April 1st, 2021

A Letter from Dr. Beesley

My dear families,

It is with both sadness and joy that I write to let you know that I will be leaving Anchorage Pediatric Group in July 2021. Many of you know that my family and I had planned to go abroad in July 2020. Well, for obvious reasons, we put that plan on hold. We are again thinking of going.  Although now I know to hold my plans lightly, we will likely be going abroad in July.  We plan to be gone for at least a year, and what comes on the other side of that adventure is a bit unknown.

What I do know is what an honor and joy it has been to get to know you and take care of your children for the past 11 years. I am humbled and full of immense gratitude that you have allowed me to be a small part of your family story. I do not take it lightly that you have trusted me with your children and allowed me to try to help you in meaningful ways. The daily miracle of watching your children grow and learn has been the greatest gift that I could ever imagine. I hold your children, your families, and the stories that we have shared dear. 

The only thing that could draw me away from so many deep and rich relationships is my own family. The pandemic has challenged me to reconsider every aspect of my life and called into question all of my assumptions. While I am still figuring out this shifting landscape, it has become clear to me that I need to take space and time to be fully present for my family. It seems that every time I blink, my children are three inches taller.

Even though I am leaving, you are still part of the Anchorage Pediatric Group family. I leave you all in the trusted and capable hands of my partners, who will pick up your story where we left off. I will miss you greatly, but it helps to know that you will be well cared for.

In gratitude,

Susan Beesley MD

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Mis queridas familias,

Es con tristeza y alegría que les escribo para informarles que dejaré Anchorage Pediatric Group en julio de 2021. Muchos de ustedes saben que mi familia y yo habíamos planeado ir al extranjero en julio de 2020. Bueno, por razones obvias, dejamos ese plan en espera. De nuevo estamos pensando en ir. Aunque ahora sé que debo mantener mis planes a la ligera, es probable que nos vayamos al extranjero en julio. Planeamos irnos por al menos un año, y lo que viene al otro lado de esa aventura es un poco desconocido.

Lo que sí sé es el honor y la alegría que ha sido conocerte y cuidar a tus hijos durante los últimos 11 años. Me siento honrado y lleno de inmensa gratitud por haberme permitido ser una pequeña parte de la historia de su familia. No me tomo a la ligera que me haya confiado a sus hijos y me haya permitido tratar de ayudarlo de manera significativa. El milagro diario de ver crecer y aprender a sus hijos ha sido el regalo más grande que jamás pude imaginar. Aprecio a sus hijos, sus familias y las historias que hemos compartido.

Lo único que podría alejarme de tantas relaciones profundas y ricas es mi propia familia. La pandemia me ha desafiado a reconsiderar cada aspecto de mi vida y ha puesto en duda todas mis suposiciones. Mientras todavía estoy descubriendo este paisaje cambiante, me ha quedado claro que necesito tomar espacio y tiempo para estar completamente presente para mi familia. Parece que cada vez que parpadeo, mis hijos son siete centímetros más altos.

Aunque me voy, Uds. siguen siendo parte de la familia del Anchorage Pediatric Group. Los dejo a todos en las manos confiables y capaces de mis socios, quienes retomarán su historia donde la dejamos. Se extrañaré mucho, pero es útil saber que se atenderán bien.

 En agradecimiento,

 Susan Beesley MD

February 23rd, 2021

A Letter from Dr. Alexander

Dear patients and families,

I am writing to all of you to thank each of you for giving me the privilege of being your and/or your children’s pediatrician for the past 30 years.  This has truly been my dream medical practice.  I have said repeatedly over the years that my favorite part of my job has been getting to know all of you and watching your families grow and grow up.  I have seen many of you since birth, throughout your childhood and growing into young adults then becoming parents yourselves.   There is no bigger compliment a pediatrician can get, than to have a former patient bring his or her own children to you.  I cannot believe how fast the past 30 years have flown by.  Judging by the age of my own children and now grandchildren, I guess it really has been that long.  As much as I have loved my job, my patients, and Anchorage Pediatric Group, it is time for my retirement.  Many of you know that one of my great loves has been to travel which is what my husband and I plan to do a lot of while we are still able to get out and experience some adventures.  We love Alaska and our grandkids live here, so we plan to keep Anchorage as our home base.  I look forward to running into you in the grocery store and around town still.  My retirement date is December 31, 2021 so I will still be here all year.  Hopefully, I will get a chance to see you all and say thank you and goodbye in person.  Anchorage Pediatric Group will of course still be here for you after my retirement.  Once again, thank you for a wonderful 30 years.

Janet Alexander MD

February 15th, 2021

A Letter from Dr. Butto

Dearest Patients,

I am excited to announce the opening of my new private practice, Aurora Pediatrics, in April 2021. I will be sharing a space with Dr. Stephen Baker on the Alaska Regional Hospital Campus (2925 Debarr Rd Suite 125, phone number: 907-885-4337). As a partner and partial owner of APG for more than twenty years, I am leaving with many great memories and experiences. I am proud of the years of service I have had at APG and am looking forward to many more years of caring for the children of Alaska.

