Living Healthy Together

What does it take to build a medical practice that lasts not just decades, but generations? Join us as we visit Green Mountain Family Practice in Northfield, Vermont, and explore the human connections and experiences that form the core of family medicine for the Sullivan family, over the course of a hundred years. Craig Sullivan, MD, began caring for families in Northfield in 1983, practicing medicine in a small town where care extends beyond clinic walls and trust and lifelong relationships with patients defined family medicine. Dr. Sullivan shares stories and insights drawn from a career shaped by house calls, handshake agreements, and a sea-change that fundamentally reshaped primary care.  Matt Sullivan, MD, describes his own winding path to family medicine. From filmmaking to primary care and ultimately a journey home to practice alongside his father Craig. He reflects on how medicine has changed, the challenges keeping physicians from choosing to practice family medicine, and what it takes to preserve meaningful relationships in an increasingly complex and business-driven health care system. Together they offer an intimate look at medicine as a vocation grounded in time, trust and presence within the lives of patients.  

Health information is everywhere: online resources, third-party apps on your smartphone, artificial intelligence-driven chatbots; even the patient portal to your electronic health record. So why does understanding and using health information remain a challenge for millions of Americans? And how does communication, trust and misinformation shape health care experiences for patients and providers alike? Join Chrissy Keating, health literacy specialist at UVM Medical Center, as we explore why nearly nine in 10 adults struggle with health information; hear volunteer patient and family advisor Susanna Stinnett and patient engagement partner Vicki Mascareno-Nelson discuss how lived experiences improve patient-provider communication systems; explore the impact of misinformation and a crowded digital landscape with infections disease specialist and medical ethicist Tim Lahey, MD; and learn how preparing for your care can transform your health care appointments, with tips from professional health care risk manager Geri Amori and community outreach manager Maria Avery. Get a hopeful, practical look at how better communication, shared decision-making and curiosity on both sides of the exam room can lead to better health outcomes. Resources: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNational Institutes of Health (searchable health condition information)Mayo Clinic (patient-facing medical information)Harvard Medical School (health education and condition overviews)American Academy of PediatricsInfectious Diseases Society of AmericaAmerican Heart AssociationAmerican Diabetes AssociationHealth Bytes and Insights (Request a session)

Preventing child maltreatment is complex, and everyone has a role to play. Child abuse and neglect affect every community. In this episode of Living Healthy Together, we mark Child Abuse Awareness Month by bringing together medical experts, foster parents, forensic specialists and community leaders to explore how we can keep children safe and how prevention truly works. James Metz, MD, a pediatrician, division chief of child abuse medicine and director of the Child Safe Program at Golisano Children’s Hospital, explains why child maltreatment is more common than many childhood illnesses; the role of pediatricians and how multidisciplinary teams investigate and respond to reports of suspected abuse while putting children and families at the center of everything they do. Whitney Barkhuff, MD, a neonatologist and foster parent, shares what families should understand about foster care, addresses common misconceptions and explores the many ways individuals and families can support children without committing to long-term foster placements. Tracey Wagner, MSN, RN, CPN, SANE-P, a forensic and sexual assault nurse and longtime foster parent, explains the spectrum of child maltreatment, how science is evolving, the importance of education, and how honest conversations can help protect children. Meghan Masterson, MA, BCBA, a board-certified behavior analyst and executive director of Kidsafe Collaborative, Chittenden County’s only independent agency dedicated to prevention of child abuse and neglect, explains how prevention is a shared responsibility. Learn how individual action, community support and strong systems create safer environments for children 

