| Home |
| Interviews |
| Map |
| Photographs |
| Video |
| CHAP History |
| CHA Program Study |
| Project Background |
| Links |
 |
 |
Gloria Park, |
 Next Section |
|
| KAREN: So do you feel like the health aides got sufficient training to do what was expected of them? DR. PARK: Well, not for a long time. And even now, there can be smaller villages don't always come forward with -- you know, there's a turnover of health aides. But I think, oh, by the '80s, there was a -- you could depend on -- on your quality and you had to -- you improved training where you had to improve it. And it was hard on most physicians, sometimes, you know, I can't do that, but there's nobody else. So you can do what you can do. But having the health aides train that they can put on simple splints and -- and know how to handle the antibiotics and, of course, eventually were giving shots. So it's -- it's all been very worthwhile. KAREN: Yeah. I was wondering what it's meant to you, both personally and as a physician, having interacted with the health aides and worked with them? DR. PARK: Oh, I enjoyed the program very much. KAREN: Are there any of the health aides in particular that come to mind that were especially important in the years you worked with the program? DR. PARK: Well, you mentioned one, Betty Nelson. And -- I have a hard time of thinking of names right off the top of my head. KAREN: Yeah, it's been awhile. DR. PARK: Samuelson in King Cove, but I was trying to think. I don't think I've got names here. KAREN: That's okay. Some -- some -- I sort of was wondering, too, about the relationship that developed between the physicians and the health aides. DR. PARK: Well, it -- in areas where you could assign one physician to, say, five villages, he was -- he or she was their contact when they would call in. They would meet them on the field trips, and get acquainted, and -- and some real strong friendships developed. One physician that is still here in town at the new Native Hospital, Richard Brodsky, developed very close relationships with his villages. Which primarily the Iliamna area. And then Carolyn Brown. Is that name familiar to you? KAREN: Huh-uh (negative). DR. PARK: A physician that left here, oh, quite a few years ago, I've lost track of when, and went to the New England, Vermont I think, or somewhere, was teaching in the medical school, and then they decided to come back to Alaska. Both of them were physicians. KAREN: Yeah. DR. PARK: And I think she was offered a job with the State Health Department, and when she got here, from what I heard, the money or the funding had -- was gone, in between hiring and -- so they opened their own office. And now I don't know where they -- they've gone somewhere else now, and I don't know where. So... KAREN: I don't know if you can talk to -- DR. PARK: Mat -- excuse me. Mattie Samuelson was her first name. KAREN: Oh, Mattie Samuelson. | |
Home | Interviews | Map | Photographs | Video | Program History | CHA Program Study | Project Background | Links | ©Copyright Information
Last updated 11-4-06
Last updated 11-4-06