carolyn was born in rural Texas, poor as Job’s turkey, where she was raised by her grandmother. Following her childhood wish to become a doctor, she went to medical school in North Carolina where she met and married the love of her life, George, in 1964. The following year they moved to Alaska, birthed two darling children and worked all over the state.
While in Alaska, carolyn did two different residencies in preventive medicine and obstetrics/gynecology before setting up a non-profit medical practice for ten years. She then worked on the faculty in ob-gyn at the University of Vermont before returning to Alaska to work for the Department of Health and Social Services. She and George left for Kenya, Africa to work during the HIV epidemic from 2004-2006. They came back to Alaska and tried to retire but discovered that retirement didn’t quite work that way.
carolyn joined the JAMHI Board to offer her background in health care, preventive medicine and public health, as well as many different life experiences that have honed her critical thinking. She cites two major gifts that have assisted her in “living her own best life” and inspires her to further JAMHI’s mission to help others to do the same. She credits her grandmother who early on became #1 in her life, and her husband who helped secure her acceptance as a person who has a right to belong. She knows what it’s like to grow up being considered “poor white trash,” a status she wouldn’t wish on anyone. She believes that education, relationship, acceptance and caring are values that offer a better approach to life.
As a surgeon, she admits she’s a little on the side of being perfectionistic at times but that doesn’t stop her from appreciating clean jokes when they are available.