UVM Health - Porter Medical Center, 115 Porter Drive, Middlebury, VT (2025)

12/01/2025

Thank you to all our partners who took part in last month's county-wide emergency response drill in Bristol — and kudos to Middlebury EMS for creating this excellent recap video. Well done!

Exercises like this strengthen communication, coordination and real-world readiness.

▶️ Watch the response in action.

11/29/2025

🎨 MOSAIC PROJECT | The Art of Nourishing Others 🎨
“I’ve always needed to make things with my hands.” Meet Amanda Brunell, a recruiting and outreach coordinator for UVM Health Nutrition Services.
~~~
Whether I’m kneading bread, sketching before dawn or piping icing onto a cake, creating gives me calm and purpose. I just like making things for people I care about.

I started college as an art major, but I realized that a traditional academic path wasn’t for me. I come from a long line of makers. My grandmother had a kiln. My grandfather could play any string instrument. Both my parents are excellent cooks. I followed in their footsteps and found my creative outlet in a bakery, decorating cakes.

After a decade in bakeries and food service — plus a passion for nutrition — I joined UVM Health. What began as a line-chef role led to recruiting for nutrition services, which I love. It keeps me close to food and nutrition.

When my daughters started dance lessons, art returned. I’d sketch in the early mornings and while they practiced, post my work online. Commissions followed, and in 2022, Seven Days named me Best Illustrator.

My older daughter danced her way to Sugar Plum Fairy before switching to field hockey and college. My younger daughter competed in dance and eventually left that hobby in favor of volleyball and lacrosse. But she always tagged along to art shows. Art became her safe space, too.

Eventually, commissions wore me down. Everyone wanted dog portraits — 10 hours each — and I couldn’t turn off the self-critique. I wanted to get back to creating for the joy of it.

Now, to satisfy my creative needs, I volunteer wherever I can: Project Grad, athletic boosters, Art Hop. Every Christmas, I try a new craft: finger-knitted blankets, family cookbooks and more. I’ve made balloon arches, ribbon leis and digital posters. My family teases me for never saying no, but I like giving without expectations.

Whether I’m cooking mac and cheese for 200 high school seniors or sketching before sunrise, it’s all the same at heart — using my hands to bring people together.
~~~
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.

11/28/2025

🐾 🏒 Mark your calendars! Next Friday, December 5. 🏒 🐾

We’re proud to support First Responders Night with Middlebury College Men’s Hockey.

The event honors local firefighters, police, EMS — and the many health care professionals who care for our community every day.

Arrive early: emergency vehicles will be on display starting at 6 pm, along with free ice cream, hockey cards, and team photo giveaways for kids (while supplies last).

See you at the rink — and go Panthers!

~Middlebury Athletics

11/28/2025

With cases of pertussis (also known as "whooping cough") rising in Central Vermont and beyond, our physicians reveal who is most at risk, what symptoms look like and how to stay protected against this highly contagious respiratory disease.

11/26/2025

Ten minutes. That’s all it took each day for Maggie Frampton to fight breast cancer.

Thanks to cutting-edge technology and an incredible care team with The University of Vermont Cancer Center, her treatments were quick, precise and life-changing.

Read the full story to see how Frampton's story is proof that there's hope - and life - on the other side of cancer.

