Golisano Children's Hospital at UVM Health

03/30/2026

Is there a doctor who made a difference for you or someone you love?

💬 Share a message of thanks in the comments.

Today, we’re celebrating our physicians. Their work shows up in big moments and small ones - through expertise, compassion and simply being there when it matters most.

Thank you to our doctors for the difference you make in the lives of patients and the communities we serve.

The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont

03/27/2026

The Northern New England Poison Center, in partnership with the Vermont Language Justice Project, has created short, easy‑to‑understand videos in 13 languages to help people know when and how to contact the Poison Center.

These resources are designed to support New Americans and multilingual community members by improving access to timely, trusted poison information.

✅ Watch the videos here: Poison Prevention in Other Languages | Northern New England Poison Center

03/18/2026

Sharing warmth and kindness!

Inspired by her own 100-day stay in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as an infant, Genevieve Handy and three fellow students from Rice Memorial High School’s Female Athletic Leadership Club created blankets for infants who are “graduating” from the NICU.

It’s a gesture filled with warmth and hope for families who are beginning their own journeys home.

🫶 Thank you, Genevieve, for bringing compassion full circle — from one NICU graduate to the next.

03/13/2026

The Big Change Roundup for Kids is underway!

Your support helps ensure that children throughout our region have access to high quality, child-friendly, family centered care at Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health.

Thank you to Maplefields for being incredible partners in this effort every year — and for rounding up at the pump and inside their stores.

Look for our video message the next time you fuel up!

03/02/2026

🌈 March is Child Life Month! 🌈

Medical care can feel overwhelming for kids, but our Child Life specialists work every day to make hospital experiences less scary and more supportive.

They are advocates for children and families, helping young patients understand their care in age-appropriate ways, build coping strategies and find moments of comfort.

🎉 This month, and every month, we celebrate our skilled, dedicated and compassionate Child Life specialists. Thank you for all you do to help children and families feel safe, empowered and understood.

02/16/2026

“Few moments are as joyful — or as nerve-wracking — as holding your newborn baby and realizing you’re expected to know how to feed this tiny human,” says board certified lactation consultant, Courtney Walker-Borch. "We’re here to help calm some of that anxiety and build healthy feeding habits from the get-go,”

Walker-Borch and her colleague, Gabriella Bernier, are part of the 15-strong team that provides around-the-clock lactation support for families at UVM Medical Center – assessing their child’s feeding needs and supporting the family’s overall health.

Some are first-time parents; others are welcoming another child to their growing family. Regardless of their prior experiences, most encounter challenges feeding their newborn for the first time.

“You’re tired…your baby is hungry and having trouble latching - it can be a lot,” says Bernier. “All of these things are so normal, and often times people just need a little reassurance and the right tools to help them find their healthy feeding rhythm.”

Learn more via the link in the comments!

02/11/2026

01/29/2026

“Recent national events have caused fear, anger and uncertainty for many in our community. Our commitment to being a safe, welcoming place is unwavering. Please know that we will continue to prioritize and uphold the rights and well‑being of all who seek care here and work here.”

Stephen Leffler, MD
UVM Health CEO

01/28/2026

Eight hours of surgery. Months of rehab. One determined teenager.

After a complex brain operation and intensive recovery, Kian Ruid had to relearn how to walk—driven by one goal: getting back on the ice.

“I underestimated how difficult it would be,” Kian says. “Relearning to walk is a whole different thing. But I was determined to play hockey again.”

Nine months later, he made his high school varsity hockey team at CVU. Today, he’s playing the sport he loves and thinking about a future in neuroscience.

“He’s an incredibly hard worker,” says Allie Triola, a neurologic specialist who has been Kian’s constant companion in physical therapy. “His recovery has been absolutely amazing.”

We’re so thrilled to see Kian back on the ice!

🔗 Read Kian’s full story in the comments.

01/25/2026

At 14, Kian Ruid was hit with debilitating headaches - and an MRI revealed a rare brain AVM that made urgent surgery necessary. Hear how he made a remarkable recovery and returned to hockey just nine months later, plus insights from Vermont’s only pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Katrina Ducis.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast
(link in comments)

~~~

Living Healthy Together Podcast

Episode 20 | Untangled: How Vermont’s Only Pediatric Neurosurgeon Helps Young Brains Overcome Big Challenges

Real stories. Real care. Real impact.

01/21/2026

Brain Surgery. Big Comeback.

At 14, severe headaches brought Vermont athlete Kian Ruid to a breaking point. An MRI revealed a rare and dangerous brain abnormality—an arteriovenous malformation (AVM)—lodged near the motor center of his brain.

With the risk of a potentially deadly rupture steadily increasing as Kian grew older, doing nothing wasn’t an option. But surgery could mean a permanent loss of movement.

“It wasn’t until I spoke with Katrina that I started to think, we’re going to get through this,” said Kian’s mom, Rebecca.

Kian’s family placed their trust in Dr. Katrina Ducis—the only pediatric neurosurgeon in Vermont—and a team prepared to take on one of the most complex challenges in neurosurgery.

👉 Next: what happened in the operating room—and beyond. Link to story in the comments.