September 11, 2025 Seward Folly

New Medical Leadership & Provider Changes at SCHC
Seward, Alaska – We are excited to welcome Colleen Collins, MD, as our new Medical Director. A board-certified internal medicine physician, Dr. Collins trained at Yale Medical School and Boston Medical Center. She brings over three decades of leadership and clinical experience. She has provided Primary Care on the Navajo Reservation and community health centers affiliated with Mass General Hospital in Boston. More recently, she worked in college health as the Chief of Urgent Care at MIT and for the past five years as the Medical Director for the Brandeis University Student Health Center. A passionate advocate for primary care, Dr. Collins has managed diverse and underserved populations throughout her career.
Gibson Gamel, PA-C, who temporarily served at SCHC in 2024, will also rejoin SCHC on a long-term basis this fall. Raised in Girdwood, Gibson brings valuable insight into rural Alaskan health needs, with a strong background in emergency care and a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to helping patients manage chronic pain. “Dr. Collins brings a wealth of experience and a passion for rural primary care that aligns perfectly with our mission and community,” said Jilian Chapman, CEO of SCHC. “Her experience with rural healthcare and passion for providing quality care is invaluable. Plus, Gibson seems to have a natural element of likeability, which patients will recognize and appreciate right away.”

At the same time, we are acknowledging an important shift as longtime provider Christie Griffin, DNP, FNP‑C, will depart her role at SCHC at the end of August. Christie has been a trusted and compassionate presence in the community for many years, and her dedication to patient care has left a lasting impact. Her contributions have helped shape the foundation of our health center, and she will be deeply missed by staff and patients alike. Christie is taking this time to focus on a new role in teaching and we wish her the best of luck! “Christie stepped into a challenging role and helped hold down the fort during our extended provider recruitment efforts,” added Chapman. “We are grateful for her steady commitment to the community and wish her the very best moving forward.” Patients are encouraged to contact Seward Community Health Center with questions or to schedule appointments at (907) 224-2273, Saturday appointments available!
About Seward Community Health Center  Seward Community Health Center (SCHC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality healthcare to the Seward & Moose Pass community. SCHC offers a range of services, including preventive care, chronic disease management, behavioral health, and more. For more information, visit www.sewardhealthcenter.org Contact: Jilian Chapman 
Email: info@sewardheathcenter.org 
Phone: 907-224-2273 
Seward Community Health Center
417 1st Ave, Seward, AK 99664
(907) 224-2273
https://www.SewardHealthCenter.org/

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