By Linden Staciokas
I am the person who is lucky enough to interview the TCC health aides and then write up their profiles for the TCC newsletter. I try to remember that the purpose of these write-ups is two-fold: to introduce the hardworking people who are the first responders for the villages across the region covered by TCC, and to be a recruitment tool by giving examples of the many ways people can enter an exciting, interesting and well-paying career. While I have experienced a lot of emotions when talking to various health aides, it was not until I spoke with Loren Thomas that I felt envy for the life of a health aide.
Loren was born and raised in Tetlin, a village of about 100 people who live along the Tetlin River, between Tetlin Lake and the Tanana River. It is located about 20 miles from Tok. She is one of two health aides assigned to the community. The other health aide is her grandma, Lydia David.
As Loren recalls, “I wanted to be in the health field my whole life. I am sure part of it is that my grandmother loves her work as a health aide and helping the community in any way she can.” That passion left a lasting impression on Loren and helped spark her own interest in the field of health. When a position opened up, her grandmother urged her to apply.
“I saw it as my best shot, that being a health aide was a step onto the ladder of medicine.” The most surprising thing about the health aide job for Loren was “the amount of learning that goes into it. It is far beyond the basics. It could be overwhelming but the entire Community Health Aide Program rests on providing whatever support a health aide needs to be successful in the position. Other health aides, the supervisors, the staff people who do tasks like handle our travel…all of them are terrific. The physicians at Chief Andrew Issac who provide consultation and back up to us, treat us with respect and someone is available no matter what the time of day or night.”
Loren describes the most meaningful part of her job as, “simply being present,” working in the same village she grew up in, surrounded by family and community. “I love being able to help the people I have known my whole life,” she says. “It means everything to me to give back to the place that raised me.”
When not at the clinic or helping with her family’s subsistence activities, Loren enjoys reading in her free time. “I’ve always liked reading for myself,” she says. “It’s a way to relax and learn outside of work. I like to watch movies. And I occasionally enjoy sewing, especially for potlatches.”
Asked what people would need to apply for a health aide job, Loren said the Native Village of Tetlin had to write a letter of recommendation to TCC in support of her application to get into the program, and she had to pass the TCC background checks. “Of course, people have to have an interest in both science and helping people. Every applicant has areas of weakness, but the health aide program is built on fostering success, not failing people out for skills they can acquire on the job. No one is expected to be perfect.”
Loren does have some long-range plans, including becoming a nurse. But for now, she is happy with her life: a beloved grandma who encourages her interest in medicine and works alongside her, and a strong family support system in her parents and siblings, who step in when she has to travel to Fairbanks for training or leave in the middle of the night for emergencies. And her supervisors and co-workers with CHAP are equally invested in helping her succeed as a health aide, caring for the very people she was raised around in one of the loveliest parts of Alaska.
I ended the interview with Loren thinking, “Lucky woman and lucky community to have her.”