Our Medical Experts in Anchorage, AK

I love Family Medicine because of the variety of patient issues and personalities. I have found that managing my pain patients is both challenging and rewarding, probably because I can relate to the needs of these patients. A number of my patients have become like family. Also, I am becoming more and more intrigued by psychiatry/psychology and its effects on illness.

From the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel, “When you walk through the storm, hold your head up high, and don’t be afraid of the dark…“— Oscar Hammerstein II

I’ve been married to my wife, Mary, for nearly 50 years. I have one daughter Luan, a son-in-law Jorg, and two growing grandkids, Sami and Freya, who are both growing like weeds and very involved in life and hockey.

Early in my career I was a pilot and a construction worker. I decided to become a doctor in my 30’s after being inspired by the extraordinary care given to my young child.

Number 1: It is your body and my job is only to advise. I cannot force you to do anything. Hopefully I can help equip you with the tools that may help your situation, such as those where you supply the treatment. For example, you lose weight, which helps you decrease your blood pressure, your diabetes numbers, and arthritis pain.

Number 2: The treatments that I can provide, encouragement, testing, medications, and referrals.

I realize that not many of us are perfect, most especially, not me. I recognize that life gets in the way. I’ve learned an awful lot from my patients, and I try to laugh more than I cry. Bloom where you are planted!

Undergraduate: Arkansas College, 1987

Medical school: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, 1991

Residency: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, AHEC Fort Smith, 1994

My professional interests include men’s health, adolescent and pediatric health, and maritime medicine.

“Dare to fail.”

My wife and I have two teenage boys. I also have aunts, uncles, and cousins in the lower 48 and Australia.

Family and country doctors in the Lord family go back to the 1630’s in America. It’s in our DNA!

I work for my patients, so listening and a team approach are essential for good outcomes.

Undergraduate: BS in Biology, Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX)

Medical school: Saba University School of Medicine (Saba/Dutch Antilles)

Pathology internship: University of Oxford (Oxford, England)

Postgraduate training: University of Washington Family Medicine (Seattle, WA)

Residency: Anchorage, AK

Board certified

Outpatient care is my focus. My goals are to keep people healthy and return people to health as quickly as possible.

“From a wall in my home growing up: “It is nice to be important, but more important to be nice.”

I have two college-aged sons who are embarking on their own life adventures. They were raised here and are true Alaskans at heart. One won’t leave, one I suspect will return. My parents are boaters and travel the Inside Passage every year possible. I love to join them in their adventures, and I try to keep up.

I was inspired from youth. The physician who delivered me and cared for me until I was in medical school told me never to be a family practitioner but rather become a surgeon. But I wanted to be just like Doctor Dixon and impact families like he impacted mine. He knew us, cared for us, worked us in when we were sick, gave us the facts without the sugar coating, shared his wisdom, expected greatness, and was always there.

I try to practice evidence-based care and spend a lot of time keeping current with the latest science. I believe in continuity of care and make myself available to my patients, if not in person, then through the patient portal, which has expanded access and prompt care.

Undergraduate: University of Idaho (Moscow, ID) on a volleyball scholarship where I also competed on the track team

Medical school: I started at Northwestern University Medical School (Chicago, IL) for the first two years. Since they did not have a Family Medicine department, I transferred to Eastern Virginia Medical School (Norfolk, VA).

Residency: I completed a Family Medicine Residency at Riverside Family Medicine (Newport News, VA). I then paid back medical school expenses with three years in the United States Army at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

My professional interests are in women’s health and fitness.

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life.“ — Charles Dederich

My husband, Dr. Ray Robinson, and I have a son and a daughter.

My realization came when I was working on fishing boats out of Dutch Harbor in the 90s, living in tight quarters with such a variety of people.

I believe that each person’s health ultimately is in their hands. I can help with diagnoses and recommendations, but it is the patient’s choice in the end. Good nutrition, exercise and quality sleep are keys to health.

