PAID
Anchorage, AK
Permit #69
3841 Piper St., Suite T-100
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
2015
•
SPRING
ALASKA HEART BEAT
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
OUR IDITAROD DOCS EMBRACE THE
SPIRIT OF ALASKA
At the Alaska Heart & Vascular Institute, we are proud to have a
talented team provide the highest quality of cardiovascular care to
Alaskans. This year, AHVI physicians are participating in an event
that has a special place in the hearts of all Alaskans – the Iditarod
Trail Sled Dog Race.
Drs. Mark Selland and Bill Mayer will be taking part in the “Last
Great Race” as a musher and a pilot, respectively. Dr. Selland will be making his debut as a musher in the Iditarod
after working for three years as a handler for local musher Robert Bundtzen.
“Three years ago, I barely knew what end of the dog to put the harness on. It has morphed into me spending
more time with the team and getting the opportunity to run several mid-distance races, ultimately qualifying for
the Iditarod. I like mushing from the physical and outdoors perspective and the
intellectual side of dog care and training – you almost have to be a vet,” said Dr.
Selland about the team he will be running.
INSIDE
2 Staff Feature
2
3
Heart Friendly
Calendar
Recipe Card
3 Word Search
4
HEART HEALTHY TIP
Heart Attack Warning Signs
• Discomfort in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, back and jaw.
• Shortness of breath.
• Cold sweats, nausea and lightheadedness may be other signs.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU ARE WITH HAS ONE OR
MORE OF THESE SIGNS, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY
Heart Healthy Tip
Dr. Selland, who is also an avid mountaineer, says that he is approaching the race
like a climbing expedition: have a big goal, but get there one small step at a time.
“I’ve seen it in climbing where people say, ‘I’m going to take a picture at the
top,’ but they don’t make it half that far,” he said. “I’m planning to take it one
checkpoint at a time.”
Another AHVI cardiologist who understands the importance of taking the Iditarod
one step at a time is Dr. Mayer, who will fly for about two weeks during the race. He
will shuttle dogs, judges, checkers and veterinarians, as well as transport supplies,
tents, food, beds and more across the Alaska tundra.
“I’ve had to sleep in my plane, land on the trail and wait out storms,”
said Dr. Mayer, who has logged around 2,000 flight hours over 25 years
of being a pilot for the race. Despite some challenging situations, Dr.
Mayer finds this to be his favorite time of the year and knows there is a
support system within the race. “I have a series of brothers looking out
for me.”
Come cheer on Dr. Selland during the Iditarod ceremonial start
with the AHVI team at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Cordova
Street in Anchorage on Saturday, March 7, beginning at 10 a.m. The
Iditarod Restart will now take place in Fairbanks on Monday, March 9,
beginning at 10 a.m. For more details about the race, visit
Iditarod.com.
F O L L O W U S O N FA C E B O O K
W W W. A L A S K A H E A R T. C O M
907.561.3211
MEET THE
ALASKA HEART &
VASCULAR INSTITUTE
TEAM
Lead Imaging RN Katie Smith
Katie Smith, the Alaska Heart & Vascular Institute’s lead imaging nurse, has only
lived in Anchorage for two years, but she and her family have quickly become
part of the community. They have been getting involved in the American Heart
Association’s Heart Run and Heart Walk, as well as other events that AHVI sponsors.
Katie and her husband Eric often bring their 5-year-old daughter Peyton along to
instill the importance of volunteering at a young age.
Feature
Eric, Peyton and Katie Smith (starting
from the left) volunteered at the 2014
Heart Walk with the AHVI team.
“She loves it,” Katie said. “She thinks she’s the team mascot.”
with cranberries, apricots and golden raisins
From the Kitchen of Natasha Price of AlaskaKnitNat.com
Oatmeal doesn’t have to come from a packet: making your own isn’t difficult, and it is healthier.
Instant oatmeal packets contain a lot of sugar, sometimes as much as three teaspoons, which is
not a healthy way to start the morning. This heart-healthy variation from Natasha Price, a lifelong
Alaskan who blogs about cooking and crafting, is a great way to jumpstart your day. It’s packed with
nutrients such as potassium, which helps control blood pressure by blunting the effects of sodium,
and fiber that helps reduce blood cholesterol levels. View more recipes at AlaskaKnitNat.com.
“I think it’s important to get involved in the community and reach out to people,”
Katie said. “It’s important that we get out in the community and explain things
to them because not everyone is aware of heart disease and the risk factors. It’s
important for my daughter to see that interaction.”
