On The Road In The Northeast Kingdom

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

I enjoy getting around the state of Vermont as often as possible.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Northeast Kingdom and speak with Vermonters involved in hospital administration, primary health care, and dental care. I also visited two high schools and met with students, faculty, and administrators. These are tough times for our state and country, but I always get inspired meeting with Vermonters who are doing the hard, day-to-day work of improving life in their communities.

At a roundtable discussion at the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury, I met with CEO Shawn Tester, administrators, and medical and nursing staff. We discussed the high cost of prescription drugs, the nursing shortage, unnecessary paperwork, and how a rural hospital deals with an aging population.

St. Johnsbury Academy is a unique high school in Vermont. It is a public/private institution that also hosts international students. I am always impressed by the intelligence and honesty of young people. I very much enjoyed my discussion with the students of St. Johnsbury Academy.

After meeting with students, I held a brief outdoor gathering with the faculty and staff of the St. Johnsbury Academy. We not only talked about academic issues, but about the mental health challenges that young people face and the high cost of housing in the region.

In St. Johnsbury, I met with Chris Towne, Chief Strategy Officer of Northern Counties Health Care, the local Federally Qualified Community Health Center. Chris was kind enough to show me the construction being done for an express care facility in downtown St. Johnsbury that will greatly expand primary health care in the region.

In Hardwick, I met with a gym full of students at Hazen Union School. We discussed issues such as gun violence, the drug addiction crisis, social media use, climate change, the high cost of college, and the need for good paying jobs in the area. I very much appreciated their great questions and participation.

Being a high school principal today is not an easy job. Hazen Union Principal Jason Di Guilio informed me about some of the challenges and opportunities that Hazen Union faces.

Everybody is entitled to affordable dental care. In Hardwick, I stopped by the Northern Counties Dental Center and discussed how we can make dental care more accessible. From left to right, I met with Dental Director Adrienne Rulon D.D.S., Chief Executive Officer Michael Costa, Chief Strategy Officer Chris Towne, and Dental Program Manager Melissa Moffatt.

Thank you to all the students, educators, and health care workers, who took the time to meet with me and for everything you do each and every day to serve your communities.

Sincerely,