Undergraduate: BA at St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN) 1991

Medical school: University of Minnesota Duluth (Duluth/Minneapolis, MN) 1999

Residency: Valley Medical Center (Renton, WA) 2002

My professional interests are preventive care, sports medicine, skin cancer screening, and cardiovascular disease screening.

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir

My wife, Dr. Julie Robinson, and I have a son and a daughter.

It was more of a process than a moment. Obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure are very common on both sides of my family. I learned in my twenties that I could both control these risks, and manage stress effectively, with outdoor physical activities and the right food choices. A career in medicine was a way for me to promote that while helping others.

Healthy food, regular exercise, and quality sleep are still the best forms of medicine.

Undergraduate: BS in Microbiology, University of Washington (Seattle, WA) 1999

Medical school: University of Washington School of Medicine (Seattle, WA) 2003

Residency: Alaska Family Medicine Residency (2006)

I love the broad array of ages and issues that we see as Family Physicians but some of my key areas of interest are:

Pediatrics and adolescent health

Women’s health

Sports medicine

I enjoy teaching future physicians and work both with WWAMI medical students and Alaska Family Medicine Residents

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.

- Rachel Carson

My husband and I have three children. Our daughter just graduated from high school this year. Our son, Liam, is forever twelve. His spirit and love lives in our hearts every day. We welcomed our new baby to our family in February this year. We love spending time with our kids outdoors and look forward to more adventures with our little one as he gets older.

I did a summer internship in Libby, MT after my first year of medical school. I had been leaning toward primary care heading into medical school. However, witnessing the close interactions and relationships of the family doctors with their patients in this small, rural town really stuck with me and was pretty instrumental in leading me to pursue family medicine.

I like to stay current with evidence-based practices and am always learning. I encourage people to practice good self care with exercise, healthy eating, and good sleep habits. I view myself as a resource to my patients, striving to provide advice and knowledge based on the best evidence available to help them live their best life. Ultimately, it is their life, their body, and their choices and I respect this. Listening with compassion to my patients, having continuity of care, and learning from patients are some of the greatest rewards of my job.

Undergraduate: BA in Neurobiology at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL - 1994

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, IN - 1998

Residency: Alaska Family Medicine Residency in Anchorage, AK – 2001

I have a strong passion for patient-centered care. As I start my career as a PA, I am eager to 

learn my patients’ stories and through getting to know them, discover new interests and 

areas of medicine that I am passionate about.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let 

your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all 

understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Steve Prefontaine

Blessed greatly by my parents and three sisters holding down the fort in Idaho as well as my 

wife’s family in Anchorage and beyond. 

I’ve always wanted to be like my father. He works as a family practice PA, serving his family 

and patients well. Grateful to follow in his footsteps. 

I firmly believe that we are more capable than we generally think we are. I am committed to 

helping my patients understand their conditions and the best treatment(s) possible, 

making sure they have an active role in their care. Sometimes the simplest things make the 

biggest difference.

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences from University of Idaho 

PA school: Idaho State University

I am a generalist at heart. I love knowing as much as possible about as many disciplines as possible so that I can care for my patients and the breadth of conditions they present with.

“It is important to live life with the experience, and therefore the knowledge, of its mystery and your own mystery … You learn to recognize the positive values in what appears to be the negative moments and aspects of your life. The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure. The adventure of the hero - the adventure of being alive.” - Joseph Campbell

I am part of a close-knit family that likes to ski, climb, backpack, and travel together all over the world.

I initially realized I wanted to work in medicine while working as an instructor at Outward Bound California. As an instructor, I was a part of several elaborate wilderness medicine evacuations. Through those experiences, I realized the necessity for additional medical training. I subsequently became an EMT and worked in emergency and wilderness medicine for six years, during which time I gained exposure to the spread of medical professions and decided to become a Physician Associate (PA).

I want my patients to take pride in their health, ask questions, and achieve their health goals. I guide my practice with evidence-based medicine.

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Colorado College

PA school: Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)

Women's health, weight loss management, acute care, occupational medicine and ophthalmic care. I also enjoy teaching and mentoring healthcare students through the UW Med/MEDEX program. 