The University of Vermont Cancer Center

~~~

When Frampton was diagnosed with breast cancer, her life changed instantly. A psychotherapist in Montpelier, she’s used to helping others navigate emotional challenges. Facing her own was a different story.

“I was stunned by the reality of it,” Frampton says. “But I thought, okay, they have a plan. We’ll take care of it.”

That plan included daily radiation treatments for four weeks. Thanks to a new linear accelerator at University of Vermont Health–Central Vermont Medical Center, Frampton’s treatments were fast.

“I expected it to take 30 or 45 minutes,” she recalls. “But I was in and out in 10. I could come in, get treated and carry on with my life. I’m still working part-time, and I could work with the schedule. We are really, really lucky to have this kind of technology here.”

WORLD-CLASS TECHNOLOGY, LOCAL ACCESS

Installed in May 2025, the new machine is part of a multi-year initiative to upgrade cancer treatment technology across UVM Health’s four radiation oncology sites: Central Vermont Medical Center, UVM Medical Center, Alice Hyde Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital.

These upgrades mean:

✅ Faster, more efficient treatments
✅ Sharper imaging during therapy
✅ Cloud-based software that connects cancer experts across the region

In 2023 alone, more than 25,000 radiation treatments were delivered across the health system. The goal: treat more patients quickly and as close to home as possible.

“Being able to come here and be out so quickly meant I could carry on with the other part of my life,” says Frampton. “That’s huge.”

A TEAM THAT CARES

Frampton describes her care team as “outstanding,” from the doctors to the techs and front desk staff. “They’re comforting, passionate, and have a great sense of humor. I felt very well cared for.”

She also used support services like acupuncture and Reiki to relieve stress and support healing. “The educational piece was so clear,” she adds. “I could ask any question, anytime. It made a big difference.”

A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE

After her final treatment, Frampton rang the bell outside the cancer center — a tradition that marks the end of radiation therapy.

“Everyone clapped,” she says. “It felt like I was on stage, which I’m not comfortable with. But in that case, it worked. It made me feel really good.”

She celebrated with friends over dinner in Stowe, grateful for the care she received and the life she still gets to live.

“Walking, talking with friends, going places, concerts,” Frampton says. “I feel like I’m in my next life just enjoying things.”

11/24/2025

💚🌼 DAISY Award Celebration 🌼💚

Please join us in congratulating Walker Whittemore, RN, of Porter’s Emergency Department, on receiving the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses!

Nominated by a fellow nurse who unexpectedly found herself as a patient, Walker was recognized for the compassion, patience and clinical skill he brought to a frightening moment. Even with severe symptoms making communication difficult, Walker took the time to explain every step clearly - offering reassurance to both the patient and her family while working with calm, steady focus.

“As nurses, we think we understand these situations - until we’re the ones in the bed. Walker helped me feel safe, informed and genuinely cared for during one of the scariest days I’ve had. I hope I can embody even half the nurse he is.”

Thank you, Walker, for your dedication to exceptional patient care!

11/22/2025

🎼 MOSAIC PROJECT | When Memory Sings 🎼
“I was born in Sierra Leone in western Africa and adopted by a family in Connecticut when I was 3.” Meet Ashley Snow, an activities coordinator at UVM Medical Center.
~~~
I was born in Sierra Leone in western Africa and adopted by a family in Connecticut when I was 3. I didn’t speak English yet, but music was a language I could understand. My parents used to sing me to sleep, and music quickly became my second language. Whenever I’m singing, practicing or performing, it feels like home.

When I was a little girl, I would tell people that I was going to be a singing doctor — someone who helped people while singing to them. I had not yet learned about the scientific benefits of music, but I was living proof of it. Music has guided and shaped my life.

Some of my earliest memories are visits to my grandmother’s nursing home, which I thought was the happiest place on earth. She was on the swim team, loved community events and even taught my siblings and me billiards in the activities room. From then on, I knew I wanted to work with older adults.

Gradually my two passions converged. I trained as an opera singer at Interlochen Arts Academy, where I first learned about music therapy. I went on to study it at Ohio University.

Seeing music therapy in action changed everything. As a student, I worked with a woman in memory care who had been nonverbal for years. After weeks of music therapy, she sang her name to me.

I think of that moment often. It was the moment I knew I’d work in memory care.

During the pandemic, I was an activities assistant at a senior care center in California. Overnight, as lockdowns took effect, I became a bridge for families and their loved ones, a companion for the lonely, and an advocate for improving residents’ quality of life with less reliance on medications. Movement, friendship, music and connection became the foundation for better health and deeper human connection.

It’s a focus I’ve brought with me to my work at University of Vermont Health - UVM Medical Center. The work isn’t easy, but it’s worth it — especially being able to bring out a part of someone that memory has taken. Sometimes, all it takes is a little companionship. And it never hurts to try music.
~~~
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.
Show Less

11/21/2025

Who will care for our rural communities tomorrow? Two residency programs in our region are training the next generation of physicians to answer that call.

🎧 Listen to the podcast to hear how these programs are shaping the future of rural care.
Link in comments.

~~~

Real stories. Real care. Real impact.

Living Healthy Together | Growing Rural Health Care: Inside UVM Health’s Family Medicine Residency Programs

Only 10% of physicians practice in rural areas — and just one percent of graduate medical training programs are located in rural communities, meaning many, if not most, providers-in-training aren’t exposed to rural health care at all.

We explore two residency programs that buck this trend: the Family Medicine Residency Programs at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Learn how the next generation of physicians is thinking about practicing medicine in rural America, and dive into how these programs have found success in both attracting medical students and keeping physicians in our communities after they graduate.

