Clinical Expertise
Dr. Buchanan has been providing integrative primary care to Alaskans for 25 years. She began her nurse practitioner career in 1997 working at Alaska Alternative Medicine Center. In 2002, she and Dr. Jason Harmon co-founded Avante Medical Center. In addition to full family practice, she is also an adjunct professor at UAA for the Family Nurse Practitioner program.
She has a solid background in both conventional medicine as well as integrative medicine, making it easy for her to practice both fields to provide optimal and holistic care for her patients.
Philosophy of Care
“I believe that healing comes from really listening to people’s stories about their health. Many people have complicated health histories, and taking the time to listen and holistically bring all the pieces together really helps the healing begin. I specialize in chronic health challenges and especially enjoy women’s health at mid-life.”
Education
Dr. Buchanan graduated from the University of Colorado with her BSN in Nursing in 1991. Six years later, she received her MSN (Masters in Nursing Science) from UAA and became certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from Chatham University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in 2010. Dr. Buchanan continues her education by attending conferences on topics in primary care, women’s health, and integrative medicine.
Extracurricular Activities & Personal Interests
Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Buchanan is past president of the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association (ANPA). In 2003, she was named the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner (AANP) Nurse Practitioner of the Year. She enjoys educating her Anchorage peers in integrative medicine topics and has given over 50 presentations, some of which have been received nationally. Personal interests include camping, exercising, reading, cooking and spending time with her family.