Occupational Therapy helps people do the everyday things that make life meaningful, from getting dressing and preparing meals to returning to work, driving and caring for family. On this episode of Living Healthy Together, we celebrate the impact occupational therapists have on lives across our region, and explore how this collaborative, relationship-focused approach to rehabilitation made a difference for three patients dealing with vastly different challenges. Together, these stories reveal how occupational therapy goes beyond rehabilitation, helping people reconnect to purpose, preserve dignity, and take control of their everyday lives. Vermonter Brian Stevens shares his journey of resilience and recovery with his occupational therapist, Janet Conk, MOT,  following a devastating motorcycle accident in 2025 that left him paralyzed. Greta Irwin, OTR-L, a multi-site manager on the Rehabilitation team at UVM Medical Center, explains the scope of occupational therapy, rising demand for services across our region, and the growing, unmet needs facing patients.  Heidi Faunce, a pipefitter who suffered a traumatic hand injury, takes listeners behind the scenes of her rehabilitation with certified hand therapy specialist Krista Schestag, OT, CHT, and describes the specialized, relationship-driven care that helped her return to work and reclaim her ability to do everyday tasks. University of Vermont professor Sefakor GMA. Komabu-Pomeyie, PhD, shares her lifelong medical journey dealing with the impacts of Polio and how her work with driver rehabilitation specialist Heather Zuk, OT, helped her preserve independence through adaptive driving technology. 

Alcohol is deeply woven into American culture and its health risks often go unrecognized or minimized. Join us as we explore alcohol use disorder as a major public health issue impacting our region. You’ll hear from clinicians, public health experts, recovery professionals and a Vermonter who shares his lived experience on how alcohol affects individuals, families and communities across Vermont and northern New York. Peter Jackson, MD, director of the Addiction Treatment Center at UVM Medical Center, and Mallory Richardson, a certified recovery roach with Turning Point of Central Vermont who works in the emergency department at Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC), explain why alcohol use disorder is uniquely challenging to treat, why alcohol withdrawal is among the most dangerous and potentially-lethal experiences, and why many people delay seeking help. Eva Patrick, a public health specialist at CVMC and program manager of Central Vermont Prevention Coalition, and Marissa Patrick, NP, a primary care nurse practitioner at CVMC and the architect of the hospital’s primary care treatment pathway for alcohol use disorder, discuss Vermont’s high rates of alcohol consumption, the underuse of medication-assisted treatment, and how strategies for treatment and support are shifting. Chris Collins, a father and recovery advocate from Washington, Vermont, shares his powerful personal journey of addiction and recovery following a devastating motorcycle accident that left him with severe nerve damage. 

Bone issues and injuries affect millions of Americans, often without warning. Join us as Living Health Together hosts a wide-ranging conversation about osteoporosis, low bone mass, and why bone health is a critical but often overlooked part of lifelong wellness. Hear from experts in orthopedics, physical therapy, nutrition, primary care and gynecolocy about how bones grow, weaken and respond to stress; what puts you most at-risk for fractures and bone health issues; and what you can do to build and protect strong bones at every stage of life. Orthopedic nurse practitioner Deborah Brown, FNP, explores how bone health develops over time, the role genetics play, and why fragility fractures can have devastating consequences for independence and longevity – and how early screening and knowing your family history can change outcomes. OB/GYN and menopause specialist Colleen Horan, MD, explains how hormonal changes before and during menopause accelerate bone loss and cost women up to 10% of their bone density; and how lifestyle changes and hormone therapy can help slow that decline. Emily Byrne, FNP, discusses the critical role primary care practitioners play, why osteoporosis is considered a “silent disease,” and how you can advocate for screening and early prevention with your own health care provider. Physical Therapist and orthopedic certified specialist Jackie Jancaitis, PT, breaks down the science of how bones respond to stress; why lifting heavy (safely!) is essential for bone density; and how strength, balance and fall prevention work together to reduce fracture risk. Registered dietician nutritionist Nancy Wagner, RDN, CDCES, explains how nutrition influences bone health starting in early childhood – and how a surprise diagnosis of osteopenia, or low bone density, brought the risks home for her. 

What happens when personal loss sparks not just grief, but the desire to ensure no one dies alone? In this episode of Living Healthy Together, sit down with Louella Richer, manager of palliative care support services at University of Vermont Health - Porter Medical Center, and explore her deeply personal journey through caregiving, grief and healing. After caring for both parents through terminal illness, and losing them both in 2009, Louella transformed trauma into purpose through creative expression, memoir writing, yoga and ultimately a career in palliative care. She now leads a team of more than 100 volunteers who provide companionship, bereavement support and more for patients and families navigating the end of life. This powerful conversation examines what it truly means to be present, why creative expression matters in grief, and how compassion, music and human connection can shape some of life’s most profound moments. 