11/20/2025

🐝 BEE AWARD | Congratulations to Eric!

Some of the most important work in a hospital happens behind the scenes. And according to Josie from Med / Surg, Eric Schubert from Pharmacy is one of those behind-the-scenes standouts.

When Josie started as a new nurse at Porter, Eric was there to support her. “He took the time to explain ordered medications, interactions and compatibilities — answering every question with patience, clarity and reassurance.”

Josie describes Eric as someone who always works with a smile and often shares a friendly laugh over the phone from the med room. And when there’s a Pyxis or medication issue, he’s quick to come to the unit and sort it out — showing his dedication to safety and teamwork.

Even though much of Eric’s work isn’t seen by patients or families, it keeps our hospital running smoothly and ensures safe, high-quality care every day.

👏 Thank you, Eric, for your commitment to our patients, colleagues and community — and thank you Josie, for the thoughtful nomination.

11/20/2025

Ever imagine what life would be like if you couldn't eat your favorite foods?

That was the reality Jeff Thomas lived with after a stroke, until he learned about a therapy that changed everything.

From a feeding tube to family dinners, his fight will move you.

~~~

Pizza, cheese bread and cake.

It’s a simple meal to celebrate a birthday — but for Jeff Thomas, it once felt impossible.

After a stroke, Thomas couldn’t swallow. He lived with a feeding tube, carried a spit bucket and relied on medication patches to manage constant drooling. He couldn’t enjoy meals with his family and felt isolated.

“I thought for sure I’d be spitting in that bucket the rest of my life,” he recalls. “I had lost so much weight, and I didn’t think I’d ever get back to where I was before.”

That changed when he met Anthony Lewis, MA, CCC-SLP, senior speech language pathologist at University of Vermont Health–Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. Lewis introduced Jeff to Ampcare, a therapy using gentle electrical stimulation to help muscles relearn how to swallow. It was newly available at the hospital — and for Jeff, it was life changing.

“He put electrodes on my chin, and after just a few sessions, I could feel the muscles working again,” Thomas says. “It was weird at first, but it worked. It really worked.” He immediately set a goal: take his daughter out for lunch on her birthday, three months away. After six sessions, he started to feel more like himself again. A follow-up swallow study confirmed he could eat regular food, and his feeding tube was removed.

After a year of frustration, Thomas enjoyed the birthday meal — complete with pizza and cheese bread.

“I can eat anything I want now,” he says with a big smile. “Thank God. I never thought I’d get here. I can’t thank Tony enough.”

Lewis saw Thomas’s determination firsthand.

“Jeff came in with a goal, and he worked hard,” Lewis says. “Ampcare gave him the tools, but it was his spirit that made the difference. Seeing him eat again, seeing him smile — it’s why we do what we do.”

Thomas has regained much of the weight he lost and, more importantly, his confidence. Ice cream, mac and cheese and cereal are among his favorites. He also loves going out to eat — which has become a bit of a habit for Thomas and his father.

“Every time I go into Plattsburgh for rehab or any reason, really, I always want to go somewhere and eat,” he says. “After a while, my dad would jokingly give me a look, like he’s saying, ‘Really? Again?’ But I know he is just really happy to see me able to do these kinds of things again.”

Thomas was among the first to receive Ampcare therapy at the hospital. Since then, Lewis has treated several other patients and is thrilled with the results.

“We’re seeing more and more patients like Jeff who are able to regain their ability to swallow and eat like so many of us do every day,” Lewis explains. “It’s changing lives, and it’s just the beginning.”

“I just want people to know what the hospital did for me,” Thomas adds. “They gave me my life back.”

11/19/2025

On Monday night, first responders from across Addison County took part in a full-scale school bus MCI drill in Bristol. Huge thanks to Middlebury EMS for the recap — and to every agency, volunteer and planner who made this training possible.
Preparedness takes all of us. 💚

11/18/2025

You may already know that smoking and genetics can raise your cancer risk. But did you know some viruses can, too?

While less common, viruses are responsible for 15% to 20% of cancers worldwide. The good news: You can take steps to protect yourself, including getting vaccinated and reducing exposure.

We spoke with Ashley Volaric, MD, a pathologist at University of Vermont Medical Center and assistant professor at The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont, about four viruses that can increase your cancer risk — and how to stay safe.

Link in the comments.

UVM Health - Porter Medical Center

12/01/2025

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