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
- Suzanne Carte-Cocroft, CFRE, President - Providence Alaska Foundation
- Ken McCoy, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
- 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 2022-23 Best Hospitals ratings; high performing in one adult specialty and six procedures and conditions, more than any other hospital in Alaska:
- Adult Specialty: Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
- Procedures and Conditions
- Heart Attack
- Heart Failure
- Kidney Failure
- Stroke
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Pneumonia
- 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)
- 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
- Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Award for superior performance in environmental sustainability
- U.S. News & World Report 2021-20 Best Hospital in Alaska; ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the specialty treatment area of urology; rated high performing in the treatment of 10 adult specialties and conditions:
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Heart Attack
- Heart Failure
- Kidney Failure
- Pneumonia
- Stroke
- Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
- Geriatrics
- Orthopedics
- Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
- 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
- U.S. News & World Report 2020-21 Best Hospitals honor roll and specialty rankings as high performing in six adult specialties:
- Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
- Geriatrics
- Nephrology
- Pulmonology
- Orthopedics
- Urology
- and two procedures and conditions:
- Congestive Heart Failure
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Healthgrades five-star ratings for treatment of four conditions:
- Respiratory Failure (six years in a row)
- Sepsis (six years in a row)
- Pneumonia (two years in a row)
- Gastro-intestinal Bleed
- and performance of two surgeries:
- Esophageal/Stomach Surgeries (three years in a row)
- Back Surgery
- Best of Alaska Business readers’ choice Denali Award for Best Hospital in the state
- Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA), Level III – Bronze standard from the American College or Emergency Physicians (first and only hospital in Alaska)
- Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, Substance Use Treatment & Recovery and Maternity Care (Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital) by Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
- Blue Distinction Center+ (Plus) for Bariatric Surgery and Knee and Hip Replacement by Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
- Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home Association Patient Safety Beacon Award for collaborative efforts to establish drive-through testing site for COVID-19
- American Heart Association 2020 Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award
- American Heart Association Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- 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.