Each year since 2022, University of Vermont Healthy and the University of Vermont bring together clinicians, students, community leaders, educators, artists and advocates for the annual Health Equity Summit – a gathering focused on advancing equitable, person-centered care across Vermont and northern New York. In this episode we explore what health equity truly means, why it matters, and how it shows up in homes, hospitals, classrooms and communities. Hear from Summit organizers Taylor Small of UVM Medical Center and Hajar Anvar of UVM Health - Home Health and Hospice about the summit’s evolving vision and the growing role of community voices, patient advisors and diverse partners in shaping solutions. You’ll also hear powerful stories from Burlington-based artist and storyteller Ferene Paris, who is using creativity to support healing and learning; executive assistant Elle Semsey, who is channeling her lived experience as a survivor of intimate partner violence into action; and Dr. Jill Rinehart, a pediatrician at Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health working to eliminate care disparities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. From the role social determinants of health play, to the importance of cultural humility, lived experience and patient-centered design, we offer a deeply human look at what it takes to build health care systems – and relationships – that allow everyone the opportunity to reach their highest level of health. 

Artificial intelligence is reshaping medicine: Ambient documentation tools free clinicians to be fully present with patients; AI trained to read medical images helps speed diagnoses in critical moments; chatbots connect patients with clear and prompt information through messages via their electronic medical record. Medical artificial intelligence tools are reducing burnout, improving clinical workflows and raising important questions about trust, privacy and the future of care. In this episode of Living Healthy Together, UVM Health physicians discuss how artificial intelligence is tested, vetted and used across Vermont and northern New York. Join Dr. Justin Stinnett-Donnelly, Dr. Tim Lahey, Dr. Dan Peters and Dr. Alician Jacobs to explore the promise, power and potential pitfalls of bringing artificial intelligence into health care’s most sacred space: the patient-provider relationship.

Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) – nurse practitioners, physician assistants, midwives, CRNAs and others – are reshaping how health care is delivered. In this episode, we sit down with APPs leaders and clinicians from across University of Vermont Health, to learn how these practitioners are impacting everything from the state and national policies that define APP clinical practice, to the team-based care models driving health care delivery. You’ll hear stories from practitioners across Vermont and northern New York who are advancing education, policy, mentoring emerging providers and redefining what modern, team-based health care looks like. From midwifery expansion serving rural communities to an innovative “transition-to-practice” program at the largest hospital in northern New York, we dive deep into how advance practice providers are impacting today’s workforce challenges and shaping the future of medicine. Whether you’re a patient, health care professional or just curious about how care is evolving, these conversations offer an inside look at one of the most important evolutions in health care today. 

Explore the rapidly evolving world of structural cardiology through the story of Dorsey Naylor of Jericho, Vermont. An avid cross-country skier, hiker and lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Dorsey’s life changed dramatically in 2023 when she was diagnosed with severe mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation. Groundbreaking minimally invasive valve therapies helped Dorsey recover much of her heart function and mobility, ensuring she can continue to do the things that nourish her body and spirit. Structural cardiologists Harold Dauerman, MD, Tanush Gupta, MD, and Rony Lahoud, MD, share insight and expertise on two decades of innovation that have transformed treatment for once nearly-untreatable valve diseases; and how adapting a nearly century-old surgical procedure could be life-changing for individuals unable to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Learn how UVM Medical Center’s structural cardiology team is offering patients safer procedures, shorter recoveries and access to leading-edge treatments that expand care options for high-risk patients. 