 This year has been a stressful one as healthcare providers work to serve the needs of our patients in the safest way possible. Providing an intimate practice setting and care delivery model is my goal. Being a pediatrician is my greatest joy and I intend to practice for many years into the future. I am happy to see current, new, and former patients at Aurora Pediatrics. Thank you for your understanding and support as I make this transition.

 Sincerely,

 Jody Butto

NOTE: If you would like to remain with Dr. Butto and follow her to her new practice, Aurora Pediatrics, please fill out a Release of Information form (can be found on our website at apgkids.com) and return it to our office promptly for a smooth transition of care.

August 21st, 2020:

A Letter from Dr. Serna

To my beloved families,

I have been lucky enough to be a physician at Anchorage Pediatric Group for four years this coming September. Through these years, I have met so many incredible children and families, and have been there to help see them through good times and bad, illness and growth, new additions and new homes. I’m even fortunate enough to have held some of my patients when they were only minutes old!

The last six months have been particularly trying on everyone as we continue to forge through a pandemic that has upended everyone’s lives. My family and I are no exception to this. After much thought and lost sleep, I have decided that the time has come for a change in my career. I will be leaving Anchorage Pediatric Group this fall and starting a new job with exciting new opportunities. This also means that I will be forced to leave behind all of my wonderful families and coworkers, which pains me to no end. This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, but one which I truly believe will be best for my family.

Though my last day working in the clinic will be October 10th, I will, of course, continue to be active in the community. I look forward to running into families and staying in touch whenever possible!

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Queridas familias:

He tenido el placer de ser médico en Anchorage Pediatric Group por casi cuatro años. A lo largo de estos años, he conocido a muchos niños y familias increíbles, y a Uds. les he ayudado a superar y recibir lo malo y lo bueno, la enfermedad y el crecimiento, los recién nacidos y los nuevos hogares, ¡incluso la suerte de haber cuidado a pacientes cuando tenían solamente unos minutitos de vida!

Los últimos seis meses han sido particularmente difíciles para todos a medida que seguimos avanzando a través de una pandemia, con la cual se ha cambiado completamente la vida anterior. Desafortunadamente, mi familia y yo no somos una excepción. Después de pensarlo mucho y, de hecho, perderme tanto sueño, he decidido que ha llegado ya el momento de cambiar mi carrera. Dejaré mi trabajo en Anchorage Pediatric Group este otoño para comenzar a trabajar en una nueva posición con un rol único que me presentará nuevas oportunidades. Por supuesto, significa esto que dejaré atrás a todas mis maravillosas familias y compañeros de trabajo. Ha sido una decisión increíblemente difícil de tomar, la que me duele pero muchísimo, pero realmente creo que será lo mejor para mi familia.

Aunque mi último día de trabajo en la clínica va a ser el 10 de octubre, seguiré estando activo en la comunidad. ¡Espero encontrarme siempre con mis familias y mantenerme en contacto cuando sea posible!

Matthew Serna, MD

April 7th, 2020:

Dear Anchorage Pediatric Group families,

Together we are facing a surreal new world. We hope that you and your family are staying healthy and happy during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are reaching out to you to let you know that we are still here, working and adapting our practice daily to follow safety guidelines and meet the changing needs of our families. We want to reassure you that we are committed to providing the best care possible during this challenging time.

Anchorage Pediatric Group remains committed to well child care. We will continue to provide all newborn care and well child visits through 18 months. We look forward to resuming well child care for older children when it is safe to do so. 

For sick children, please call our office. We have rolled out a popular telemedicine program that will allow you to access your pediatrician from the safety and comfort of your home. Our triage nurse will help you determine if your concerns may be addressed via telemedicine. For children who need to be seen, we are still offering appointments in the office.

The pandemic has caused stress and anxiety for us all. Our routines have been disrupted, many of us are now homeschooling our children while working from home, social connections are strained, and we are facing the possibility of our loved ones becoming ill.  Children are sensitive to these stressors too. We expect that behavioral concerns and discipline challenges will grow during this time, and we would like to help you navigate these challenges. These concerns can often be addressed via telemedicine.

There are several resources to help children and families learn about Covid-19, social distancing, and managing fears and anxiety. Please visit our website at apgkids.com for updated information and resources. In addition, Anchorage Pediatric Group is rolling out a new patient portal in the coming weeks so that we can communicate with you more efficiently. We will be in touch about this again soon.

In the days, weeks, and months ahead, Anchorage Pediatric Group stands with our families and our community to face these challenges together, and we look forward to the day when we will again be able to shake your hands and hug your children. Until then, please stay safe and do not hesitate to contact us with any concerns or questions that you have.

Sincerely,

The Anchorage Pediatric Group Family