Introduction to LaTouche pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners

LaTouche Pediatricians and Nurse Practitioners
As Anchorage pediatricians and nurse practitioners, we are dedicated to providing the best possible health care for your child in a warm and friendly environment.

Phyllis Kiehl MD, FAAP

Professional history:
Dr. Phyllis Kiehl graduated from Barnard College (Columbia University) in New York City, and the University of Chicago School of Medicine. Her Pediatric Specialty training was at the Universities of Iowa and Rochester. She has been practicing Pediatrics in Anchorage since a year after completing her residency, and was also instrumental in the development of The Children's Cancer Center at the Children's Hospital at Providence.

Professional and personal interests:
My interests, in addition to general pediatrics and the delight I have in helping parents raise healthy, happy, well-adjusted children and watching them grow up, include issues of breast-feeding, mothers balancing roles at work and at home, adoption, working with gifted children, and dealing with school challenges including dyslexia.

My personal passions outside the office include my family, hiking and skiing, practicing Aikido, and participating in the cultural community of Anchorage as an avid listener and audience member.

Jon Lyon MD, FAAP, MMM

Professional history:
Dr. Jon Lyon is a graduate of Yale University and Indiana School of Medicine. His Pediatric Specialty training was at the University of Rochester, with additional post-graduate training in Sweden. He has been the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Providence Hospital, and he was instrumental in developing The Children's Hospital at Providence where he served as the Medical Director. He is also involved in teaching medical students through Alaska WWAMI where he is a Professor of Pediatrics, University of Alaska/WWAMI.

Professional and personal interests:
I have special interests in the follow-up of problems of prematurity, in chronic illnesses of childhood and adolescence, and in youth fitness.

Tom Hepler MD, FAAP

Professional history:
Dr. Tom Hepler was born and raised in Anchorage. He graduated from West Anchorage High School and then from Pacific Lutheran University and the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. He returned to Anchorage after completing his pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Akron, Ohio. He recently chaired the Dept. of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital at Providence.

Professional and personal interests:
I enjoy providing pediatric care for all my patients, and have specific interests in dermatology, sports medicine, and taking care of special needs children.

My life outside the hospital is spent enjoying the Alaska outdoors with my wife and three children. Soccer games, fishing, boating, and camping fill the summer schedule. I may often be seen skiing, hiking, or running along the popular trails around Anchorage.
Also, I have an identical twin brother who is a teacher at Wendler Middle School.

Jeffrey Penman MD, FAAP

Penman, Jeff MD

Professional history:
Dr. Jeff Penman is a lifelong Alaskan. He graduated from Dimond High School
and attended UAA and then the University of Washington School of Medicine as part of the WWAMI program. He completed his Pediatric and Adolescent Specialty residency at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, AZ.

Professional and personal interests:
My pediatric interests include: adolescent medicine, diabetes, and the promotion of literacy. I enjoy serving the families of this community, and teaching pediatrics through the WWAMI program.

I also enjoy time with my wife and four sons hiking, camping and fishing.

Laura Jones MD, FAAP

Professional history:
Dr. Laura Jones is a fourth generation Alaskan. She graduated from East High School, received her B.S. from Wheaton College in Illinois, and her M.D. from the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle. She completed her Pediatric Specialty training at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Professional and personal interests:
My areas of special interest include breast-feeding and early childhood development, as well as the care of children with chronic conditions which include asthma, diabetes, and cerebal palsy.

Erin McArthur MD, FAAP

Professional history:
Dr. Erin McArthur received her B.S. from Washington State University, and her M.D. from Tulane University. She completed her Pediatric Residency training at Oregon Health Sciences University. She also helps direct and teaches in the pediatric part of the WWAMI program.

Professional and personal interests:
I enjoy serving children and adolescents (and their families). I like caring for well and ill children, in the office and in the hospital.

Jeff Brand MD, FAAP

Professional history:
Dr. Jeff Brand prior to joining LaTouche Pediatrics, LLC, has been a pediatrician in Anchorage since 1982, and added an Eagle River office in 1995. He is a graduate of St. Louis University and received his pediatric training in Chicago and Minneapolis.

