Dressing and Debridement of Wound or Infection near Anchorage, AK

Biography: Alan Swenson, MD was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and he is happy to be back home, providing care to his fellow Alaskans. He is a fellowship trained hand and microvascular surgeon. He pursued this specialty for its complexity and the depth and breadth of the field. Dr. Swenson says the best part of his job, though, ``is getting people back to the lives and activities they love.`` He is also an ardent supporter of community and medical education. He believes that the better educated patients and providers are, the better they can work together to achieve their shared goals. Growing up in Anchorage, Dr. Swenson was a stand out at both Stellar Secondary School and the Alaska Pacific University Early Honors program. He earned his Eagle Scout and went on to study biology at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He later attended the Alaska WWAMI program and earned his doctorate of medicine, with AOA Honors, from the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Swenson chose to remain in Washington to complete a 5 year orthopedic surgery residency program focusing on trauma and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. There he was able to train at numerous institutions, including the world famous Harborview Medical Center, under some of the most respected orthopedic surgeons of their field. Dr. Swenson excelled in his residency training and was selected to complete a surgical fellowship in hand and microvascular surgery at the University of Cincinnati. There he spent an entire year focusing solely on disorders of the hand and upper extremity under the renowned hand surgeon, Peter Stern, MD. Since finishing his formal training, Dr. Swenson has continued his academic pursuits. He continues to be involved in cutting edge research at both the University of Cincinnati and the University of Washington. He is also passionate about both patient and provider education. He has recently taken on the role of Medical Director of Continuing Medical Education for the Providence Alaska system and acts as a preceptor to medical students, physician assistants, and medical residents. Dr. Swenson continuously works to ensure that all patients in Alaska will have access to the most up to date treatments and care available. He believes that ``Alaska is such an amazing and unique place, with an active and vibrant population that deserves a high quality of care that is as good, if not better than, anywhere else in the country.`` Today Dr. Swenson is a vital member of the OPA hand specialty team with many publications, presentations and honors to his name. He says that he has been ``incredibly excited to be able to bring my education and training back to Alaska, and to provide exceptional care to my fellow Alaskans from all across the state.``

Care Philosophy: Our experienced, specialty-trained doctors are proud to have strong roots in a community dedicated to conquering limits, and the specialized care and comprehensive services we offer are built for Alaskans by Alaskans.

Biography: Eugene Chang, MD, is a doctor specializing in orthopedics, practicing at Orthopedic Physicians Anchorage in Anchorage, Alaska. As an orthopedic surgeon, he focuses on injuries and diseases of your body's musculoskeletal system, including your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves that allow you to move, work, and be active.Dr. Chang is a member of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, which indicates board- certificiation in this specialty.Dr. Chang earned a Fellowship at the Institute for Bone and Joint Disorder, completed Residency at Loyola University of Chicago, and attended Medical School at St. Louis CC Florissant Valley.

Biography: Dr. Ala is fellowship trained in hand, upper extremity and microvascular surgery. He focuses on treating patients with hand, wrist and elbow conditions including fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, joint replacement and more. He also has extensive training in wrist, elbow, and shoulder arthroscopy. Dr. Ala earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York City in 2008. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he also served as chief resident. After residency, Dr. Ala received subspecialty fellowship training in Hand, Upper Extremity and Microvascular Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. During his fellowship Dr. Ala received extensive training in hand and digit replantation and participated in one of the few hand transplant programs in the world. Dr. Ala also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University. Among his numerous papers and presentations, Dr. Ala co-authored ``Stick Dominance Versus Hand Dominance in Youth Hockey,`` recently presented in San Francisco. He has also written a number of book chapters on wrist surgery and lectured on a number of topics, including pediatric elbow fracture treatment, sports injuries of the hand and wrist, and radial head fracture operative and non-operative management. Dr. Ala is excited to return to his home state with his wife and three children and establish his practice here in Anchorage. He was born and raised in Soldotna where his grandparents homesteaded in the 1940s. He grew up working on the family farm, commercial fishing, and playing hockey.

Care Philosophy: Above all else we are committed to the care and improvement of human life As we would for our most cherished loved one.

Care Philosophy: Our experienced, specialty-trained doctors are proud to have strong roots in a community dedicated to conquering limits, and the specialized care and comprehensive services we offer are built for Alaskans by Alaskans. Because one-size-fits-all treatmen

Care Philosophy: Far North Surgery provides care and treatment to patients needing solutions that are within the broad envelope of general surgery with special focus on surgical oncology and endocrine surgery. We are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art care and technical excellence to our patients and their families. At Far North Surgery, we treat conditions that fall within the broad scope of general surgery. General surgery involves GI tract Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Surgical Oncology, and other abdominal and miscellaneous surgeries. We provide minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries whenever it is possible. Our experienced surgeon has the highest level of medical expertise that is being honed by regular training, working and leading patient care at some of the leading hospitals and universities. We are inspired by the philosophy of compassion, dignity and humanism that helps in optimizing patient experience. Our aim is to create a culture of caring, compassion & healing for our patients!

Biography: Dr. Thomas Paynter, MD is an Orthopedic Surgery Specialist who practices in Anchorage, AK. He is 49 years old and has been practicing for 20 years. Dr. Thomas Paynter, MD is affiliated with Alaska Regional Hospital.

Care Philosophy: Tower Orthopedic and Joint Replacement strives to be a personalized, positive experience for every patient.

Care Philosophy: To provide the finest orthopedic surgery and musculoskeletal care in North America, offering general and specialized adult care to all Alaskans and visitors.

Biography: ~ A compassionate general surgeon who not only cares about a patient's surgical needs but also their overall health and well being. Ensures patients are well informed and all their questions have been answered prior to any type of surgery. ~ Has been in practice since 1997. ~ Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course director and instructor since 1995. ATLS State Faculty since 2015. ~ Master of Science in Infectious Disease ~ Credentialed at Surgery Center of Anchorage and Alaska Surgery Center in addition to Providence Alaska Medical Center and Alaska Regional Hospital. ~ One of the few female general surgeons in Anchorage. ~ Enjoys the great outdoors of Alaska including hiking, biking, kayaking and skiing.

Biography: Dr. Charles Portera, MD is a General Surgery Specialist who practices in Anchorage, AK. He is 61 years old and has been practicing for 34 years. Dr. Charles Portera, MD is affiliated with Alaska Regional Hospital.

Biography: Dr. Rabun Fox is a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon who treats a wide variety of orthopedic foot and ankle conditions. He helps guide patients first through non-surgical treatment plans and then, if necessary, surgical solutions that are minimally invasive whenever possible. Dr. Fox graduated with honors from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge , LA with a bachelor's in kinesiology. He then completed his medical degree and residency at LSU - New Orleans, LA. Dr. Fox finished his training with a fellowship at the renowned Foot & Ankle Fellowship Rothman/Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia, PA. Along the way, he managed to land several prestigious honors, both academically and athletically, including qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Trials in hammer throw. In 2019, Dr. Fox moved to Anchorage, AK to be closer to his family, who have been In Anchorage for nearly 20 years. He enjoys the outdoors in Alaska, hiking, and hunting. As an athlete and outdoor enthusiast himself, Dr. Fox knows how frustrating it can be to have mobility limitations and works hard to help patients get back on their feet.