The University of Vermont Medical Center

Jodi Gibbs: Community Champion "I love to organize. Plan. Help. During the holidays, I organize volunteers to ring the bell four or five days a week at our local Walmart to raise money for the Salvation Army. I’m the chairperson of the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce ambassadors. I serve on the board of directors for the TrailNorth Federal Credit Union. And I volunteer at my church. I am a greeter every Sunday. It’s so much fun to see the same people week after week. They always tease me because I know almost every single person’s name who comes into the church. They always comment, “Oh my word, how can you possibly keep track of everyone’s name?” It’s just a little trick I have. I keep busy throughout the year. Everyone can use some help now and then, and that’s really all I want to do. There’s a sense of connection to my community that brings me joy. I’ve been on the planning committee for Memorial Day events for my hometown, Crown Point, for 30 years. We have a parade, fireworks, a carnival and music. Every year for my entire life, my family has gone to my aunt’s house – she lives on the main road and the parade goes right by – so we have lunch and watch. It brings me joy to see happy children, families and generations of people come together. It’s fun to be able to ensure that tradition continues. That’s a big part of why I keep volunteering. It brings such joy to my heart to help others with no expectation of a return. " Jodi Gibbs is the quality and population health assistant at Elizabethtown Community Hospital. She’s been with us for six years. Her story is part of The Mosaic Project, a collection of short stories about the people of University of Vermont Health Network.

Casey Kolb Nava: A Lasting Legacy. "Almost every time I’m in the car with a relative, I learn something new about my family’s history. "Sometimes it’s a small graveyard with the remains of one of our 1700s ancestors. Sometimes it’s an unexpected link to historical figures like Ethan Allen or George Dewey, who was from Montpelier and became Admiral of the United States Navy. Sometimes it’s something humbler – a pasture with a beautiful view that was once owned by another branch of the family. "I wasn’t born and raised here – I grew up near Washington D.C. – but these connections to Central Vermont have been important to me since I was a kid. We often visited family here and soaked up stories about the past from older relatives. When I moved here with my family in 2015, I saw all this history with fresh eyes and started to appreciate how much the past is tied up with the present and the future. "The place where this all comes together for me is what my family calls the “Old Farm,” at the end of Slaughterhouse Road outside of Northfield Falls. It’s all the way at the top of the hill there. "My great-grandfather had this idea in the ’60s to turn the land into a red-pine farm that could be harvested for telephone poles. My grandparents, my dad and his five siblings spent a lot of time planting trees on this 160-acre piece of land. Every school break they would be out there planting. "By the ’90s, the trees were grown, but no one wanted to cut them down. The land was too beautiful and filled with wildlife – we see moose tracks up there and “our bear” comes through regularly. It’s one of those places where Vermont’s past and present coexist." Casey Kolb Nava, MD is the medical director of the Central Vermont Medical Center hospitalist group. She’s been with us for more than nine years. Casey's story is part of the Mosaic Project, a collection of short stories about the people of University of Vermont Health Network.

Our people. Their stories. Introducing the Mosaic Project. The Mosaic Project is a collection of short stories about the people of University of Vermont Health Network. These are your coworkers, caregivers, neighbors, family members, friends – each with unique life experiences that are part of the vibrant mosaic of who we are. This ongoing series comes from interviews conducted by the storytellers on our Communications and Engagement Strategies team. UVMHealth.org/Mosaic

Respiratory Therapists deliver care that helps people manage a wide range of breathing problems caused by disease, accident, or illness. These professionals provide care whenever and wherever breathing is an issue. They work in hospitals or other acute care settings, or are employed in clinics, physicians’ offices, or skilled nursing facilities.

It can't rain on this parade! We are always so inspired to see the love and community on display every year at the annual Burlington Pride Parade and Festival. Thank you to all the groups and individuals that make this wonderful event possible.

At this point, the easy answer to high health care costs would be to reduce next year’s hospital budgets and call it a win for affordability. But in truth, it would shortchange Vermonters and only further drive up costs overall as we tried to catch up. As nonprofit hospitals, funding to make investments in access for our patients and to support our workforce come from limited sources. Shrinking those sources significantly reduces our ability to make forward progress, let alone preserve what we already have, for the patients who need us today.

Residents of Vermont and northern New York have been warned: Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is in our area. The mosquito-borne illness has infected several people across New England. Local health experts recommend the following prevention measures to stay safe.

Vermont is currently experiencing an increased risk of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Cindy Noyes, MD, an infectious disease specialist at UVM Medical Center, delves into the nature of this serious illness and shares essential tips on how you can safeguard yourself and your loved ones from EEE. For more information visit https://lnkd.in/eBDheXY

As concerns mount in our region about EEE, or eastern equine encephalitis, health experts recommend taking basic precautions to avoid mosquito bites. And while many people dislike the smell of insect repellant, using it correctly can prevent EEE and other deadly or life-altering diseases far better than products that contain only citronella or essential oils. Joseph Kennedy, MD, an emergency physician and medical toxicologist at UVM Medical Center, spoke with The New York Times earlier this summer about DEET, the active ingredient in many repellents. https://lnkd.in/eXZ5C582

Hosted by UVM Medical Center Driver Rehabilitation Program and the Trauma Survivors Network, the first adaptive technology car show explores adaptive technology in the form of a car show. This Saturday at the Fanny Allen Campus from 10am-1pm From side-by-sides to automobiles, local auto enthusiasts will be presenting their vehicles alongside community vendors showcasing adaptive technology. This is a free, fun, family friendly event that honors people of all abilities enjoying Vermont roads, safely.