Access to veterinary care is a nationwide issue, and in rural Alaska it has direct impacts on disease risk and human health in indigenous communities. This talk introduces the unique challenges of rural Alaskan veterinary medicine and the necessity of supporting these communities in caring for their animals. Samantha Johnson is a current student in her fourth and final year of veterinary school. She has spent the past four years working with sled dogs, volunteering with organizations to improve veterinary services in indigenous communities, and working on a survey project assessing access to veterinary care in rural Alaska. Her talk will introduce the unique challenges of rural Alaskan veterinary medicine and the necessity of supporting these communities in caring for their animals. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.