Jennifer Talbot, Family N.P.

Are you fascinated with twins?  Do you wish you had a twin who could read your mind, feel your emotions, and finish your sentences?  That might be a little spooky, but Jennifer Talbot and her twin sister have spent their lives hiking, biking, skiing, and even climbing Denali together.  Do you think one of them insisted on reaching the summit 5 minutes before the other?

As an undergraduate, Ms. Talbot's passions for biology and working with people led her to pursue a B.S. in Nursing at the University of Portland.  After a decade of work experience, she attended the University of Alaska-Anchorage, earning a Masters of Science in Nursing.

Ms. Talbot's 30 years of work experience as a healthcare provider is well-rounded.  She served as a Nurse's Aide at Good Samaritan Hospital and a Coronary Care Unit R.N. at Emmanuel Hospital, both in Portland.  At Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, she worked in the Critical Care Unit.  Ms. Talbot joined the North Slope Borough as an Itinerant Public Health Nurse, traveling from village to village on some very hairy small aircraft flights.  As a Nurse Epidemiologist for the State of Alaska, she helped develop the Diabetic Program portion of the Chronic Disease Program.  Ms. Talbot joined APG as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1990.

Ms. Talbot enjoys working with all kinds of different patients, especially adolescents.  She approaches patient care with a two-pronged philosophy:  (1) Treat the family as a whole rather than the patient as an individual, and (2) view the patient as a whole rather than as an illness.  The relationships that Ms. Talbot develops with APG families help familiarize her with concerns, problems, and stresses that patients and parents are experiencing.  Ms. Talbot is adept at connecting families with community resources available to help serve their particular needs.

Ms. Talbot's worst childhood illness?  There was a silver lining when she was bedridden for weeks with pneumonia between 5th & 6th grades.  With nothing to do all summer but look at books, the young Ms. Talbot became an excellent reader!

Her favorite part of being a healthcare provider?  "It's a real gift to be invited into some of the most intimate moments of other people's lives.  There's nothing more joyful than holding an infant.  It's great to provide encouragement and tell parents they're doing a good job."

Her advice for patients and parents?  "Each parent and child is different, so there's no one single solution that's going to apply to everybody."  "Spend time and energy strengthening family relationships, but not just with your kids.  The adults need to enjoy and have fun with each other, or else there may not be a family."

Her interests?  Enjoying her dogs, cat, fish, and family.  Backcountry experiences such as skijouring, rock and mountain climbing, hiking, and biking.  Skiing - both cross country and downhill.