Committed to Excellence
About Me
Katherine Gottlieb's journey with Southcentral Foundation began in 1987, and for over three decades, she played a pivotal role in the organization's growth. In 1991, she assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer, leading with unwavering dedication until her recent departure. Now, she channels her strategic expertise into her own consulting and mentoring venture.
Currently, Katherine is a Senior Fellow with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, offering her wealth of knowledge. Since 2015, she has been an esteemed faculty member at Harvard Medical School, contributing as a Visiting Scientist in Global Health and Social Medicine. Her impact reverberated as she served four years on the National Library of Medicine Board of Regents.
Recognized for her remarkable leadership, Katherine received the 2015 Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award from the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. In 2016, she was honored with the Indian Health Service National Director Award.
In 2005, Alaska Pacific University bestowed upon her an honorary doctoral degree, Doctor of Public Service, celebrating her extraordinary public service. In 2016, the University of Alaska Anchorage also acknowledged her outstanding leadership with an honorary doctoral degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, specifically recognizing her role in transforming healthcare services for Alaska Native communities.
Under her visionary guidance, Southcentral Foundation has emerged as a beacon among the nation's healthcare organizations, achieving the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award not once, but twice, in 2011 and 2017. Katherine's influence extends to the national level, where she actively engages in Alaska Native and American Indian policy matters.
Adding to her remarkable achievements, Katherine is a MacArthur Genius, honored in 2004. Her journey has been marked by an unwavering commitment to improving healthcare services and advocating for the needs of Alaska Native people.
Faculty Appointments
Harvard Medical School, Global Health and Social Medicine, Center for Primary Care
Faculty Director for Community Engagement Clerkship
Harvard Medical School
2015-2018
Visiting Scientist
2019
2015-Present
Lecturer
Harvard Medical School, Global Health and Social Medicine
Board Appointments
Professional Positions
1998-2020
Board Director
Alaska Native Medical Center Joint Operating Board
1998-2020
Board Director
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
2005-2016
Board of Trustee Member
Alaska Pacific University
2013-2014
Board of Regents
National Library of Medicine
2015-2018
Tribal Council Member
Seldovia Village Tribe
1984-1987
Community Health Representative
Seldovia Native Association
1980-1987
Director & Corporate Secretary
Seldovia Native Association
2022-Present
Tribal Council Member
Seldovia Village Tribe
Administrative Leadership Positions
1991-2020
President/Chief Executive Officer
Southcentral Foundation
1981-1987
Board Member
South Kachemak Alcoholism Program
2016-2020
Board Chair
Recover Alaska Steering Committee
2021-Present
Senior Fellow
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
Founder
Cook Inlet Native Headstart
1994-1995
Co-Chair
Indian Self Determination Act Negotiated Rulemaking Committee
1996-1997
Co-Chair
DOI/HHS Internal Agency Procedures Handbook
2000-2001
Committee Member
Joint Rulemaking Committee on Tribal and Federal Self Governance
2016
Council Member
Institute for Healthcare Improvement Equity Advisory Council
1990-1991
Expedition Member
Alaska USA Magadan USSR Medical Exchange Program
2015-Present
Leadership Member
Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 100 Million Healthier Lives Initiative
Honors & Awards
2019 Citizen of the Year, Alaska Federation of Natives
2019 Achievement in Business Award, Anchorage Daily News: For significant contributions to the community health and wellness
2017 Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
2017 "Nonprofit Hospital and Healthy System CEO's to Know", Beckers Healthcare: For leading one of the top nonprofit health care organizations in the country
2016 Directors Award, Indian Health Service: For Partnerships
2016 Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, University of Alaska Anchorage
2015 Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award, The Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award: For visionary leadership and commitment to customer-driven quality improvement in healthcare
2013 Excellence in Community, Bridge Builders of Anchorage
2013 Regional Impact Award, National Indian Health Board
2013 Chief's Knife Award, Alaska Village Initiatives
2013 NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home, Level 3, NCQA
2012 Directors Award, Indian Health Service
2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, The Foundation for the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award
2010 Alaska Meritorious Health Service Award, Alaska Public Health Association
2010 Hero's of Healthcare Award, National and Global Community Service
2010 Friend of Nursing, March of Dimes
2010 Shirley Demientieff Award, Indian Health Service
2009 Alaska Performance Excellence Award, Southcentral Foundation
2009 Regional Impact Award, National Indian Health Board
2009 Science and Service Award, U.S. DHHS SAMHSA
2008 American Nurses Credentialing Center, Magnet Status
2005 Honorary Doctor of Public Service, Alaska Pacific University
2004 American Nursing Credentialing, Magnet Status
2004 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, MacArthur Fellowship
1999 Woman of Achievement Award, BP Exploration Alaska, Inc and YWCA
1996 Department of Interior and Department of Health and Human Services
Media
New York Times
August 2012
The New York Times, “A Formula for Cutting Health Costs: Alaska Natives have something to teach doctors and patients in the rest of the world”(Aug 2, 2012). View Article
The Center for Health Journalism
July 2012
The Center for Health Journalism, " Alaska Native Medical Center Model for Curbing Costs and Improving Health. View Article
Harvard Medical School
2015
Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care and Southcentral Foundation forge partnership. Both organizations dedicated to improving health outcomes through innovation. View Article
National Institute of
Health, National Library
of Medicine
Malcolm Baldrige
National Quality Award
2011
Native Voices, Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness. View Site
Katherine Gottlieb awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. View Site
His Hand Upon Me: The True Story of an Alaska Native and her Fight to end Abuse
Katherine Gottlieb, the daughter of an Alaska Native mother and a Filipino father, grew up in a war zone of alcoholism, domestic violence, abuse and neglect. She became a mother and was married at sixteen, which began her own journey of breaking the silence for herself and countless others.
With a resilience born of a strong faith, Katherine refused to be defined by her past or her own failures. Hired as a receptionist, she quickly advanced to become the President and CEO of Southcentral Foundation, a renowned Alaska Native Healthcare Organization which received two Malcolm Baldrige Quality Awards. In 2004, Katherine was granted the prestigious MacArthur Fellows Genius award.
Katherine's vividly remembered story portrays her heart behind the Beauty for Ashes conferences, which she founded with others who share her passion for those who have been harmed. It is a story of continuing struggle, resilient faith, determination, and hope.
Psalms of the Heart
and Soul
Katherine Gottlieb lives a subsistence life and has always connected with her environment, land, and animals. Since she was a young child, she has loved writing: stories, journals, and now psalms. She has found that writing what is in her heart helps to reflect, relieve, and bring soundness to the thought process. She has written her book of psalms over the years and her hope is that sharing them will help other people along their journey in life.