Professional and Personal Interests:
He has two grown children and has been married to his wife, Jan, for 27 years. A sports nut, he presently referees football in the fall and cross country skis in the winter.

John Tappel MD, FAAP

Professional history:
Dr. John Tappel attended the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine in Ohio. He did his pediatric specialty training with the Air Force at David Grant Medical Center in California. He spent 21 years as an Air Force pediatrician, which included two tours to Alaska, as well as the chance to practice medicine in many foreign countries. He retired in 2005 to join LaTouche Pediatrics, LLC. He is a faculty member of UAA and the University of Washington, which teaches medical students through the WWAMI program.

Professional and personal interests:
I appreciate all aspects of the development of children, from young infants though adolescents. I have a special interest in sports medicine, the promotion of fitness and managing chronic diseases. I strongly encourage prevention as the cornerstone of healthy living. I see my role as a partnership with parents in promoting the health of their child.

Outside of the office, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, skiing and cycling.

Marianne von Hippel MD, FAAP

Professional history:
Dr. Marianne von Hippel graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio, and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN. Her Pediatric Specialty training was done at Boston City Hospital and the State University of Iowa. She has taught parenting classes in the community and continues to teach in our ParentShare program. Dr. von Hippel is the author of "More Joy of Parenting."

Professional and personal interests:
I specialize in caring for children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Disorder and other behavior problems. One of my major interests is parenting education.

Andrea Bateman MD, FAAP

Professional history:
Dr. Andrea Bateman is a graduate of Washington University, St. Louis, where she received both her B.A. and M.D. She did her Pediatric Specialty training at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. Prior to moving to Alaska, she worked in Portland at Kaiser Permanente and at the University Pediatric Clinic.

Professional and personal interests:
My special interests are in working with adolescents, with mothers about breast-feeding issues, and with families of children who have special health care needs. I also enjoy mentoring medical students.

Mary Blenkush MD, MPH, FAAP

Professional history:
Dr. Mary Blenkush attended St. Olaf College, and got her B.S. from University of California, Davis. She received her M.D. from the Univ. of California in San Diego, and went on complete her residency in Pediatrics at UCLA Medical Center. She subsequently got her Masters of Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins University. She has worked abroad in Fiji and the Marshall Islands, and in various places on this continent.

Professional and personal interests:
I like to work with babies and children, and especially enjoy working with adolescents.

Christine Ersland CPNP

Professional history:
Christine Ersland, RN, CPNP is a state and nationally Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She completed her advanced nurse practitioner training in Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Nursing.

Sandra Frenier CPNP

Professional history:
Sandra Frenier, RN, CPNP, CS, is a state and nationally certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She received her Masters in Nursing and her Nurse Practitioner Certificate from the University of Virginia.
She is a certified Lactation Consultant.

Professional and personal interests:
I enjoyed practicing in a variety of settings while traveling with my military spouse, before joining LaTouche Pediatrics, LLC. I have a special interest in supporting breast feeding families.

Megan McFadden FNP

Professional history:
Megan McFadden, FNP, received her Masters in Nursing and her Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from UAA, Anchorage, Alaska. She worked in the mother baby unit at the Providence Alaska Medical Center before becoming a nurse practitioner and joining LaTouche, Pediatrics, LLC.

Kelly Weiss FNP

Professional history:
Kelly Weiss, FNP, recieved her Masters Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Cincinnati. She previously had earned her Masters in Exercise Physiology. She practiced in a wide variety of medical settings throughout the country before settling in Alaska in 2006.

Jennifer McKinnon FNP

Jennifer McKinnon, FNP received her Master's in Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from Graceland University in Iowa. Before coming to LaTouche Pediatrics, she worked in a variety of settings in Alaska, Ohio, Washington state and Philadelphia. Her career focused on critical care , flight and emergency medicine of both pediatric and adult patients. She also actively served in the United States Air Force and is currently an inactive reservist.

When not working at LaTouche, Jennifer can be found kayaking, cross country skiing and competing in triathlons and long distance cycling events. She is married and has four children.

*FAAP means Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.