A member of the Killer Whale clan with Tsimshian and Athabaskan heritage, Charles Clement serves as CEO and president of the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC). Through this organization, Charles Clement helps improve overall health and access to health among communities in southeastern Alaska, including native peoples. One of the key SEARHC initiatives is the WISEWOMAN Women’s Health Program, which operates a mobile mammography clinic in partnership with the Breast Cancer Detection Center. The mobile van travels throughout the region to provide easy and convenient breast cancer screening to women. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Alaskan women and early detection can help save lives. In addition to mammography, the SEARHC mobile health center offers several other services, such as Pap tests and cardiovascular screenings. These services are available to women who meet predetermined income and insurance guidelines, as well as age requirements. More information, including a schedule of when the mobile clinic will be in certain towns, is available online at SEARHC.org.
0 Comments
Charles Clement is a respected health care executive who leads the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) and provides coordinated, patient-centered health care solutions. The vital role played by Charles Clement’s organization was highlighted in a recent KTOO Public Media article, which focused on the Sitka Community Hospital decision to suspend scheduled surgeries from late February on.
The background of this move was the city’s taking action to create a new hospital sale agreement draft and address high rates of employee attrition. With the hospital fielding only 144 professionals, the latest loss involved a skilled surgical team nurse, which brought the hospital below its “staffing threshold” for performing surgeries. SEARHC has stepped up to ensure that patients who need surgeries can still obtain quality care through arranging outpatient surgeries at nearby Mountainside Clinic. One potential long term solution being discussed in the Sitka Assembly involves merging the local hospital with SEARHC for a year or more. Addressed as part of this transition would be how to attract and retain more qualified professionals in the area. The chief executive officer of the SouthEast Alaska regional healthcare consortium SEARHC, Charles Clement has a long history of working with Alaska Native populations on a variety of healthcare issues. SEARHC was established under the provisions of the Indian Self-Determination Act and continues to provide services as one of the largest and oldest Native-operated health organizations in the United States. In addition to his responsibilities at SEARHC, Charles Clement holds active membership in multiple Native American organizations including the Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB). Established in 1968, the ANHB operates as a leading advocate of Native health issues within the state of Alaska. Building upon the prominent role that it plays in helping to shape public policy, the ANHB offers a range of public resources to Native Americans directly. A leading ANHB tribal resource is the Alaska Tribal Health System (ATHS), a multifaceted system of healthcare providers that represents the diversity of Alaska Native people. Over the past 30 years, the ATHS has grown in size and scope to support an annual budget of approximately $800 million. Because they are spread across roughly 586,400 square miles of largely roadless land, members of Alaska’s 229 federally recognized Native American tribes often have difficulty obtaining quality medical care. In many cases, tribal health organizations such as those of the ATHS are the only healthcare providers in the area. A graduate of Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s in economics and political science, Charles Clement currently leads Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) as president and CEO. With the company since 2012, he has helped reduce operating costs and increase revenues while improving performance. Outside of work, Charles Clement gives back to the community by supporting charitable organizations such as Halibut Coalition. Committed to preserving the sustainability of halibut as a natural resource, Halibut Coalition acknowledges the vital role seafood plays in the Alaskan economy. To protect fish populations, Alaskan fisheries utilize science-driven fishery management strategies such as protecting habitats, controlling bycatch, and setting catch limits. As a result, Alaskan fisheries are among the country’s best managed; in the past, National Geographic has cited the state as one of the three most sustainable fisheries in the world. To read more about Halibut Coalition’s efforts to promote efficient management of the commercial halibut fishery, visit www.halibutcoalition.org. Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) president and CEO Charles Clement leads the orginization in providing a variety of health services to the community of Juneau, Alaska. Charles Clement’s nonprofit joins other local organizations in maintaining the cultural heritage of Juneau and other Southeast Alaska villages, which include Klukwan. To help preserve Klukwan’s culture, the community recently opened the Jilkaat Kwaan Cultural Heritage Center (JKCHC). Opened in the spring of 2016, the Jilkaat Kwaan Cultural Heritage Center displays a wide assortment of prominent treasures and cultural items. Items on display include intricately patterned blankets and robes created through Chilkat weaving, and a selection of the tribe’s colorful totems and carved screens. Hundreds of years old, the totems and screens feature animals, such as eagles, whales, and ravens, that define the Tlingit people. The center also hosts community events and engages residents in the annual Salmon Camp. JKCHC executive director Lani Hotch estimates that the center will provide up to 30 much-needed jobs in the community and help revitalize the village by drawing in tourism. Keeping the village alive and prosperous for future generations is a crucial goal for the center, due to the number of threats that put its future at risk. The Tlingit’s ancestral lands once covered an area nearly the size of Connecticut, but have been reduced to a mere three square miles. Furthermore, tribal elders continue to fight conditioning inflicted upon them by missionaries, who punished them as children for speaking their native language.v Alaska-based business executive Charles Clement received his bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Northern Arizona University. He started out as an account executive at Aetna US Healthcare in 1997, before becoming the chief operations officer of Southcentral Foundation in 1999. Charles Clement is currently the president and chief executive officer of SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC). Established in 1975, SEARHC is a nonprofit health consortium of 18 Native communities of Southeast Alaska. Its mission is to establish programs that will help provide the best health care services for the Native members of the local community. Programs include drives to increase the number of potential bone marrow donors who are of American Indian and Alaska Native descent. A recent drive, held on March 16 and 23 at the Ethel Lund Medical Center, hopes to add prospective donors to the Be The Match Registry, the world's largest marrow registry. SEARHC's Dr. Janice Sheufelt said in a statement that as much as 23 percent of Alaska Natives have no registry match, and she hopes that this drive will reduce that figure. As the CEO of SEARHC in Juneau, Alaska, Charles Clement works with a board of directors to develop long- and short-term goals for the organization. Outside of work, Charles Clement makes time for outdoor pursuits like bicycling.
