UVM Health - Porter Medical Center

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UVM Health - Porter Medical Center

University of Vermont Health - Porter Medical Center is a non-profit hospital in Middlebury, Vermont.

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.

01/23/2026

🌟 Facing cancer? Here’s something that can make life a little easier. 🌟

When you’re going through treatment, eating well matters—but let’s be honest, it can feel overwhelming. New foods, confusing “don’ts,” and the stress of planning meals? It’s a lot.

The good news: Small changes can make a BIG difference, says Jessica Coleman, MLA, NBC-HWC, an integrative oncology health and wellness coach at The Osher Center for Integrative Health at University of Vermont.

“The goal is to have eating well feel less like a chore and more like an opportunity to care for yourself, one meal at a time,” Coleman adds.

🍎🥦 She says one easy way to start doing that today is to consider two or three fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins you already enjoy.

“Adding favorite healthy foods to your plate instead of fixating on what to subtract is a pleasure-based approach to food choice that can be easier to follow than one based on restriction,” Coleman explains.

👉 We’ve got four more tips – plus two cozy, plant-based recipes from UVM Health’s Culinary Medicine program to warm you up this winter. 🥣 Check out the full story in collaboration with The University of Vermont Cancer Center in the comments.

01/22/2026

Only 7.9% of people struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD) receive treatment – and just 2.4% get medication-based care. That gap is why Marissa Patrick, NP, helped launch Vermont’s first integrated AUD care system—starting in the ER and your primary care office.

A “no wrong doors” approach connects people to compassionate, science-based health and life goals.

Listen to Marisa’s story via the link in our comments.

01/22/2026

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that can affect far more than physical health - often disrupting workdays, family time and everyday moments.

Dr. Shruti Khurana recently joined the medical staff at UVM Medical Center, where she leads a multidisciplinary IBD Clinic focused on helping patients manage complex conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and related disorders.

The program brings together specialty care and coordinated support for people living with IBD across Vermont and northern New York.

Learn more about inflammatory bowel disease care at UVM Health.
Link in the comments.

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.

01/20/2026

New episode is live! You’ll learn:
✅ How to build eating habits that actually stick in 2026
✅ Why childhood obesity is rising
✅ How Culinary Medicine supports recovery and wellness

🎧 Listen to the podcast (link in comments)

Food is more than fuel - it can be a powerful tool for health and wellness. In this episode, we explore Culinary Medicine at UVM Medical Center and how it supports patients and our community, from cancer support to chronic pain and more.

~~~

Living Healthy Together Podcast

Episode 19 | Beyond Nutrition: Culinary Medicine and the Future of Healthy Habits

Real stories. Real care. Real impact.

01/14/2026

With high flu activity in our community, Porter is updating our masking guidance to help protect patients, visitors and staff.

Masking is now strongly recommended in:

• Emergency Department (ED)
• Medical-Surgical Units
• Infusion Center
• Porter ExpressCare

If you have respiratory symptoms, please wear a mask while in our facilities. Masks are available at entrances and throughout care areas.

01/14/2026

It’s a fact: Getting vaccinated against flu and developing immunity against other strains helps reduce illness severity and protects our communities.
This year, staying protected matters even more.

Doctors in our region have seen strong Influenza A, and COVID-19 and RSV continue to cause serious illness, especially for older adults, young kids and people with chronic conditions.

The good news? It’s not too late to get vaccinated! Flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines are available, and most people can get all three at the same visit. 💉

Rebecca Bell, MD, pediatric critical care physician at Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health, explains why the flu vaccine matters for you, your family and your community.

Learn more at the link in the comments.

01/13/2026

From patient to board chair: Kim Farnham’s journey shows what can happen when you speak up. Now, she’s helping others find their voices and shaping how hospitals listen. Read her inspiring story at the link in the comments.

01/11/2026

What helps a child feel safe before a medical procedure?

At Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health, families like Alexa’s are finding support in The Comfort Zone - a personalized space designed to ease fear and build trust before care begins.

In this podcast, clinicians and Child Life Specialists share how thoughtful preparation, communication and comfort can make a real difference for children and families - in medical settings and beyond.

👉 Listen to the podcast. Link in the comments.

~Real stories. Real care. Real impact. ~
Living Healthy Together | Into the Comfort Zone: Reducing Fear for Pediatric Patients

01/04/2026

❤ MOSAIC PROJECT | Heartfelt Connections ❤
“We support parents by helping them connect and ask questions, and to let kids be kids.” Meet Michael Towle, Chief Financial Officer at University of Vermont Health – Home Health & Hospice.
~~~
On a September day in 2012, life changed suddenly for our family.

That’s when we learned our 3-month-old son, Jack, needed open heart surgery for a congenital defect.

We had no idea anything was wrong when we took Jack for his checkup. Even when our pediatrician referred us to Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health for a possible heart murmur, we didn’t expect what came next.

We found out that Jack had a ventricular septal defect — a hole between his heart chambers. Left untreated, he likely would not live past his 20s.

It’s hard to describe what you feel as a parent in that moment. But after the shock, you put on your shell and find strength. You do what is needed.

We endured months of medication, ambulance rides and waiting. Jack’s surgery was postponed twice due to illness before he finally had the procedure in February 2013. That was the longest day of my life. I’ll never forget seeing him after the surgery, hooked up to so many machines.

Today, Jack is thriving: He’s a healthy, active 13-year-old, and the Kevlar patch in his heart lets him live a normal life. He plays sports and practices martial arts. We are a happy, and lucky, family of five — Jack and our two daughters.

But many families are still going through similar things. That's why my wife, Katie, and I started an organization called VT Cardiac Kids: To support parents by helping them connect and ask questions, and to let kids be kids.

Our first event was a breakfast with Santa in 2014. Now, we’re a registered nonprofit, hosting outings to baseball and hockey games, apple orchards and the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory.

Our families come from Vermont, upstate New York and New Hampshire. Some kids have been through multiple heart surgeries, with more ahead.

It’s so important for families to know they’re not alone. That connection is the biggest thing.
~~~
The Mosaic Project is a collection of short stories about the people of University of Vermont Health. 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.

01/03/2026

🎉👶 A perfect start to the year - with big sister love 👶🎉

Proud big sister Hazel holds her new baby brother, Henry Tucker, Porter's First Baby of the Year.

Henry was born at 3:54 pm on January 1, weighing 7 lb 9.2 oz and measuring 21.5 inches. He was born to Margaret Smithson and Larry Tucker of Whiting.

Congratulations to the Tucker family on a beautiful beginning to the new year! 💚

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115 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT
05753

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http://UVMHealth.org/

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