Arctic Slope Native Association Operates Samuel Simmonds Hospital, Provides Social Services

Arctic Slope Native Association (ASNA) is a major regional healthcare and social-services organization that operates Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital and runs community programs aimed at supporting health, travel, education, and end-of-life needs across the Arctic Slope. ASNA’s presence matters to residents who rely on its clinical services, assisted living capacity, and targeted social supports.

ASNA’s website emphasizes that “ASNA Social Services play an integral role in the health of our communities.” The Social Services department, the site says, “provide a broad spectrum of services” that “range from general assistance programs for times of need to scholarship opportunities for students pursuing educational opportunities.” The organization adds that “Every branch of the ASNA Social Services department works for the health and well-being of the people of the Arctic Slope.”

ASNA operates Aimaaġvik Assisted Living, described as “Aimaaġvik is a 12-bed facility with six shared rooms.” Longtime ASNA employee Diane (Dee) Nosbisch is listed as director of Aimaaġvik Assisted Living. The assisted living facility expands local capacity for elder care and supports community members who need consistent supervision and services close to home.

The Medical Travel and Funeral Assistance Program (MTFA) is singled out for cultural grounding. The MTFA page opens with the line, “Some of the most difficult decisions to make in health care involve how to pay to access the services you need and where to get help when someone we love passes on.” The program “supports the traditional Iñupiat values of compassion, cooperation, and love and respect for one another.” For families facing regional travel costs or funeral expenses, MTFA provides an institutional pathway that recognizes cultural obligations and financial strain.

ASNA also promotes workforce development through the Guy Okakok, Sr. program, which appears under the heading “Guy Okakok, Sr. Leadership Award” while the body text states, “In support of Arctic Slope Native Association’s mission to promote the health and well-being of the people of the Arctic Slope, the Guy Okakok, Sr. Scholarship will be offered to tribal members of the Arctic Slope region who are interested in health care or social service careers.” That scholarship or award aims to create locally trained health and social service professionals, a critical equity strategy for a region with unique access challenges.

Contact details listed for local access are: Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital, PO Box 29, 7000 Uula Street, Barrow, Alaska 99723. Main Line: 907 852 2762. Toll Free: 800 478 3033. Arctic Slope Native Association, PO Box 1232, 7000 Uula Street, Barrow, Alaska 99723. Main Line: 907 852 2762. Toll Free: 800 478 3033.

The site invites residents to “STAY IN THE LOOP” and to “Click the subscribe button to sign up for our newsletter.” The web content is marked “© 2026 Arctic Slope Native Association. All Rights Reserved.” and includes privacy notes such as “Your Privacy is important to us.”

A few items need clarification from ASNA to fully assess service scope and planning. The organization is described in one summary as “headquartered in Utqiaġvik,” while contact blocks list Barrow mailing addresses; a truncated line reads “provides programs including public health nursing, behavio,” and the Guy Okakok, Sr. entry uses both “Leadership Award” and “Scholarship.” Confirming those details will help residents and policymakers understand capacity, eligibility, and how ASNA’s programs can be accessed or expanded. For now, the facts point to ASNA as a central provider of health and culturally grounded social supports for the North Slope region.