Harvard Health supports bicycling as an effective form of exercise that provides several different benefits for the body, especially muscles and bones. Cycling uses the glutes, calves, and thighs and builds these muscles. It also requires use of the abdominal muscles to remain upright while moving, and strong abdominal muscles help the legs and core look more defined. Because bicycling involves pedaling, it builds bones. The constant pedaling motion works and pulls the muscles, and the muscles pull the bones, increasing bone density and making the bones less likely to break. Finally, cycling is ideal for individuals with joint problems, as sitting and pedaling takes the stress of exercise off the legs. Charles Clement is the President and CEO of SEARHC (South East Alaska Regional Health Consortium) in Juneau, Alaska. When he is not involved with work, Charles Clement donates to the Alaska Children’s Trust. The Alaska Children’s Trust was founded in 1988. The organization strives to prevent and eliminate child abuse within the state. The Trust works with other similar nonprofits who share the same mission, including Prevent Child Abuse in Alaska and Strengthening Families. One of the programs The Alaska Children’s Trust works with is the Alaska Afterschool Network, known as AAN. The program strives to offer more educational outlets and opportunities for children across the state. In November of 2016 the Alaska Afterschool Conference was held to help provide information and resources to providers who administer activities, supervision, and education to Alaskan children outside of school hours. The workshop featured workshops from presenters at both a local and national level. The conference was made possible through a partnership of the Department of Early Education and Development as well as AAN. The president and CEO of the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Charles Clement has been working in the healthcare field for nearly two decades. Holding an MPA from the University of Alaska, Charles Clement is responsible for managing SEARHC’s $125 million healthcare operation, developing infrastructure, and executing new initiatives. The State of Alaska recently awarded SEARHC two grants to fund behavioral health efforts. These grants came from the Administration for Children and Families, Family Violence Prevention and Services and from Indian Health Service, Methamphetamine, and Suicide Prevention, and are provided over the course of two and four years, respectively. Indian Health Service’s grant totals $800,000 and will be given in $200,000 increments. Meanwhile, the Administration for Children and Families’ grant totals $750,000 and will be given in $375,000 increments each year. The organization plans to use these funds to broaden early intervention strategies through its Wisdom for Life program. The program promotes positive youth development and reduces various risk factors for substance abuse and suicidal behavior. It accomplishes this through a unique blend of evidence-based practice and Alaska Native wisdom. Further, the funding will be used to address the high rates of domestic violence seen among Alaska Natives in Southeast Alaska. SEARHC will increase the capacity for its Behavioral Health Division staff in Juneau and rural health clinics, while also providing domestic violence services with AWARE. Charles Clement serves as CEO of SEARHC, Southeast Alaska's leading provider of healthcare resources for tribal communities. When he finds time away from his professional obligations, Charles Clement can often be found hiking, running, or cycling. Whether you prefer road cycling or hitting the mountain trails, safely riding a bicycle in the winter requires a bit of preparation. To quickly winterize almost any bike, consider the following tips: 1. Clean your bike regularly, before it gets too dirty. Road grit, salt, and sand can all collect in moving parts and wear them down, so it’s important to keep bicycles free of rust and grime. 2. Keep your chain lubricated. If you use dry Teflon or other mild lubricants during the summer, consider switching to a more viscous lubricant for the wetter months. In extreme winter conditions, some cyclists favor industrial compounds used for chainsaw blades. 3. Choose sensible tires for your style of riding. Winter tires for bicycles come with special treads, studs, and are available in a variety of widths. For best results, keep tire pressure low while the ground is frozen or slick. |
AuthorCharles Clement holds an undergraduate degree in economics and political science from Northern Arizona University and completed a masters of public administration at the University of Alaska. He also attended Harvard Business School’s executive leadership program. Archives
January 2018
Categories
All
|