Philip Hofstetter announced as Alaska’s 2023 “Community Star”

November 13, 2023 / ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Department of Health is pleased to announce Philip “Phil” Hofstetter, CEO of Petersburg Medical Center (PMC), has been named Alaska’s 2023 “Community Star” by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH).

Phil moved to rural Alaska in 1998, where he found 'his calling’ to serve rural communities. In his own words, Phil reflects, “PMC makes a major difference by not only serving patients in the hospital but empowering health and wellness through collaborative partnerships, accessible care at home, health education and focus on prevention and wellness activities.” Phil and PMC have advanced local healthcare through numerous programs, including the “Kinderskog” local childcare outdoor activities program, which has grown and created more sustainable programming for the area.

On the third Thursday of November, NOSORH leads National Rural Health Day (NRHD), an annual celebration that shines a light on those who serve the vital health needs of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America. Phil will be featured prominently on the official NRHD website, PowerOfRural.org, on November 16, 2023, alongside other Community Stars from across the nation. This platform will showcase each Star’s remarkable dedication and contributions to rural healthcare.

The Community Star Recognition Program was established in 2015 in conjunction with NRHD to tell the stories of the people and organizations who make a difference in rural communities. Since then, over 300 inspiring rural stars have been honored nationwide on NRHD.

Additional information about National Rural Health Day can be found at PowerOfRural.org. To learn more about The Alaska Department of Health, visit https://dhss.alaska.gov/pages/default.aspx.

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