Volunteering is one of Peyton’s favorite things to do now. At the Heart Walk in
September, team members loaded up Peyton with as much AHVI gear as possible
-- headbands, sunglasses, gloves and t-shirts.
O atmeal
Alaskan Chef
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 cup rolled oats
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons dried cranberries
2 tablespoons dried apricots, chopped
2 tablespoons golden raisins
1 tablespoon agave nectar (optional)
Directions:
Place water, salt and dried fruit in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the oats, turn down heat and simmer until all
the water is absorbed, about six minutes. Add agave nectar to taste. Makes two servings.
For Katie, the biggest reward is seeing patients enjoying life outside of AHVI.
“It’s always nice to see our patients walking and participating,” Katie said. “You see patients’ families say, ‘You saved
their life.’ It’s great to get to interact with the patients, hear their stories and see how far they’ve come.”
As the lead imaging nurse, Katie oversees the nursing side of the imaging department, which includes PET-CT scans,
CT scans, echocardiograms and MRIs.
Her husband Eric, who serves in the Air Force and is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, recently extended
his tour in Alaska. Katie is excited to continue working at AHVI and volunteering.
“I want to continue to watch the institute and the imaging department grow,” she said.
Once again, the Alaska Heart & Vascular Institute is
proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Alaska Heart
Run benefiting the American Heart Association.
Join us for the 2015 Heart Run on Saturday, April 25, at the new Alaska Airlines
Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Everyone is welcome to be part of
our team as we walk and run to raise funds for the American Heart Association’s many important
missions, from heart disease and stroke research to prevention of these diseases, which combined
are the nation’s number one killer. As always, we will be working with the American Heart Association
to provide red survivor hats, as well.
For race information or to join our team today, visit: http://heartrun.kintera.org/.
HEART–FRIENDLY
CALENDAR
March 4 // Go Red For Women Conference & Luncheon
and Men’s Red Tie Breakfast
Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Conference: 8:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Learn more at AnchorageGoRedLuncheon.AHAEvents.org.
March 7 // Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Ceremonial Start
WHERE: Fourth Avenue. Races start at 10 a.m.
Learn more at Iditarod.com and come help us cheer on
AHVI’s own Dr. Selland!
March 7 // Running of the Reindeer
WHERE: G St. and Fourth Ave. Event starts at 4 p.m.
Learn more at FurRondy.net.
March 14 // Skinny Raven Shamrock Shuffle
WHERE: Bear Tooth Theatrepub. Event starts at 9:30 a.m.
Learn more at SkinnyRaven.com/races/shamrock-shuffle/.
S
April 25 // Alaska Heart Run
WHERE: Alaska Airlines Center. Event starts at 9:30 a.m.
Join our team at HeartRun.Kintera.org/.
May 6 // Do Run-Run
WHERE: West end of Ship Creek trailhead. Event starts at
5:30 p.m.
Learn more at AnchorageRunningClub.org.
May 23 // Trent/Waldron Glacier Half Marathon and
Pulsator 10K
WHERE: Westchester Lagoon. Event starts at 8 a.m.
Learn more at AnchorageRunningClub.org.
May 30 // The Color Run - Fairbanks
Learn more at TheColorRun.com/fairbanks/.
WORD SEARCH
SERUM
BALTO
ANCHORAGE
IDITAROD
DOGSLED
MUSHER
NOME
CHAMPION
IDITAROD
HISTORIC
BURLED ARCH
SLED DOG
CHECKPOINT
RED LANTERN
TRAIL
WILLOW
D
G
A
E
D
S
D
R
S
X
X
X
L
M
S
B
C
A
R
T
B
A
L
C
N
B
H
E
D
U
O W
Z
V
M
U
S
H
O
L
J
N
T
R
S
R
E
T
N
B
N
E
C
E
U
D
E
C
H
R
X
C
D
C
K
E
R
M
R
O
M
I
K
A
P
D
Y
F
K
D
J
H
R
N
E
I
T
Z
D
L
A
N
T
I
R
I
Y
U
T
M
U
N
R
B
H
B
R
E
Q
D
W
C
H
A M
P
I
B
W
I
L
O
L
A
L
T
O
S
Q W W
Y
W
Q
G
R
E
T
I
Y
U
O
P
O
F
A
M
P
R
D
S
A
G
H
O
A
K
H
G
O
G
K
I
G
J
S
W
G
O
S
N
E
E
R
N
A
S
A
F
T
I
Y
U
L
O
L
D
H
I
S
T
O
R
I
C
E
J
I
D
I
T
A
R
O
D
D
O
N
L
R
V
G
E
A
R
W
N
T
M
Z
X
C
X
V