Even if you don’t have a rare cardiovascular condition or need specialized cardiac care, heart health impacts almost every aspect of your life. Join us for Heart Health on Living Healthy Together, as we sit down with experts in cardiovascular research, heart rehabilitation and prevention, exercise and nutrition related to cardiac health. As we celebrate Heart Month 2026, you’ll learn: How our deepening understanding of cardiac risk factors is improving prevention, early detection and heart care for women. Why “knowing your numbers” is a critical piece of heart health for everyone – and how you can have a conversation with your own primary care provider about getting informed and understanding your own heart health and risk factors.  How Cardiac Rehabilitation centers across UVM Health improve heart health and quality of life for those with heart disease, and whether cardiac rehab is right for you. How the Mediterranean Diet can help improve your heart health, and how you can easily incorporate aspects of it into your own eating routine. Why exercise is critical for heart health – and how you can beat the winter exercise slump and make small changes to get (and stay) more active all year round. How advocates for heart health and safety are working to improve healthy food options and cardiac safety protocols for young people in Vermont. How vaping among young people may be leading to a rise in smoking –what that could mean for the heart health of younger generations in the decades to come, and how heart health experts and advocates hope to reverse the trend.

Gabby Makatura remembers when her life reached a breaking point. After leaving a high-stress job for what was supposed to be a period of reflection and transition, anxiety and uncertainty took hold, leaving Gabby numb and disconnected. A series of escalating panic attacks left Gabby seeking care and support in the emergency department at UVM Medical Center; she was soon back at home and facing the same challenges. It wasn’t until Gabby’s mother, visiting from out of state, learned about Howard Center’s Mental Health Urgent Care Center in Burlington and convinced her to visit, that she found what felt like a stable path forward. Opened in October of 2024, the Center is a partnership between Howard Center, Pathways Vermont, Community Health Centers, UVM Medical Center, and the Vermont Department of Mental Health. Join us as we look back on the Center’s first year providing mental health support services, and speak with mental health experts about the impact it has made, the services available, and mental health needs and challenges across our region. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 802-488-7777 in Vermont or call, text or chat 988 in New York. 

In mid-2025, Jayme Richland of Burlington was facing multiple crises: a serious medical condition left neglected for too long had put his health – and his foot – at risk; years of living with substance use disorder had left him isolated and struggling to ensure his basic needs were met; and the sudden and looming threat of eviction while he was in the hospital recovering from surgery had put in jeopardy Jayme’s ability to continue getting the care and treatment he needed. Join us as Jayme shares his remarkable story of recovery and healing, and how after eviction he found stability and a place to call home through a recently-launched medical respite program at UVM Health – Home Health and Hospice. Hear from experts with decades of experience providing care and support to individuals experiencing housing insecurity, including Dr. Lincoln Heath of Community Health Centers of Burlington, veteran case worker and community resource coordinator Chris Lazar, and registered nurse and Medical Respite Program Director April Plante, RN, about the need and impact of Home Health’s Medical Respite Program, which is aimed at addressing gaps in care and support for individuals struggling with housing insecurity. 

At 14 years old, Kian Ruid’s life was suddenly turned upside down by debilitating headaches so powerful he couldn’t even stand upright.  An MRI revealed the reason: a rare abnormality in Kian’s brain known as an AVM – a dangerous tangle of blood vessels that causes headaches, pain, vision problems and more, as well as posing serious risks for internal bleeding resulting in seizures, stroke-like symptoms, cognitive difficulties, movement problems and other life-changing impacts. Once doctors found the AVM entangled with the motor center of Kian’s brain, surgery quickly became an imperative, though it came with potential short- and long-term impacts to Kian’s ability to walk – not to mention his ability to continue playing hockey. Join us as we speak with Kian and his mother, Rebecca Ruid, about their family’s experience navigating this life-changing medical journey and how Kian made a remarkable recovery after surgery and returned to the ice just nine months later. We’ll also take an inside look at the system of care, treatment and support that serves pediatric patients and their families navigating neurological conditions and diagnoses, and meet Dr. Katrina Ducis, the only pediatric neurosurgeon in Vermont and the clinician who removed the AVM that was threatening Kian’s health and wellness. 

Our relationship with food is always changing. But one thing that doesn’t is its powerful impact on our health and wellness. Join us as we dive into the concept of Culinary Medicine, a paradigm-shifting approach to food and wellness at University of Vermont Medical Center that includes everything from the hospital’s nutritional services department, to specialty programs that support cancer patients, members of the community, individuals struggling with chronic pain and much more. Leah Pryor, Culinary Medicine manager at UVM Medical Center, breaks down how the program has grown and developed through the years, as well as what’s next for this innovative approach to nutrition, health and wellness. Melissa Kelly, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, digs into healthy eating habits, how to make sustainable changes in your diet to kick off 2026, and how food science and nutrition continue to evolve, and the challenges and opportunities specific to our region. Alison Precort, a registered and certified dietitian and certified diabetes educator who focuses on pediatric diabetes and weight management, explores the nuances of nutrition and diet for young people, some of the major food and nutrition changes we’ve seen over the past forty years, and the complex drivers of a nationwide increase pediatric obesity.  

