About Us
Providence has a long history of serving Alaska, beginning when the Sisters of Providence first brought health care to Nome in 1902 during the Gold Rush. This pioneering spirit set the standard for modern health care in Alaska and formed the foundation for Providence's growth as the state's leading health care provider.
Today, Providence serves Alaskans in six communities - Anchorage, Eagle River, Kodiak Island, Mat-Su, Seward, and Valdez. Providence Alaska is the state's largest private employer with more than 4,000 full and part-time employees working for the organization statewide.
- Ella Goss, MSN, RN, Chief Executive
- Amy Miller, Chief Financial Officer
- Florian Borowski, Chief Human Resource Officer
- Kristen Solana Walkinshaw, M.D., Chief Medical Officer
- Carrie Peluso, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CENP, Chief Nursing Officer
- Tamara Brown, Chief Executive - Providence Medical Group Alaska
- Kirsten Schultz, Chief Communications Officer
- Sarah Skeel, Chief Administrative Officer – PAMC
- Stephanie Kesler, Chair
- Donna Logan, vice-chair
- Pamela Shirrell, RN
- Lisa D.H. Aquino, MHS
- Sarah Barton
- Pat Branson, Chair, PKIMC Advisory Board
- Carol (Ann) Gore
- Joe Schierhorn
- Jyll Green
- Ella Goss, Ex officio member
- Farina Brown
- Scott T. Habberstad
- Daniel Safranek, MD PAMC – Chief of Staff
- Tanya Kirk
- Sean Parnell
- Stephen Burnside, Providence Kodiak, Chief of Staff
- Scott Wellman, secretary
- Karen King
- Admiral Tom Barrett, (Thomas Joseph Barrett)
- Roxanne Brandenburg - Board Liason
- U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 Best Hospital ratings; named Providence Alaska Medical Center as the best hospital in Anchorage and high performing in seven procedures and conditions:
- Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion)
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Heart Attack
- Heart Failure
- Hip Fracture
- Kidney Failure
- Stroke
- Healthgrades five-star ratings for treatment of conditions and performance of surgeries:
- Respiratory Failure (nine years in a row)
- Performance of Surgeries
- Back Surgery (four years in a row)
- Redesignation as Alaska’s only Magnet hospital for nursing excellence
- Best of Alaska Business Denali Award for Best Hospital in the state
- NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award by the American College of Cardiology (only hospital in Alaska)
- America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2023 by Newsweek and Statista for providing mothers and babies with the highest quality care from pregnancy through birth and postpartum
- American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline awards
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award
- Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll
- Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Mission: Lifeline – STEMI Receiving Center – GOLD PLUS
- Three-star ratings (highest rating possible) by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for adult cardiac surgery program in three categories: coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), mitral valve replacement or repair, and combined aortic valve replacement and CABG surgery
- Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care and the only Blue Distinction Center in Alaska for Cardiac Care, Spine Surgery, and Substance Use Treatment and Recovery by Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska for expertise and exceptional quality in delivering care
- Blue Distinction Center+ for Bariatric Surgery and Knee and Hip Replacement (only hospital in state)
- Practice Greenhealth Partner Recognition Award for significant progress in various areas of environmental improvement and a strong commitment to sustainability
- Healthgrades five-star ratings for treatment of three conditions and performance of two surgeries:
- Treatment of Conditions: Respiratory Failure (eight years in a row), Sepsis (eight years in a row), Gastro-intestinal Bleed
- Performance of Surgeries: Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeries, Back Surgery (three years in a row)
- Anchorage Daily News Best of Alaska Platinum Award, Hospital category (highest award level) and Silver Award, Occupational Therapy category
- Best of Alaska Business readers’ choice Denali Award for Best Hospital in the state
- NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award by the American College of Cardiology (only hospital in Alaska)
- American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus Award with recognition at the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll levels
- Aetna Institute of Quality Bariatric Surgery Facility for treating individuals living with morbid, or extreme, obesity
- Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Award for superior performance in environmental sustainability
- Best of Alaska Business readers’ choice Denali Award for Best Hospital in the state
- NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award by the American College of Cardiology
- American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines Mission: Lifeline – STEMI Receiving Center – Silver Plus and Bronze Plus Awards
- Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care (only hospital in the state) by Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska for demonstrating expertise in delivering quality specialty care safely and effectively
- Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award
- Anchorage Daily News Best of Alaska Platinum Awards:
- Best Behavioral & Mental Health Provider: Providence Behavioral Health
- Best Home Care: Providence Home Health
- Hospital: Providence Alaska Medical Center
- Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Award and Greening the Operating Room Recognition Award
The Providence Mission reaches out beyond the walls of care settings to touch lives in the places where relief, comfort and care are needed. One important way we do this is through community benefit spending.
These investments not only support the health and well-being of our patients, but the whole community. Through programs and donations, Providence’s community benefit connects families with preventive care to keep them healthy, fills gaps in community services and provides opportunities that bring hope in difficult times.
When the Sisters of Providence began our tradition of caring nearly 160 years ago, their ministry greatly depended on partnering with others in the community who were committed to doing good. Today, we collaborate with social service and government agencies, charitable foundations, community organizations, universities and many other partners to identify the greatest needs and create solutions together.
For generations, Providence has partnered with people of goodwill to offer a caring hand of compassion. We collaborate with social service and government agencies, charitable foundations, community organizations, universities and many other partners to identify the greatest needs through community health needs assessments. Then our solutions are reflected in community health improvement plans.