Capstone Family Medicine offers family care to Mat-Su

Valley Hospital continues to recruit physicians to meet the needs of the growing Mat-Su community. Recognizing the community's need for additional primary care physicians, Valley Hospital helped to establish Capstone Family Medicine in December 2003 with three physicians on staff: Wade Erickson, MD, Elizabeth Turgeon, MD and Jill Valerius, MD. Capstone Family Medicine offers a full spectrum of family practice services, including obstetrics, lab, X-ray and optometric services on-site. In addition, Capstone accommodates same-day appointments and the physicians make follow-up calls to closely monitor their patients' healthcare.

Dr. Erickson graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed his family practice residency at Chicago's MacNeal Memorial Hospital in 2001. An avid outdoor enthusiast, he and his wife, Heather, an optometrist, found Alaska met all their interests: hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling and most recently the Iditarod. The spirit and reception of Mat-Su's residents convinced them to call the Valley their home. Dr. Erickson jumped right into community involvement by becoming the team doctor for the Mat-Su Miners.

Dr. Elizabeth Turgeon recently moved from Cordova Community Hospital to join Capstone. Dr. Turgeon spent five years providing healthcare in Cordova and sought to establish a practice in another tight-knit community in Alaska where she could maximize physician-patient contact. Like Dr. Erickson, Dr. Turgeon was attracted to the Mat-Su by the plethora of outdoor activities, good schools and the wholesome environment for her family.

To round out the practice, Dr. Erickson recruited medical school classmate Dr. Jill Valerius. Her prior experience includes hospital emergency medicine and athletic training. Dr. Valerius sought an environment where she could focus on strong patient care while building lasting relationships with her patients. Her avocations include skiing, trail running, mountain biking, fishing and serving as a trail doctor for the 2004 Junior Iditarod.

This month, Capstone diversified its offering by opening the Capstone Eye Clinic staffed by Heather J. Erickson, OD. Dr. Erickson graduated in 1999 from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. Areas of expertise include co-managing laser surgery (lasik) patients and pediatric optometry. Along with her husband Wade, she is committed to creating a practice with strong ties to the community.

Family medicine is the branch of medicine that provides continuing comprehensive general health care to people, regardless of age or gender, while placing particular emphasis on the family unit. Capstone Family Medicine and Eye Clinic is accepting new patients and invites Valley residents to visit the clinic in the Garrett Building at 3223 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway and review their services. The Capstone mission is to treat the whole person through comprehensive care. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 357-9590.