Alaska

When the first Sisters of Providence arrived in Nome, Alaska, in 1902, the town had many of the things people needed, except a hospital. That changed when the sisters opened Holy Cross Hospital that same year. From humble beginnings, Providence set out to provide care to all Alaskans, especially the poor and vulnerable, in fulfillment of its Mission. More than 120 years later, we continue this commitment by ensuring care is available when and where people need it.

Toward the end of last year, I shared the optimism in the community that the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic were behind us. Although we do not know what the future has in store, we can be grateful for the work we accomplished together and the cautious, gradual return to normalcy.

In 2022, Providence Alaska continued its work with statewide partners to improve access to care and ensure food, shelter and other services were available to those who needed it. These partners share our vision of health for a better world and are dedicated to offering critical programs, like the Covenant House Alaska Bridge to Success program, which provides youth experiencing homelessness with a path to securing permanent housing.

That story and others are included as part of this year’s report to our communities. This is just a sample of the important work being done to help people in need. Providence Alaska is committed to ensuring a bright future for our state. We remain tremendously grateful to the communities we serve for trusting us to provide the best care possible.

Ella Goss, MSN, RN
Chief Executive, Providence Alaska