New Tribal Health Administrator for Ketchikan Indian Community
Ketchikan Indian Community
Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) selected Trixie Bennett as the next Tribal Health Administrator. Bennett was the tribe’s president in 2022.
In her new role, Bennett is responsible for managing a multimillion-dollar annual budget and overseeing healthcare services, including the KIC Tribal Health Clinic, for more than 6,400 members. KIC is the second largest tribe in Alaska by enrollment.
Bennett first came to work for KIC in 2000 as quality management coordinator and worked in clinic administration from 2000 to 2018. She served on the tribal council from 2018 to 2023. Bennett attended UAS Ketchikan, receiving an associate degree in applied science, and she completed her bachelor’s degree in business administration and management at Alaska Pacific University. Bennett is also the owner and operator of Tongass Tonics.
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“Having grown up in Wrangell, we had to travel for all of our healthcare needs, and I was shocked how often patients had to travel long distances for care even though they were available in Ketchikan,” Bennett says. “I was inspired when KIC began running their own clinic to meet its citizens’ healthcare needs right in Ketchikan. This commitment to self-governance continues today and I’m so pleased to be selected to lead the team as we strive to care for and meet our patients’ needs even better in the future.”
Tribal administrator and CEO Ruby Steele says that she and the hiring committee were satisfied with the caliber of applicants, expressing confidence in their decision. “We look forward to working with Trixie in this leadership role. Her education, experience, and passion to serve her Tribe will strengthen the clinic’s ongoing efforts to continually improve our services,” says Steele.
Bennett takes over for Joel Jackson, who has filled in as interim Health Administrator since 2022.
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