Alaska Urological Institute was the first urological practice in the state. It’s hard to believe that our doors opened over 30 years ago. During that time, AUI has been at the forefront of many new technologies and treatments. Some of those included pediatric urology, lithotripsy, robotic surgery, cryotherapy, clinical trials and urogynecology. AUI has always been dedicated to giving back to the community and ready to lend a hand, supporting local fundraisers and nonprofits. When it comes to helping our neighbors in need, we are proud to have offered more than $3 million of free care last year. As with any practice, it is necessary to keep up with the times. As our patient base grew to 17,000, it was time for us to look at how we could better serve the people of Alaska and so began the vision of AUI’s future. How does a vision become reality? If you ask Doctors William Clark and Robert Allen and CEO Tina Presley, it is dedication and determination to provide Alaskans with the best medical care possible, without patients leaving the state. Watching patients leave the state to receive quality cancer treatment was not acceptable for this dynamic trio. Family, home, community and excellent medical care needed to be available here in Alaska for all patients. Thus, we began the journey to create a new vision of healthcare. We were committed to providing all the resources and technology of a large healthcare center, but on a more personal scale. Having a staff of doctors who are experts in one or more specialties, a team approach to patient care and a patient-centered staff set the foundation for the project. It took three years and what often seemed like insurmountable obstacles, but in February of this year, Alaska Urological Institute and our new venture, Alaska Cancer Treatment Center, joined Alaska Institute of Surgical and Medical Specialties to become the first sub-specialty, comprehensive care center in Alaska. We are pleased to now offer these services: oncology and hematology, radiation therapy, office-based procedures, in-house imaging, advanced robotic surgery, lithotripsy, clinical trials and women’s health services. It is with great pride that we share our vision of delivering better healthcare to Alaskans.
