Office of Rural Programs

Wasilla

Wasilla, Alaska WRITE Site

Solstice Family Care
1700 E. Bogard Road, Suite 100 A
Wasilla, AK 99654 Phone: 907-352-1300
Fax: 907-352-1310

 

Primary WRITE Preceptors:

Barbara Doty, M.D.
Email: b.doty@msrmc.com

Site Contact: Dr. Barbara Doty

Barbara Doty, M.D., Family Medicine & OB/GYN; Alaska WWAMI and UWSOM graduate. Representative of Rural Health Policy and a founder of the Alaska Family Medicine Residency. Barbara is an outdoors enthusiast and long-time Valley resident who enjoys flying, snow machining, skiing, writing, health policy development, and travel.

Dr. Paul Forman
Email: p.forman@msrmc.com

Dr. Paul Forman, grew up in Indiana and graduated from Earlham College and Indiana University School of Medicine.  He completed his Family Medicine specialty training in Colorado, and moved to Alaska in 1996 where he practiced in Anchorage and taught on the faculty of the Alaska Family Practice Residency program, earning the “Best Teacher of the Year” award on multiple occasions.  He has continued through his career to have a strong interest and involvement with teaching medical students and residents.  From 2003 through 2010, Dr. Forman lived and worked in Seward, Alaska before moving to the Mat-Su Valley where he served VA patients in the outpatient Wasilla VA Clinic until the summer of 2012, and the start of Solstice Family Care.

Family Medicine Physicians:
Lisa Harrison, M.D. • Kristen Iagulli, M.D.

Pediatric Physicians:
John D. Anderson, M.D. • Therese Tomasoski, M.D. • Elowyn Smith, D.O. • Nancy Ouimet, M.D.

Participating Community Physicians:
Natalie Beyeler, D.O., Internal Medicine • Ellen Halverson, M.D., Psychiatry • Michael Senta, M.D., Surgery • Michael Alter, M.D., Emergency Medicine • Tom Leigh, M.D., Emergency Medicine

 

Clinic:
Solstice Family Care is located in Palmer. It is staffed by family medicine physicians Dr. Barbara Doty, Dr. Paul Forman, and Dr. Lisa Harrison. The practice provides full-scope family care, including OB and hospital care, based out of Mat Su Regional Hospital. In 2014, the Mat-Su Family Medicine Residency, will be based out of Solstice Family Care.Nursing Home: Mat-Su Health Services.

Hospital: Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is a brand new 74 bed hospital, opened in 2006, with a full range of services, including an ICU, cardiac catheterization lab, family birthing center, full endoscopy/colonoscopy suite, and MRI/CT scanner. It is located at 2500 South Woodworth Loop, Palmer, Alaska 99645; 907-861-6000; www.matsuregional.com

What to Expect:
WRITE students in Wasilla have many opportunities to actively participate in continuity OB and Newborn care, with most students averaging 10-12 deliveries. Psychiatry can include working 1:1 with a psychiatrist in several venues and also working with Masters level counselors including adolescent and adult group visits. Surgical opportunities include first assisting on C-sections, general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and other cases as they come up through student patient panels. Endoscopy, echos, and stress testing participation is available with Dr. Natalie Beyeler, IM. Students follow their own admissions with IM, FM, and Pediatric faculty, and can round on interesting cases as they arise. Ambulatory practice is weighted towards pediatrics, adult medicine, and obstetrics with less urgent care. We encourage students to spend the last month of their rotation in Talkeetna at the community health center, Sunshine Cinic, during the climbing and tourist season.

Housing:
Student housing in Wasilla can be tailored to individual needs. Dogs may be able to be accomodated.

Directions:
Palmer/ Wasilla: 32 miles NE of Anchorage on Glenn HWY. There is a four-lane highway between Anchorage and Wasilla. To see a map of where we are located and/or get directions from other locations, go to maps.google.com (for directions, click “Get Directions” in the upper left-hand corner where you can input the starting address).

Air Transportation: Most major carriers to Anchorage.


Extracurricular Activities: http://www.juneau.org/visitors/index.php#sights

Matanuska-Susitna Valley’s major attractions and events include:

  • Mt. McKinley
  • Knik Glacier
  • Matanuska Glacier
  • Denali State Park
  • Alaska State Fair
  • Colony Days
  • Musk Ox Farm
  • Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
  • Independence State Mine Historical Park
  • numerous museums and visitor centers
 Many recreational activities are available including:

  • hiking
  • snowmobiling
  • hunting
  • fishing
  • cross-country ski trails
  • downhill ski area are 20 minutes from the clinic

Weather Trends:
Summer daytime temperatures range between 60-80F with daylight extending until often past midnight. The winter temperatures range between 19-30F with darkness often descending before 5:00 p.m.