Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/517095
CMU alum Sarah Roberts pretty much does it all as a family physician, and she cares for people in one of the most unforgiving and breathtakingly beautiful places in America – Alaska. There's an urgent demand for healthcare there, and the state's rugged landscape and limited infrastructure makes it difficult to reach residents. "People get on little planes and boats and fly to us – they actually have to fly to see a doctor," says Roberts, who lives and works in Homer, a remote town of about 5,000 where roads are sparse and need is plenty. Roberts' path to the land of glaciers, oil rigs and world-class fishing came by way of Mount Pleasant, where she earned her bachelor of science degree in 2004 before heading off to Michigan State University for her M.D. Her choice of residency pointed her in several directions before eventually taking her to the northwest extremity of North America in 2008. Roberts has been practicing medicine "Northern Exposure"-style ever since. "Homer is known as the end of the road," she says. "It's home to the singer Jewel, the Kilchers (stars of the Discovery Channel series 'Alaska: The Last Frontier') and the biggest halibut in the world." The fish might be abundant, but there aren't enough doctors to meet the state's needs. During her residency in Anchorage and rural rotations in Bethel, Roberts flew in little planes from village to village to treat the state's sick and injured residents. "We may have been the only doctor to fly in, in over a month," she says. "Small villages in Alaska are staffed with health aids. They are high-school graduates with some training, and they do 'cookbook medicine.'" Roberts gravitated toward family medicine because she loves doing everything. She gets her fill at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, a critical access hospital, which is a medical center that caters to the medically underserved. "I do deliveries and C-sections. I also take care of people in the hospital and do ER shifts and clinic. There are no dull days," she says. When she's not easing pain, bringing new life into the world and saving lives, Sarah is busy taking in Alaska with husband, Aaron, an electrical engineer in the oil industry, and their 1-year-old son, Elijah. "Winters are long and dark, but summers are truly amazing," she says. "We fish in the bay, boat and kayak all summer. We have a huge garden, and I ride my horse on the beach. We go bear viewing and – really – we got married on a glacier. "We live Alaska every day." Roberts received CMU's Leader Advancement Scholarship as a senior at Rockford High School. The program recognizes 40 young leaders and awards them $8,000 scholarships. Once she arrived on campus, her time was filled with clubs and homecoming and trips to CMU's biological station on Beaver Island. She says her days as a Chippewa were essential to her development as a leader. "I draw on that every single day as I care for people," she says. "Now I'm trying to put my stamp on family medicine in Alaska." > 'Homer is known as the end of the road' 8 centralight spring '15