Alexa Valyou has faced more health care challenges in her 8 years than most people do in a lifetime. She underwent her first heart procedure less than 24 hours after being born and her first open heart surgery when she was less than a month old. Since then, Alexa has had four more – along with 17 other heart procedures, near fatal brain bleeds, emergency brain surgery and more. Despite Alexa’s resilience and courage, routine medical appointments like blood draws and other diagnostic procedures often tested her resolve – until Alexa and her mother, Brittany, discovered The Comfort Zone at Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health. The Comfort Zone is a pre-procedure space designed to help children with complex medical needs navigate medical care with less fear and more personalized support. Join us as we explore a leading-edge approach to helping pediatric patients and families cope with the stress and uncertainty that can impact their willingness to seek medical care later in life – and meet the dedicate team of nurses and Child Life Specialists who are taking care of pediatric patients and are now finding ways to expand The Comfort Zone to help young adults as well. 

Across America, heart disease causes nearly 1 million deaths each year. In Vermont and northern New York, tens of thousands are impacted annually. At UVM Medical Center, a small but mighty team of heart specialists has spent decades advancing cardiac care for patients and our understanding of the complex factors that impact heart health.Join us to learn more about the paradigm-shifting work of the Cardiology team at our region’s only academic medical center. You’ll hear about a new biomarker test that gives physicians prescribing blood thinning medications more information than ever before, new treatments for the sickest heart patients and previously unknown misconceptions about heart health.

For as long as he can remember, Jon Carey of Erie, Pennsylvania has lived with dysthymia, also known as persistent depressive disorder. But it wasn’t until well into Jon’s adult years that his struggles with depression took a life-threatening turn. Then Jon met Dr. Ennio Ammendola, whose work as part of a team of suicide care experts proved life-changing for the 58-year-old biologist and father. Suicide touches the lives of many Vermonters and New Yorkers each year and is a leading cause of death across the United States. It is also a serious challenge for rural communities, where residents are at higher risk than those living in more metropolitan areas. Join us as we explore the care and support systems available across our region – and learn how the arrival of an expert team of mental health clinicians who specialize in evidence-based suicide care could expand access to life-changing care and revolutionize how our health care infrastructure identifies, treats and supports individuals struggling with suicide.  

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 University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt. and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, NY. Learn how the next generation of physicians are 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. 

Nearly 15 years ago, a kitchen grease spill at home left Aaron Blair with burns on his foot so severe that he needed skin grafts and months of recovery. What Aaron could never have predicted at the time was that his traumatic injury would also begin a years-long struggle with opioid use disorder. Before Aaron knew it, he was taking 15 Percocet a day – along with oxycontin and other prescription painkillers. Join us as we follow Aaron’s journey through opioid use disorder and meet the mental health and substance use clinicians, peer recovery coaches and primary care physicians who have built a unique regional system of treatment, care and support that has served thousands of people across our region – and is now being replicated in other states. 

Somdeb Chatterjee and Valerie Hunter have both accomplished something extraordinary: losing and then regaining their ability not just to walk but move all of their extremities. For Somdeb, the journey began with an international trip during which he contracted a rare and mysterious condition called Gillian-Barre syndrome. For Valerie, it as a trip-and-fall accident while feeding her horses that resulted in a traumatic spinal cord injury. Their stories could not be more different, but they both walked the same path to recovery: through the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs at University of Vermont Health – University of Vermont Medical Center. There, robotic technology called the Vector is making an impact on the treatment and recovery of individuals dealing with complex neurological conditions and injuries. Join us as we speak with Somdeb and Valerie about their medical journeys, and with the expert physical therapists who are supporting neurological patients, developing programs and leveraging technology to give themselves and patients like Somdeb and Valerie an edge as they work to regain functionality and independence.

