Ellen Halverson, 56, was born and raised in North Dakota. She received her degree in Biology and Music Education at Concordia College in Minnesota and then went to medical school in North Dakota. She has been a psychiatrist since 1991. She moved to Alaska in 1998 for a job at the Alaska Guidance Clinic, which is now Providence Behavioral Medicine. Ellen began mushing when she moved to Alaska and finished the Iditarod in 2007. “I have a passion for running dogs, Iditarod is the goal for myself and my tem. Planning and preparing for Iditarod increases motivation and structure for us. As I work and am a single parent, it is a challenge to keep on schedule with our training. In recent years, the warm weather and lack of snow have contributed to training challenges. I learn so much during Iditarod. This past year I felt significant improvement with dog care and check point routine. Now we just have to go faster!” Ellen has a son, Peter, age 13. She lists her hobbies as Icelandic horses.