Physicians
Mary Mattern, Physician Resident
Hello! Thank you Juneau for being such a welcoming city. My name is Mary Mattern and I am a family medicine resident doctor from Cincinnati, OH. I was lucky enough to be approved for a rural rotation here in Juneau with Valley Medical Care to help me in my medical training as I get closer and closer to choosing where I might want to practice family medicine in the future. Raised in the corn fields and stoney creeks of Indiana, I have always had a love for small towns and outdoor adventures. I am from a family of 6- my mother a gym teacher and my father a family counselor. I am the proud aunt of 4 mischievious nieces and nephews. I enjoy playing sand volleyball, planting flowers, camping/backpacking, water sports, salsa dancing, and learning Spanish. I enjoy everything about family medicine and am honored to take care of people every day. Some of my favorite medical topics are mental health, adolescent medicine, women’s health, addiction medicine, global health, and diabetes management. I look forward to meeting many of you and working here in Juneau the month of May!
Jeannette Cook, MD
Dr. Cook grew up in Texas and initially came to Alaska for a summer job in college. She graduated from Brigham Young University in conservation biology, then returned to Alaska. She graduated from University of Washington School of Medicine, and then completed a family medicine residency in Ventura, California. She returned to Juneau after completing residency and worked intermittently in Kodiak, Bartlett Regional Hospital and Valley Medical Care before joining the VMC group full time. She is board certified in family medicine and enjoys the full range of medical care.
Taylor Dunn, MD
Dr. Dunn is from Choteau, Montana. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Lewis and Clark College and his medical degree from the University of Washington. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Ventura County, CA. He is board certified in Family Medicine. Dr. Dunn has special interests in procedures and family planning.
Dorothy Hernandez, MD
Dorothy Hernandez is originally from New York. She loves traveling and has lived in several states before settling in Juneau in 2003. Her BA is from Oberlin College, Ohio and her medical degree is from University of Texas. She completed her residency in Ventura California. She was only planning on being in Juneau temporarily but she and her husband Don Schneider have become an active part of the community including hiking and hockey. She enjoys all aspects of family practice and has a focus on women’s health. She speaks Spanish.
Danny Kim, MD
Dr. Kim was born in Chicago, Illinois. He received his bachelor’s degree in Religion and Pre-Medicine from Pacific Union College and his medical degree from Northwestern University. He completed his residency training at Tacoma General Hospital and is board certified in Family Medicine. Prior to moving to Juneau, he served in the U.S. Air Force and trained resident physicians at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. His special interests include obstetrics, pediatrics, endoscopy, and minor surgery. He is married and has two children.
Anya Maier, MD
Dr. Maier was born in Juneau, AK. She received both her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Washington. She completed her residency in Family Practice at St. Peter Family Practice in Olympia, WA and is board certified in Family Medicine. She lives in Gustavus, AK with her husband and daughter and commutes to work at Valley Medical Care.
Joe Roth, MD
Dr. Roth received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Whitman College and his medical degree from the University of Washington. He completed his residency in Family Practice at Spokane Family Medicine–Colville rural training track. He is board certified in Family Medicine.
Don Schneider, MD
Dr. Schneider received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Pacific Union College and his medical degree from Loma Linda University. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Ventura, CA and is board certified in Family Medicine. He is married.
Bob Urata, MD
Dr. Urata was born in Wrangell, AK. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Northwestern University and his medical degree from the University of Washington. He is board certified in Family Medicine with added qualification in Geriatrics and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He previously held positions at the Neighborhood Health Centers (Holly Park Medical Clinic) in Seattle from 1980-84 and with SEARHC Medical Clinic in Juneau from 1984-86. Bob is married with 3 children and 2 grandsons.
Priscilla Valentine, MD
Dr. Valentine was born and raised to age 10 years in the Philippines, where her parents were Episcopal missionaries. She received her medical degree from the University of Washington. She completed a residency in Family Medicine at Rochester NY, followed by a fellowship in OB/GYN for Family Physicians. She is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special medical interests include healthy pregnancy/childbirth, healthy lifestyle promotion and screening for medical disease and early treatment.
Richard Welling, MD
Dr. Welling was born in Anchorage, AK. He received his undergraduate degree in French and Chemistry from Brigham Young University and his medical degree from the University of Washington. He completed a residency in Family Practice with OB at the University of Utah. He is board certified in Family Medicine. He is married and has four children.
Nurse Practitioners
Rachel Gladhart, CNM
Rachel was born in Wichita, KS. She received her undergraduate degree in History from Grinnell College. She received her BS and Masters in Nursing from Columbia University. She is a Certified Nurse Midwife. She specializes in reproductive health, prenatal care, women’s health, fertility, and birth control services including IUDs and Nexplanon management. Rachel also manages the VMC Doula program.
Matthew Jones, FNP
Matt was born in Haines, AK. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology/nursing from Whitworth College and his advanced practice nursing training at Oregon Health Sciences University. He is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. He previously worked at OHSU. He has two adopted children.
Lindsey Leder, FNP
Lindsey Leder is a lifelong southeast Alaskan who graduated with her Bachelors of Nursing Science from Harding University in 2011. She worked in surgery for five years as an RN well as small stints in pediatrics, urology and long term care while pursuing her Masters of Science in Nursing degree. She graduated from University of Alaska Anchorage in 2015 with an emphasis in family practice as a certified nurse practitioner. She enjoys traveling and exploring our beautiful hometown with her husband and young son. She has been a part of the Valley Medical team since 2015.
Tina Pleasants, FNP
Tina was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska and has been employed by Valley Medical Care as a Family Nurse Practitioner since 2011. She earned her undergraduate degree in nursing from Washington State University and completed her Family Nurse Practitioner degree at Arizona State University. She also has advanced training in wound, ostomy, and continence care through Emory University, as well as advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing through the University of Cincinnati. She has worked in the healthcare field since 1999 and has experience in a wide variety of health care settings including assisted living facilities, skilled nursing homes, inpatient acute care, community behavioral health, as well as primary care. She and her husband reside in Juneau where they are raising their 5 children.
Sarah Sjostedt, FNP
Sarah Sjostedt received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Seattle University and worked in public health in Seattle for two years prior to relocating to Juneau. She worked at Bartlett Regional Hospital as a nurse for eight years and completed her graduate training at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she received her Masters of Science in Nursing. She is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Sarah has special interests in alternative and preventative health. She enjoys the outdoors and traveling internationally to perform medical service work.
Rebecca Young, FNP
Rebecca Young graduated from Harrisburg Area Community College with an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1991, specializing in critical care. She moved to Southeast Alaska in 1996 to pursue a career in flight nursing. In 2001 she attended the University of Anchorage Alaska and obtained her Master’s Degree in Nursing, specializing in Family Practice. Rebecca has 27 years of health care experience and has worked at Valley Medical Care as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) since 2005.
Other Staff
Lea Ike, Practice Administrator
Lea was born in Newfoundland, Canada and raised in North San Diego County. She moved to Juneau in 1980 and for 19 years worked in management positions with the various owners of a communications company seeing them through the growth from a local cable company to a multi-services statewide service provider. For the next 10 years she enjoyed a slower paced life employed with a local dentist. She joined the management team at Valley Medical Care in 2009. Lea has 2 children and 2 granddaughters.