At barely four months old, Weston Bird faced a life-threatening battle with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) that kept him in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health for weeks. This week, we follow Weston’s journey back to health through the eyes of his mother, Kristen Bird, a pediatric provider in Burlington, and learn about medical advances that are changing the risks of respiratory disease season for children, parents and senior citizens. As respiratory disease season ramps up, join us as we talk with leading experts from across UVM Health and explore what this season means for communities across Vermont and northern New York.From influenza, COVID and RSV vaccines to public health guidance and rural health care challenges, experts in public health, pulmonaryand critical care, and pediatrics share trusted insights, actionable advice and perspectives to help individuals and families stay healthy.Resources:Vermont DOH – Flu, COVID & RSV VaccinesNYS DOH – Respiratory VirusesAmerican Academy of Pediatrics - RSVAmerican Academy of Pediatrics – COVIDAmerican Academy of Pediatrics – FluAmerican College of OB/GYN – FluAmerican College of OB/GYN – Maternal RSV Vaccine

Palliative care isn’t about end-of-life. It’s about living your best, even in the face of serious illness. As Jayne Dobrin’s health declined in 2024, her husband, Steve, and adult daughters faced difficult conversations and emotional challenges. That’s when Steve and Jayne connected with the palliative care team at UVM Health – University of Vermont Medical Center, who helped guide them through some of the most complex and difficult moments of their lives.Follow Jayne and Steve’s story, as Steve shares how support from a team of compassionate nurses, social workers, physicians and other health care professionals helped his family navigate medical transitions, coordinate care and find peace during Jayne’s final days. And hear from experts across UVM Health about the importance and impact of palliative care – and how early conversations with loved ones and your medical team can make a lasting difference.Jayne and Steve’s story highlights the true purpose of palliative care: a holistic approach to helping patients and families live well, even in the face of serious illness.

For more than three years now, Cash Rich has lived life from a wheelchair – the result of severe medical conditions, including degenerative disc disease, stemming from a lifetime of mental and physical trauma, substance misuse and addiction, and a self-destructive lifestyle he says was rooted in childhood abuse.In 2021, alcoholism, one of the few constants in Cash’s life, became an urgent and life-threatening medical crisis. Drinking had damaged Cash’s pancreatitis and left him needing life-saving treatment – but to the frustration and confusion of his medical team, the 58-year-old refused.Join us as we follow Cash’s journey, meet the people behind a unique program called WRAP (Working to Reduce Admissions Program) designed to support the highest utilizers of health care services and learn how WRAP social worker Kathrine Acus uncovered the real reasons Cash was resisting life-changing care.

Since being diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 13, Kathy Johnson of Williston has lived an extraordinary medical odyssey. From pediatric cancer to cardiac crisis, the 65-year-old Williston resident has approached a lifetime’s worth of serious medical issues, diagnoses and treatments with an irrepressible, take-on-all-comers attitude.In 2025, Kathy and her care team faced a new challenge: How to make the risky and complex heart procedures she desperately needed possible at all. Damage to Kathy’s heart from cancer treatment decades ago not only gave her coronary artery disease – it had calcified her aorta along with her arteries, making many conventional and minimally-invasive surgeries impossible.Join us as we follow Kathy’s story of resilience through the years and meet the surgeons and interventional cardiologists who planned and performed a first-of-its-kind procedure in the catheter lab at University of Vermont Medical Center – where they used an advanced form of life support called Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) to sustain Kathy and repair major damage to her heart.

