Living in Alaska comes with its many challenges compared to living in the Lower 48.  Providing healthcare and maintaining community health in this region also brings another set of unique challenges not experienced by much of the Lower 48.  Tanana Chiefs Conference serves a region the size of Texas, with most of the villages not on a road system, and only accessible by plane, boat, snow machine, or dogsled.  Logistics for receiving health care for community members in remote villages is one barrier to improving overall health of the community.  Historical trauma, various forms of abuse, lack of healthy food options, lack of sanitation and clean water, climate change and losing their ability to live a traditional lifestyle are among other barriers to improving community health.  My presentation will share these challenges, but will also highlight the wonderful strengths of the Interior Alaska Native population my organization serves and the healthcare system we have built over the years.

Speaker

Jennifer Eden, MPH, is the Executive Director of Quality and Development, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks, Alaska. Originally from Oregon, Jennifer migrated to Alaska for adventure and started her career in the local community health center, which later led her into a career in tribal health with the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) in 2010. She started at TCC in Health Services as the Quality Management Director. Three years later, she became Director of the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center, the primary medical clinic for the TCC region. She has since transitioned into a corporate quality and development position, which allows her to routinely assess the needs of the population and develop master plans to meet those needs. Jennifer has an undergraduate degree in Health Care Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Health with an emphasis on international health (MPH-IH 2003 cohort), both from College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University.