Nuka Learning Program

As Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care continues to be nationally and internationally recognized, SCF has received requests from all over the world for opportunities to learn from both clinical and non-clinical areas of SCF. In response, SCF has developed a robust learning program.

If you’re seeking opportunities such as family medicine residency rotations, externships, internships, and clinical and non-clinical rotations, SCF’s Nuka Learning Program provides immersive, culturally appropriate, and relationship-based experiences in SCF’s Alaska Native owned and operated health care system.

Opportunities are provided in three learning pathways: Discover, Learn, and Transform.

To maintain a balance and continue with Southcentral Foundation’s commitment to quality customer-owner and relationship-based care, SCF constantly evaluates the number of experiential training opportunities we can support. Currently, opportunities in the clinical concentration are available. Concentrations in customer and community engagement, leadership and governance, workforce development, and infrastructure will be available in the future.

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Clinical opportunities are available for learners (students, residents, and externs) to work and learn in medical services (primary care, pediatrics, integrated care teams), behavioral health (including psychiatric residencies), tribal and community-based services, and dental.

An 11-month Nuka Improvement Internship and Nuka Improvement Fellowship within Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care utilizing a relationship-based, customer-owned approach to transforming health care.

To support individuals interested in pursuing professions within the health care industry, SCF provides limited opportunities for students to follow medical providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists, dental hygienist, nurses, certified medical assistants and more.

Southcentral Foundation is committed to employing fully qualified employees in all positions and increasing the number of Alaska Native and American Indian individuals in all clinical job categories. To support this goal, Southcentral Foundation is in the process of developing a scholarship program to support students attending school for CMA, Nursing, Behavioral Health or DHAT positions.

Discover

Professionals seeking opportunities to learn more about SCF’s Nuka System of Care can select from a variety of trainings and events, many of which offer registration for reduced student rates. Customized site visits and observation opportunities up to a week are also available.

Learn

Dynamic, interactive learning and on-the-job experiences are provided through an affiliation with a school or academic program. Students seeking clinical or non-clinical rotations, externships, Capstone projects, and practicums are encouraged to fill out a request. Applications open in February.

Transform

The Transform learning pathway provides deep-dive clinical and non-clinical rotations to meet the objectives of clinical programs while providing support to SCF Preceptors. Graduate students, post-graduate students, residents, interns, fellows, and professionals (including those on sabbatical) are provided this unique opportunity to enhance their professional experience.

Out of care for the safety and well-being of customer-owners, visitors, and employees, effective immediately Southcentral Foundation requires all students, residents, externs and Learning Institute visitors to have completed COVID-19 vaccination prior to arriving on campus.

We appreciate your understanding and willingness to help keep the community safe!

Testimonials

This hospital is amazing and the experiences I have gained here, I know I could not have obtained anywhere else! Thank you all so much!
– CMA Extern

SCF is an amazing place because of all the integrated disciples within the clinic. It was great to see them collaborate to provide the best care to the patients.
– PA Student

Every employee I worked and interacted with during my fieldwork was friendly and supportive, from the therapy techs to the therapists and doctors.
– DPSY Student

Communication was great and the overall experience in the clinic was wonderful. Everyone worked well together to provide me a variety of experiences and learning opportunities.
– NP Student

Academic Affiliations

A.T. Still University
Alaska Career College
Alaska Family Medicine Residency
Alaska Pacific University
Baylor University
Bradley University
Brescia University
Burrell College Of Osteopathic Medicine
California Southern University
Capella University
Carson-Newman University
Central Michigan University
Charter College
Creighton University
Concordia University
Drexel University
Dublin Methodist
Duke University
Eastern Kentucky University
Elon University
Frontier Nursing University
Florida Southern College PT
Gonzaga University
George Fox University
Geisel School Of Medicine Dartmouth
Harvard Medical School
Hawaii Pacific University
Herzing University
Idaho State University

Iowa State University Of Science And Technology
Keith And Associates Distance Dietetic Internship
Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine
LG Family And Community Medicine Residency Program
Lynchburg College
Maryville University
Medical College Of Wisconsin
Messiah College
Montana State University
Muskingham University
Naropa University
New York University/Lutheran
Northeast Regional Medical Center Residency program
Northern Vermont University
Oklahoma State University
Oregon Health and Science University
Pacific Northwest University
Pacific University of Physical Therapy
Purdue Global University
Puget Sound University
Quinnipiac University
Regis College
Rush University Medical Center
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Saybrook University
Salish Kootenai College
St. Augustine’s  (DOPT)
St Mary’s Family Practice
South College School Of Physical Therapy
SUNY Upstate Medical School keep
Stanford University

Texas Wesleyan University
Tufts University School Of Medicine
Uniformed Service University Of Health Sciences
University Of Alaska Anchorage
University Of California Davis Health
University Of California San Francisco School Of Medicine
University Of Connecticut
University Of Iowa School Of Dentistry
University Of Massachusetts
University Of Minnesota Medical School
University Of Phoenix
University of Puget Sound
University Of Washington
University of Washington MEDEX
University Of Western States
Walden University
Walter Reed University
Washburn University
Western Governors University
Western Michigan University
Western New Mexico University
Yale School of Medicine

Additional Resources

Tribal Research Review

Information on the Tribal review process associated with conducting research studies at SCF