When Trent Campbell suffered a series of strokes beginning in 2018, he and his wife, Nikki Juvan, knew their lives would change forever. Less than a decade later, in January of 2025, Montpelier resident David Goodman suffered a life-threatening stroke and made a complete recovery in about 30 hours. For stroke survivors, time is brain. Join us this week as we explore the regional system built on technology and neurocritical expertise that is reshaping how leading-edge stroke care is delivered in rural communities. We’ll follow Tent, Nikki and David on their journeys as stroke survivors and caregivers, and speak with experts in neurocritical care, stroke care and vascular neurology who helped create a rural system of stroke care that brings advanced subspecialty care to communities across a rural region of more than 1 million people.ResourcesStroke Patient & Family EducationStroke Awareness VermontStroke Caregiver GuideStrokeNet (Clinical Trials Information)Pediatric NeurologyWDEV Airdate: 10/3/2025

Imagine having to shave your head after a hospital stay, because the team caring for you wasn’t able to properly care for your hair. Hair care in the hospital can be challenging – especially for people of color.  Join us this week as we sit down with the multidisciplinary team of nurses and other health care professionals at UVM Medical Center who discovered and developed the hospital’s Hair Equity Program, and the leaders whose support helped launch an innovative approach to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes.  Created in partnership with patients and members of the community, the hospital’s leading-edge approach to holistic patient care attempts to move the needle on one of the most scrutinized measures of success in health care: patient experience and satisfaction. 

We’ll discuss mental health at home and in the classroom, the current state of chronic absenteeism and its impact on wellbeing and scholastic achievement and rural access to care. We’ll also highlight community-based support services that help students and families respond to challenges as they arise.   Pediatric experts in public health, youth mental health and absenteeism share real-world solutions. They discuss new research that’s deepening our understanding of what students need to succeed, and they reflect on the back-to-school experience for parents and caregivers.  Join Dr. Keith Robinson, Dr. Heidi Schumacher, and Dr. Steven Schlozman for an in-depth look at how to set students up for success this year. 

A spinal surgery gone wrong left John Killacky paralyzed and living in debilitating pain. After a traumatic hit-and-run accident, Emily Metcalfe woke up in the hospital, quadriplegic, and in need of months of physical and occupational therapy as she relearned how to walk.On this episode of Living Healthy Together, UVM Health Network's podcast, John and Emily share their stories, their experiences living with chronic pain, and how the Comprehensive Pain Program at University of Vermont Medical Center helped them learn to control their pain, rather than be defined by it.They're joined by Dr. Joshua Plavin and Laurel Audy, RN, two founding members of the Comprehensive Pain Program who reflect on their own roles building a unique, leading-edge approach to treatment and support. They share how the program's holistic approach to patient care and wellness challenges health care's status quo and could make an impact even for those who aren't living with chronic pain.WDEV Air Date: September 12, 2025

When dementia and Parkinson’s made words hard to find, Allegra Miller and her husband, Bob Rinkema, found a new way to connect — through music at the piano. Their shared playing became a language of its own, even when conversation was difficult.On this episode of Living Healthy Together, UVM Health Network’s podcast, Allegra shares her caregiving journey with her husband, following his diagnosis of Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson’s.She’s followed by Dr. Sunny Eappen and Christine Werneke, who reflect on their own experiences with family caregiving and how this longstanding challenge continues to shape care in our communities.Podcast Exclusive BONUS Interview -- Learn more about dementia care, memory care, at-home caregiving and the Dementia Family Caregiver Center. Lori McKenna, the center’s director, Joan Marsh-Reed, a psychologist at the center, and Audrey Winograd, director of the center’s Vermont Bridges Program, discuss how science and research provided the foundation for programs and services that support caregivers, the regional and national challenges facing caregivers, and what the Center’s team is working on right now to support at-home caregivers and those they care for every day.

Dr. Lewis First joins clinical leaders guiding work on physician education, clinical research and patient care to explain how values and vision helped create a unique "children's hospital without walls," make high-quality pediatric specialty care more accessible in rural communities, and continues to make Vermont a national leader in pediatric health and care.WDEV Airdate: August 29, 2025

We dive into major Medicaid changes and their impact in our region. Dr. Sunny Eappen joins a panel of leaders from across our health system to unpack the impacts and share how our health system is helping patients, caregivers and rural hospitals prepare. WDEV Air Date: August 22, 2025

Hear the gripping story of Steve Stahl, who survived a widow maker heart attack on the slopes of Mount Mansfield. Join special guest UVM Health Network CEO Dr. Sunny Eappen as we talk critical care, follow Steve’s inspiring road to recovery and discuss the future of cardiac care in our region.WDEV Airdate: August 15, 2025