(Photo by Angela Denning/CoastAlaska)
The CEO of Petersburg’s hospital received national recognition last month for his contributions to rural healthcare. Phil Hofstetter was named the Alaska’s 2023 Community Star by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.
For over a decade, the organization has celebrated National Rural Health Day on the third Thursday of November to bring attention to rural healthcare needs. They also recognize one person from each state who helps advance the healthcare needs of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America.
Hofstetter says the impact of working in a rural facility like Petersburg Medical Center is deeply meaningful to him — especially following an incident on November 13th, when PMC staff had to treat and medically evacuate four U.S. Coast Guard personnel after their helicopter crashed in a remote area.
“[I’m proud of] the level of teamwork that I saw in our staff,” said Hofstetter. “We have to respond to so many different kinds of things and collaborate with other partners in the community.”
The Community Star Recognition Program is honoring Hofstetter for his work to advance local healthcare through several community wellness programs. These include Kinder Skog, a nature-based youth program that PMC began hosting last year.
Hofstetter says he’s grateful for the award. But he says that — just like the hospital’s response to the helicopter crash — PMC’s childcare programs are also a team effort.
“I’m very, very grateful to receive the award and recognition,” said Hofstetter. “But, really, it is the people doing those programs that I want to acknowledge. It really comes back to the people in the community running those programs.”
Hofstetter was showcased on November 15th alongside other awardees from across the nation on the Community Star Program’s website.
