribal communities (including Inupiat, Yup’ik, Athabascan, Aleut, Tlingit, Haida and other cultures) across our vast state. In addition to the Alaska Native Medical Center, a 150-bed facility which provides comprehensive medical services to Alaska Natives and American Indians, ANTHC’s outreach efforts extend around Alaska. The Consortium focuses on wellness, community-based provision of care, and public health status and improvement to achieve its vision of Alaska Natives being the healthiest people in the world.

ANTHC leadership shares AHA’s enthusiasm about the Carolyn Boone Lewis Award.

“The Consortium came into existence to exemplify the approach of Alaska Native people taking ownership of our own challenges and responsibilities not only related to personal health, but the wellness of our communities as a whole,” said Andy Teuber, ANTHC Chairman and President. “Though care is provided in the most visible manner at ANMC, without staff from all our divisions, as well as our numerous partners across the state, we wouldn’t be the recipient of such a tremendous honor.”

Established in 1996 and first presented in 1998, the Living the Vision Award recognizes institutions or individuals living the AHA’s vision of a society of healthy communities where all individuals reach their highest potential for health. In 2002, it was renamed the Carolyn Boone Lewis Living the Vision Award, in memory of the first hospital trustee to serve as AHA chair. An important element of the award is that an organization must be recognized as a leader and nominated by others in the health care field.