The Alaska Service Area of Providence Health System became involved with the Iditarod for many reasons:
The Sisters of Providence have strong historic ties to the City of Nome where they first arrived (by dogsled) to begin their Alaska health care ministry in 1902. We now operate a little hospital in Seward--the original starting point of the trail.
· The race commemorates a medical crisis in Nome and the delivery of life-saving diphtheria serum by these incredible sled dog teams.
· The Providence sponsorship commitment was to use the Iditarod as a health promotion vehicle. And this is working very well.
1. We are able to use the top mushers (who are Alaska's version of Super Bowl heroes) for both dog and people health promotion activities--immunizations, good nutrition and other healthy lifestyles. These mushers are tremendous role models and are very effective with their messages.
2. Providence has brought together the Iditarod's chief veterinarian, two of our Providence staff physicians (a pathologist and internal medicine specialist) who run teams in the Iditarod and three other top mushers to develop a children's book called "Gusty Gets A Puppy". The book is specifically designed to teach children (especially in rural Alaska) dog care, safety and training. We published it cooperatively with the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation, the Indian Health Service and the Iditarod in an effort to deal with the real problem of dog bites among children especially in rural Alaska. Twenty thousand books have gone out around the state--including every school library.
3. As for the dogs' safety . . . Providence's laboratory handles the blood work for two "Health Fairs" for all the dogs (1200 of them) prior to the race as part of our sponsorship and The veterinarians involved in the race believe the information we are gaining from these tests will establishing veterinary medicine breakthroughs that will be of great service to all dogs.
4. As for the dog's care . . . the Iditarod has proven over and over again that loved, socialized well-kept dogs are the teams that are successful. This is the message that is going out loud and clear to all dog team owners in the state.
She concluded by noting that Providence has just committed to three more years' sponsorship of the Iditarod.