Discovering Bush Alaska: Our Rotation in Bethel

In February 2009, we started our rural rotation. We spent 6 weeks in Bethel, AK. It took 1.5 hours by Jet (Alaska Airlines) from Anchorage. Bethel is only accessible by air. During our rotation - we worked at the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation. This network of a 30 bed hospital and clinics cares for over 20,000 Native Alaskans that live in a service area the size of Oregon. There are over 50 Native villages that are only accessible from Bethel by air, boat or snow mobile. We had an amazing time performing inpatient medicine, OB, ER and ambulatory medicine. The people were amazing. We gained an incredible respect for the health care professionals who care for a wide range of medical issues. From common colds to plane crashes, they see it all. It is Family Medicine at its best. With little to no resources to specialty care, Primary Care Physicians must manage whatever comes their way. At times, the hospital would be weathered in. Therefore, the physicians would have to manage all patients until it was safe to medivac out to Anchorage. These health care professionals are the true pioneers of Alaska. We had a once in a lifetime experience.

Our Neighborhood

This was our home away from home!

Barb and Jenny (Our housemate and medical student from Dartmoth)

In the winter, lakes and rivers become ice roads to get around town.

Our afternoon walks - the temperatures would fluctuate between positive 10 and negative 45 degrees F

Evennings were filled with heavy duty house improvements.