Dr. Lisa (Billman) Rabinowitz ’91 is an emergency room doctor in Anchorage, Alaska at Providence Alaska Medical Center, where she has filled many administrative roles over her 18 years there. She is also the immediate past-president of AEMA, the largest Emergency Medicine group in the state. Rabinowitz grew up in rural Alaska and was homeschooled until middle school, when she joined HPA as a day student. From HPA, she went on to Seattle University, and ultimately received her MD from the University of Washington. We asked her about COVID-19 in Anchorage, how her daughter, Parker ’21 is adjusting to online learning, and what makes her feel hopeful.
What is it like in your emergency room right now?
I’ve been with my emergency room group here for 18 years, so we have the benefit of having a team that works together really well. We were able to mobilize ahead of time and set up pods in tents where ambulances come in so that we can rapidly assess patients. We have pods specifically designated for patients with respiratory symptoms where everyone is in full PPE. The pitfall of this particular virus, though, is that many people are asymptomatic. Even the patient with a broken ankle can be a risk. We are working to keep everyone safe.
How did you initially make your way to HPA from Alaska?
I grew up in rural Alaska, in the middle of nowhere. I was homeschooled in a tepee without running water. In middle school, we transitioned to spending winters in Hawai’i so that my brother and I could attend HPA as day students. We’re doing the same thing now with our daughter, Parker. It’s a juggling act, but we’re doing it all so that she can have the HPA experience which meant so much to me. We didn’t know what the experience would really be like for her—whether it would live up to the glossy photos in the ads. We were hoping it would be similar to what I had, and I have to say, HPA really has lived up to our hopes and expectations. I have lots of alumni friends who now have their kids in school at HPA, and we all have that same sentiment. The school has grown in amazing ways.
I’ve been watching in Hawai‘i and Alaska and nationwide how communities have come together to sew masks, to 3D print devices we need… People donated building materials to help my hospital set up pods. Seeing people step up and help for the greater good is amazing.”
— Dr. Lisa Rabinowitz ’91
What makes you feel hopeful during this crisis?
I’ve been watching in Hawai‘i and Alaska and nationwide how communities have come together to sew masks, to 3D print devices we need… People donated building materials to help my hospital set up pods. Seeing people step up and help for the greater good is amazing. And I think we have all learned a lot from this—like realizing how important communication is. I can get fed up with social media as the parent of a teenager, but it’s been a life-saver for all of us, even as a medical provider. Doctors are getting information from providers in Italy and China to help make people here safer. And for our kids, just reconnecting with your math teacher and laughing together can really be a relief right now.
Do you have any doctor’s advice for our Ka Makani?
Social distancing is really the key. We’re all doing everything we can with hygiene, but social distancing is working. Don’t get together with friends yet. We’ll get through this, and there will be time to gather together again, but now is not the time.