Dr. Rob Downey, MD, certified practitioner by the Institute for Functional Medicine is bringing a new kind of healthcare to Alaska with the opening Seaworthy Functional Medicine, a department of South Peninsula Hospital.

This is a re-launch of the existing South Peninsula Hospital Functional Medicine Clinic, with a focus on new ways to connect to wellness locally, statewide and nationwide. To celebrate the clinic’s re-opening on Wednesday, July 1st, Dr. Downey and the team at Seaworthy will be hosting a live online Q&A with area residents from 10-11am. The subject of this free zoom event will be “What is Functional Medicine and Why Does it Hold the Key to Chronic Illness. To attend this event, please go to www.seaworthymed.com and enroll.

Alaska’s diverse climate and huge geographic span both give it a well-earned reputation for excitement and adventure while also throwing big hurdles in the way of getting to doctor’s visits. When you feel sick or at your worst, the pure geographic scope of living in Alaska can be an obstacle to getting health care. Seaworthy Functional Medicine offers telemedicine as way to get quality health care advice in real time when you need it. Seaworthy’s functional medicine approach allows you to access care from afar via telemedicine in conjunction with the support of your primary care provider.

For more information about Seaworthy Functional Medicine Clinic, or this event, contact the clinic at 435-3070, or fmc@sphosp.org.

Matthew Swain, DO and his wife, Stephanie, BSN, RN, are new members of the South Peninsula Hospital health care team.

Dr. Swain, Board Certified in Family Medicine, is joining the hospital’s Active Medical Staff, and is practicing at Homer Medical Center.  For the last three years he was the Chief of Primary Care for The Veteran’s Affairs Alaska Health Care System based in Anchorage, where he was the clinical supervisor for 29 physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants across six facilities. He has practiced primary care for fifteen years, most of that at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where he held leadership positions of Senior Medical Officer of Branch Clinics, Wounded Warrior Battalion Surgeon, Associate Professor of Family Medicine and General Practice Physician.

Dr. Swain received his medical degree at Midwestern University, and did his residency training at Naval Hospitals in Pensacola, Florida and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Stephanie Swain, BSN, RN, BSHA, is the new Acute Care Director at the hospital. She will oversee the inpatient unit, emergency department, birthing center and respiratory therapy departments. Stephanie was most recently the Service Chief and Nurse Manager for the Veteran’s Affairs Social and Behavioral Health Services in Anchorage. She was a psychiatric nurse at Brynn Marr Hospital in Jacksonville, NC. She got her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Arizona State University, and her B.S. in Health Care Administration at University of Phoenix. Stephanie brings experience in ICU nursing, psychiatric nursing, and clinical team development.

The Swains moved to Anchorage in 2017 following a trip to Alaska when they instantly fell in love with Homer and made a commitment to one day call this home. They arrived to Homer last week, with their two teenage daughters, a Great Dane dog and two Maine Coon cats. They look forward to becoming part of all that Homer has to offer, especially the quality of life.

Dr. Swain is now seeing patients at Homer Medical Center. Stephanie started in her role at the hospital on Monday.