The greatest medicine of all is teaching people how not to need it-  Hippocrates 

I am first generation Albanian-American and the youngest of three children with a very large extended family still residing all over Europe. My husband and I are first time parents to a sweet baby girl who has brought us one of life's greatest joys. We are also parents to 2 furry children, Lily and Oliver. 

At a very young age, I found myself becoming my family's advocate and nurturer given my family's immigration status as I often translated for them since I was the only one fluent in English. I would attended healthcare visits with my parents, who on many occasions would be brushed off by clinic staff, including busy doctors, due to language barriers and cultural differences. Being only a kid, I felt hopeless for the poor treatment of my family. I knew I wanted to make a difference to the lives of others like me, who felt they weren't being seen or heard by their healthcare team. I started small and began volunteering my time at Providence Hospital's Mother Baby Unit. Once old enough, I got a job within the hospital where I learned of all the different career opportunities I could pursue and the PA role was the most natural fit for me. 

Just like my favorite quote above states, my mission as a healthcare provider, is to teach patients how not to use medicine but rather show them the importance of preventive care. Depending on the medical problem at hand, I believe in a more conservative approach before initiating  medications or other means of therapy that may cause further irreversible harm down the road. I will ensure all patient's concerns are addressed with compassion, empathy and utmost respect as I firmly believe patients are the masters of their own body and we as clinicians are here to serve them. 

Undergraduate degree: 

1. Associates of Arts and Sciences- University of Anchorage Alaska  

2. Bachelor of Science - University of Washington

3. Masters of Science- University of Nebraska Medical Center

PA School: University of Washington School of Medicine/MEDEX 

Men’s health, sports medicine, acute/chronic/preventative care and occupational medicine. I provide the following procedures: myofascial, trigger and joint injections, skin laceration repairs, skin biopsy, lesion excisions and wound care. I am also trained in pre, intra and post-operative care in the following disciplines: Cardiothoracic, Vascular, Plastic and Surgical Oncology.  

We can not solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. - Albert Einstein 

Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. - Teddy Roosevelt  

I spent most of my early years traveling around the world with my father, a US AirForce Officer, mother and sibling. We eventually settled in Alaska and have resided here ever since. I love being a father the most and spend every free moment with my family.  

My initial undergraduate degrees were geared towards commissioning into the US AirForce as a fighter pilot. While completing my undergraduate studies, I worked as a surgical aide at a local hospital where I found a new passion for medicine. However, it was not until meeting my wife and fellow colleague, Sarah, who further influenced me to pursue medicine rather than aviation. Now, I enjoy both worlds of private piloting and medical practice. 

My style of practice is very team based. I will work to get to know my patients as I take pride in being a good listener and communicator. If my patients walk out the door not knowing the plan, then I have not done my job.  

 Undergraduate degree:  

1. Associates of Science- University of Anchorage Alaska 

2. Bachelors of Science- University of Anchorage Alaska   

3. Bachelor of Science - University of Washington 

4. Masters of Science- University of Nebraska Medical Center 

PA School: University of Washington School of Medicine/MEDEX 

My career has been built around hospital and acute care medicine in low resource settings. Diverse experiences spanning both military and civilian service across urban, remote, and austere environments inform my clinical practice and shape my professional approach. As I transition from acute and inpatient medicine to outpatient care with the team at Arete, I bring this unique perspective and adaptability to deliver compassionate, effective care in any setting.

"It wouldn't hurt me a bit if I ran into a cactus... and I'm not going to prove it." My son, age 6.

I chose Family Medicine because I wanted to help provide access to high quality basic care for my community. I also want to be effective and well-suited to work in communities of all sizes.

As an athlete and wilderness enthusiast, my philosophy centers on improving health and preventing disease through good habits, a strong connection to the outdoors, hard training, and eating well. Additionally, understanding that illness and disease happen despite all of our best efforts, I advocate for using medication to its fullest capacity when needed. I am excited to pursue this proactive approach as I shift to outpatient care, where I can focus on long-term optimization strategies and help patients take control of their health journey.