Meghan McKinnell, MD

I grew up in North Pole, Alaska as the youngest of five siblings. My interest in science was fostered cleaning salmon on the banks of the Chitina River; marveling at their air bladders (wondering if we had one), and their tiny garnet hearts. While all of the natural world was of interest to me, I had an amazing family physician in North Pole who inspired me to pursue the human side of science. After high school, I attended Whitman College before returning home to UAF to complete my studies in Biology and English. Post graduation, I moved here to Anchorage where I worked as a bartender at The Blue Fox for several years while volunteering at Alaska Native Medical Center, doing research in the UAA Chemistry department, and navigating the misadventures of my husky Mac.

The wonderful people I met over the years between college and medical school led me to pursue family medicine: I realized that there just were not any patient populations I felt I could give up! I attended the University of Washington School of Medicine where I chose to be an Alaska Track student and spend as much time learning within our community as possible. I am thrilled to be completing residency here in Anchorage where I have the privilege of continuing to work with people from all walks of life in the community I love. I am here to be your teammate and your advocate in health care. My professional interests include nutrition, sleep medicine, and addiction medicine. When I’m off-duty, you can find me travelling in search of the world’s best oysters, hanging out with my dog, or playing cribbage in one of Anchorage’s charming dive bars.