The University of Vermont Medical Center

Lifesaving Mission: Joe Patnode I find it very rewarding to help veterans, and that comes from my own experience being one. Just after turning 18 in August 1981, I joined the Navy as an aviation mechanic and got to work on helicopters, which was pretty cool. Overall, I spent seven years in active duty and another 16 in the Reserves. Seeing the world was a big benefit. I was stationed in San Diego, spent time in Hong Kong and served in Afghanistan. When you go overseas, though, you also see things that are unthinkable to many people. Then, after your deployment, you come home. They train you for all kinds of things to get ready to go overseas, but there isn’t much when you come home and reintegrate into society. Lots of people have a hard time when they come back. I had a hard time. That’s why I’m so involved with the American Legion here. At the hospital, I also try to connect with anyone who is a veteran and let them know there are all kinds of resources to help them. I’m doing a lot of work at the Legion with the Be the One campaign, which helps struggling veterans who are thinking about committing suicide. Two years ago, we were losing 22 veterans a day to suicide nationally. That’s down to about 17 a day. It’s still astronomically high, but more of our servicemen and women are getting the help they need. A lot of it is just making a connection. I’ll sit down at night with a list of 10 veterans I’m going to call and do a buddy check with, just to see how they’re doing. I usually only get through three. They just want someone to talk to for a while who understands. You can hear the relief when they realize they’re not alone, and that help is out there. If I can prevent even one suicide, that makes all the difference to me. That’s my mission now. Joe Patnode, plant operations mechanic at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, has been with us for 36 years.

This Doctors' Day, we want to shine a spotlight on the doctors who are the pillars of our community's health. We asked a handful of doctors across UVM Health Network about their favorite fictional doctors. While the doctors you see on TV may not be real, our doctors are dedicated to caring for our patients every day. Let us know in the comments who your favorite UVM Health Network doctor is and how they have made a difference in your life or helped you through a difficult time. Pictured here are: Dr. Katerine Dolbec Dr. Frank Ittleman Drs. Kathryn Collier and Dan Peters Dr. Finlay Pilcher Dr. Than Moore

“Healthcare in Rutland and the whole state of Vermont is better because of Tom’s leadership. He leaves an amazing legacy and a big shadow.” - Stephen Leffler, president and chief operating officer of University of Vermont Medical Center.

Medicaid is pediatric health care. Over 40 percent of children in New York and Vermont are enrolled in Medicaid.

The 2nd Annual Chemo Gown Extravaganza is coming to Higher Ground in South Burlington - April 12 @ 5:00PM. This unique fashion show and fundraiser features outfits made from chemo gowns designed by the infusion nurses at UVM Medical Center. Join us for an evening of laughs and help make a difference. We will also have free appetizers, cash bar and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Snag your tickets while you can! https://bit.ly/4c4dlkr

Running for My Life: Amanda Gibbs I love the energy and movement that comes with being out in nature. Whether it’s minus 40 degrees or 90 degrees, I love the fresh air. It’s invigorating. Growing up around the Finger Lakes, my family was always active. Summers were filled with water skiing, swimming, boating, hiking and climbing. Winters meant skiing or hibernating — I chose skiing with my dad. We’d cross country and downhill, or we’d go sledding, just to be outdoors in the snow. Now, I’m doing the same with my six-year-old son. Sports were a big part of my life. I played field hockey and softball in high school and continued softball in college. After graduation, I needed to find a new outlet for my super competitive spirit. That’s when I started running. At first, my best friend and I just ran together. After a while, she suggested we try a half-marathon in Lake Placid. That was about 20 years ago, and we loved it so much that things just took off from there. The next year, we ran our first full marathon together, again in Lake Placid. With each race, we set new goals and push each other a little bit harder. In 2023, we set our sights on ultra-marathons — a huge commitment for me and my young family with a lot of training time on weekends for about a year. Our first test: a 50-mile trail race in Vermont last fall. We gained 9,000 feet of elevation over more than 10 hours of running, walking, tripping and laughing. It was an amazing experience. I learned there are no limits to what I can do. If I train my mind, my body will follow. That’s the kind of attitude I want to instill in my son. Amanda Gibbs, a registered dietitian at University of Vermont Health Network – Alice Hyde Medical Center, has been with us for ten years.

With the COVID-19 pandemic subsiding and a nationwide workforce shortage affecting healthcare organizations across the United States, environmental services (EVS) leaders at UVM Medical Center attribute their successful navigation of the staffing crisis to translation services delivered via an app on mobile devices known as "rovers." The English Language Learning courses and translation services provided by the department have transformed interactions with colleagues, patients, and visitors, while also offering new Americans the opportunity to pursue their career aspirations.

Certified Nurses Day! 🎉 🎉 🎉 Betsy, Chris, Marcie, Melissa and Terry are among the more than 550 certified nurses practicing at UVM Medical Center, a number which grows each year. By pursuing specialized nursing certifications, certified nurses bring advanced clinical knowledge to the bedside and to their colleagues, ensuring our patients get the leading-edge care they deserve. “Nurses are the eyes and ears and voices for patients," says Betsy Hassan, director of nursing education and professional development. "By supporting our nurses to become certified, we ensure they possess the advanced expertise needed to deliver exceptional care for each patient’s needs." Share the ❤️ for our certified nurses today! #CND2025

Community Healers: Cheryl Meserve Caring for our community is a family tradition. My father’s mother, Marilyn Moses, started a family medicine practice out of her home in Southborough, Massachusetts, after being the only woman in her class in medical school. She practiced pediatrics there for nearly 40 years. When I was 10, my other grandmother came to live with us in Ticonderoga, New York. She was ill and needed care, so I volunteered to be her caregiver. She said, “You know, you’re good at this – you should be a nurse.” And just like that, I was on my path to a career in medicine. Marilyn’s father, Luther Moses, was a resolute farmer in the early 20th century. Her uncle, Horace Moses, was a successful businessman, perhaps better known as the benefactor of Moses Ludington Hospital and Hancock House. Both men were generous, supporting youth, agriculture, education and their local community. I strive each day to give back just as they did. I work at the Ticonderoga emergency department of Elizabethtown Community Hospital, which sits on the site of the hospital established by Horace and his business partner, Mary Ludington, more than 100 years ago. I am proud of where I come from, and it impacts the care I provide as an ED nurse. If you are walking into the ED, chances are, it’s not your best day. People are often frightened, in pain or nervous about their loved ones. A familiar face can help. I’m thankful that because of my deep ties to the community, I can often be that familiar face and help calm my patients. Like Luther Moses, farming is my passion. I own horses and cows on land next to my parents, who still live on the Moses homestead. My 5-year-old son, Luther, can already ride a horse on his own. He and my 2-year-old son, Charlie, love to help out on the farm and care for our animals. Our family loves to go horse camping in the Adirondacks, sometimes riding for more than 20 miles before settling down for the night. I do not know what the future holds for my boys. But I hope they consider carrying on the work of our ancestors, working hard each day to give back to our little community.

The Vermont Department of Health confirmed a measles case in a school-aged child in Lamoille County yesterday. With recent measles outbreaks making national headlines, Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician William Raszka, MD, offers crucial safety insights.