Melinda Freemon has been in health-related leadership positions in Alaska for over 30 years. She has worked as Executive Director in the behavioral health and health care fields, overseeing comprehensive substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, programs for women in transition, permanent supportive housing programs, and public health programs with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. Ms. Freemon has worked extensively in rural and urban Alaska to address health and social service disparities. Ms. Freemon has served as the Executive Director of the Salvation Army Clitheroe Center, the Director of the Supportive Housing Division for RurAL CAP, and the Director of the Anchorage Health Department. She has served on local task forces and statewide commissions working to improve access to health care for all Alaskans. Ms. Freemon began her position at Anchorage Project Access in August 2018.
Ms. Freemon is a recipient of the 2012 YWCA BP Exploration’s Woman of Achievement Award as well as the 2012 Hard-Won Victory Award by the American Planning Association Alaska Chapter. Ms. Freemon has a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and is a licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor.
Ashley Garver has worked in leadership in various fields for nearly a decade. She has a background in consultation and administration as a Lead Consultant and Assistant Manager for FedEx Office. Ashley is a nationally certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and worked as a CHW Manager for Alaska Primary Care Association to develop and implement their CHW Apprenticeship Program. Ashley joined the team at APA in 2023.
Chelsea Kinney has been working in the medical field for almost 10 years. She has a background in administrative and clinical settings. Her medical career started at Alaska Regional Hospital where she worked as a Registrar in Admission, Mammography, Radiology, and the ER departments. She then continued her career at Alaska Heart & Vascular Institute where she worked as a Scheduling Coordinator, POD Optimizer, Nationally Certified Medical Assistant, and Primary to 14 Advanced Practitioners. She joined the APA team in 2023 and is thrilled to be a Medical Patient Care Coordinator where she can continue her passion of helping community members in need.
Kate Love has worked in leadership in various fields for nearly a decade. She has a background in consultation and administration as a Lead Consultant for FedEx Office. Kate is a nationally certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and worked as a CHW Manager for Alaska Primary Care Association to develop and implement their CHW Apprenticeship Program. Kate joined the team at APA in 2022.
Stephanie Richardson has been a mental health provider in Anchorage since 1995. She is now grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the Anchorage Project Access team to facilitate connecting uninsured Alaskans with mental health care. She is the point of contact for licensed mental health providers who would like to donate care, and for prospective patients.
Gail Schiemann has worked with non-profit and public health organizations in Alaska for over 20 years. Some of her career highlights include Wellness Educator for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Program Manager for the State of Alaska Tobacco Prevention Program, Program Director for the American Lung Association, and Education Director for Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska. Gail has served on numerous community wellness coalitions and strategic health planning initiatives locally, nationally, and statewide.
Before moving to Anchorage in 1999, Gail was employed by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Health as a Research Associate and Project Manager for the Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations. Gail holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Public Health Practice. Gail joined Anchorage Project Access in 2020.
Staff
Melinda Freemon, MS, LPC, CCS
Executive Director
Melinda Freemon has been in health-related leadership positions in Alaska for over 30 years. She has worked as Executive Director in the behavioral health and health care fields, overseeing comprehensive substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, programs for women in transition, permanent supportive housing programs, and public health programs with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. Ms. Freemon has worked extensively in rural and urban Alaska to address health and social service disparities. Ms. Freemon has served as the Executive Director of the Salvation Army Clitheroe Center, the Director of the Supportive Housing Division for RurAL CAP, and the Director of the Anchorage Health Department. She has served on local task forces and statewide commissions working to improve access to health care for all Alaskans. Ms. Freemon began her position at Anchorage Project Access in August 2018.
Ms. Freemon is a recipient of the 2012 YWCA BP Exploration’s Woman of Achievement Award as well as the 2012 Hard-Won Victory Award by the American Planning Association Alaska Chapter. Ms. Freemon has a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and is a licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor.
Direct: (907) 743-6651
Email: mfreemon@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Ashley Garver, CCHW, CAC
Dental Health Coordinator
Ashley Garver has worked in leadership in various fields for nearly a decade. She has a background in consultation and administration as a Lead Consultant and Assistant Manager for FedEx Office. Ashley is a nationally certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and worked as a CHW Manager for Alaska Primary Care Association to develop and implement their CHW Apprenticeship Program. Ashley joined the team at APA in 2023.
Direct: (907) 743-6621
Text: (907) 931-0058
Email: agarver@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Chelsea Kinney, NCMA
Medical Care Coordinator
Chelsea Kinney has been working in the medical field for almost 10 years. She has a background in administrative and clinical settings. Her medical career started at Alaska Regional Hospital where she worked as a Registrar in Admission, Mammography, Radiology, and the ER departments. She then continued her career at Alaska Heart & Vascular Institute where she worked as a Scheduling Coordinator, POD Optimizer, Nationally Certified Medical Assistant, and Primary to 14 Advanced Practitioners. She joined the APA team in 2023 and is thrilled to be a Medical Patient Care Coordinator where she can continue her passion of helping community members in need.
Direct: (907) 743-6620
Text: (907) 931-0778
Email: ckinney@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Young Kim
Eligibility Coordinator
Direct: (907) 743-6610
Text: (907) 931-0056
Email: ykim@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Kate Love, CCHW, CAC
Program Coordinator
Kate Love has worked in leadership in various fields for nearly a decade. She has a background in consultation and administration as a Lead Consultant for FedEx Office. Kate is a nationally certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and worked as a CHW Manager for Alaska Primary Care Association to develop and implement their CHW Apprenticeship Program. Kate joined the team at APA in 2022.
Direct: (907) 743-6603
Text: (907) 931-0222
Email: klove@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Stephanie Richardson, PsyD, LPC-S
Pro Bono Counseling Program Manager
Stephanie Richardson has been a mental health provider in Anchorage since 1995. She is now grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the Anchorage Project Access team to facilitate connecting uninsured Alaskans with mental health care. She is the point of contact for licensed mental health providers who would like to donate care, and for prospective patients.
Direct: (907) 743-6652
Email: srichardson@anchorageprojectaccess.org
Gail Schiemann, MPH
Program Director
Gail Schiemann has worked with non-profit and public health organizations in Alaska for over 20 years. Some of her career highlights include Wellness Educator for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Program Manager for the State of Alaska Tobacco Prevention Program, Program Director for the American Lung Association, and Education Director for Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska. Gail has served on numerous community wellness coalitions and strategic health planning initiatives locally, nationally, and statewide.
Before moving to Anchorage in 1999, Gail was employed by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Health as a Research Associate and Project Manager for the Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations. Gail holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Public Health Practice. Gail joined Anchorage Project Access in 2020.
Direct: (907) 743-6650
Email: gschiemann@anchorageprojectaccess.org