North Star Welcomes Physician’s Assistant

The Chugachmiut Health Services Division recently welcomed physician’s assistant David Norcross, PA-C, to its Seward staff.

David was born and raised on the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota. He is a Pillager Band member, the most war-like band of the Anishinabe (Chippewa or Ojibway). David is in the last generation of Anishinabe speakers.

During the Southeast Asian War, he joined the military along with his brothers where he served as a military medic.

After completing his military duty, David was accepted at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he earned his degree as a physician’s assistant. He worked in the lower 48 after graduation for three years before coming to Alaska.

Upon arrival in the early eighties, David worked for the Indian Health Service and spent his first year on St. Paul Island. He then worked with the Community Health Aide Program at the original Alaska Native Medical Center, and was recruited to work in Bethel as an instructor teaching health aide and other human services courses.

David spent some time with the University of Alaska until 1998 as an Assistant Professor of Health Science. He then worked as a primary care physician’s assistant and was the psychiatric physician’s assistant for the 52 village Bethel Service Unit. In 2001, David was hired by the State of Alaska to run the medical department at Spring Creek Correctional Center where he stayed until June 2013.

David came to Chugachmiut in November 2013. “I am very proud to be working with Native people once again,” David said.