Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC)
Anchorage, Alaska
About ANMC
Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) is a 173-bed hospital in Anchorage jointly managed by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and Southcentral Foundation. It is the only hospital in Alaska that is owned and operated by Alaska Native people — making it a fundamentally different kind of healthcare institution.
ANMC is not simply a hospital that serves Alaska Native patients. It is a hospital built by, governed by, and accountable to the Alaska Native community. The ANTHC Board of Directors includes representatives from every Tribal health organization in the state, ensuring that the people receiving care have a direct voice in how that care is delivered.
The orthopedic department at ANMC provides comprehensive musculoskeletal care including sports medicine, orthopedic trauma, hand and upper extremity surgery, foot and ankle surgery, and general orthopedic surgery. Their surgeons treat conditions ranging from ACL tears and rotator cuff injuries to complex fractures and joint reconstruction.
What makes ANMC orthopedics unique is the integration of culturally sensitive care with modern surgical excellence. Providers understand the physical demands of subsistence lifestyles — fishing, hunting, berry picking, wood hauling — and tailor treatment plans to return patients to these activities. Recovery is not measured solely by clinical metrics but by a patient's ability to resume the life and cultural practices that matter to them.
ANMC also serves as the tertiary referral center for the entire Alaska Tribal Health System, meaning patients from over 200 rural villages across the state are referred to ANMC for complex orthopedic care that cannot be provided at regional facilities. The hospital coordinates travel, lodging, and follow-up care for these patients through the Purchased/Referred Care program, removing barriers that would otherwise prevent rural Alaska Native people from accessing specialty orthopedic surgery.
Core Values
- Self-determination — healthcare governed by the people it serves
- Cultural sensitivity — care that respects subsistence lifestyles and traditional practices
- Quality — world-class surgical care backed by a commitment to continuous improvement
- Integrity — transparency and accountability to Alaska Native communities
- Teamwork — collaborative partnerships across the statewide Tribal health system
What Sets ANMC Apart
- Only Alaska Native-owned and operated hospital in the state
- Governed by a Board representing all Tribal health regions in Alaska
- Tertiary referral center for 200+ rural Alaska Native villages
- Travel and lodging coordination for rural patients needing surgery
- Providers trained to understand subsistence lifestyle demands
- Part of the largest, most comprehensive Tribal health system in the U.S.
- Vision: Alaska Native people are the healthiest people in the world