Thomas Solenberger

Career Story: 

Following my family practice residency I went on to complete an OB/GYN residency at the University of New Mexico. From 1980 to 1995 I was in private practice as an OB/GYN in Silver City, New Mexico. From 1995-1996 I was in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine program at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. From 1997 to the present I have practiced in Alaska both in family medicine and as an OB/GYN primarily working for Native Corporations and am currently in Barrow. Barrow is a frontier/bush Alaska town of 4,500 on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. (No, you can't see Russia from here.) It is 725 air miles from an intensive care unit, CT scanner, and operating room. This is the same distance as Tucson to Salt Lake City. I have maintained board certification both in family medicine and OB/GYN.

Notable Personal Accomplishments: 

Holding the oldest athletic record at my high school, being a member of the most successful athletic team ever at UNM and now being able to compete successfully with the world's best in age group indoor rowing

Notable Professional Accomplishments: 

Not being sued, despite 25 years of primary OB/GYN practice

Favorite Recreational Activity: 

Reading, hanging out with family and exercising.

Favorite Memory from Residency: 

As an intern, doing my first ever urine dipstick for PKU on a 6-month old, who was subsequently found to have PKU.

Personal Story: 

I have been married for 26 years and have two children. Our son, Erik, is 24 and a Lt. in the Army; our daughter, Diana, is 21 and will graduate from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada this spring