The University of Vermont Health Network - Alice Hyde Medical Center

08/14/2025

"Karen has earned the title 'Ma' as she truly is that to not only the patients here but the staff as well."

Karen Murphy, RN is known as the go-to person at our Dwyer Health Center according to Kimberly Krikey-Soto, who works closely with Murphy. Inspired by Murphy's positivity, dependability and support, Krikey-Soto nominated her for the DAISY Award.

"She goes above and beyond for her patients, as well as her colleagues," Krikey-Soto writes in her nomination of Murphy. "If anyone is ever in need of any assistance, Karen is always there with a smile, a helping hand and comforting words."

The difference Murphy makes is evident every day.

"Every single patient that walks through the doors at DHC asks for Karen personally. They state how important she is to them and how she has cared for them throughout the years as their nurse," Krikey-Soto adds.

"Karen notices when I am having a rough day or I don't feel well," she continues. "And she always knows what to say to help me get through the day and feel better. Karen is truly a remarkable person and nurse."

We're proud to honor Murphy as our latest 🌼 DAISY Award recipient today. Thank you for the extraordinary and compassionate care you provide your patients and co-workers!

08/12/2025

😁 The smiles were rolling in at The Alice Center!
🚘 Residents enjoyed a special visit from the Malone Car Show group recently. The sunny afternoon was filled with polished chrome, great conversation and plenty of photo-worthy moments — a big thank you to our visitors for bringing the fun to The Alice Center!

08/11/2025

🎵 STRINGS ATTACHED🎵 Meet Denis Thibouthot, a registered nurse at Central Vermont Medical Center. "My life has taken me from Quebec to Florida to Vermont, but the one constant has been music: It’s my passion, and my way of life."
~~~
I discovered the guitar at age 13 after hearing Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. I haven’t put it down since. I’m a guitar player first; I played in bands pretty seriously for 10 years. Nursing is a second career for me.

I also studied music – classical and jazz guitar – but I didn’t like the academic side. I just wanted to play. So I did, five or six days a week, while teaching private lessons and recording at my house. By the 1980s, the music business was declining, and I was starting a family. Nursing seemed like a good option.

I was still thinking about music all the time. For a lot of people, music is like a hobby – they can go weeks without playing. But for me it’s a passion.

I always loved the sound of the cello. When I was in high school, my music teacher played a piece by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, and I fell in love with the instrument. But for me, it seemed impossible to play.

Then in 2001, after we moved to Vermont, my daughter started cello lessons. When she didn’t want to do it anymore, we were going to return her rented cello. But I started playing for fun and taking lessons, and I thought, “This is really hard!” There are no frets, and bowing was the hardest part: You have to make your cello sing.

Now, I consider myself a decent cello player. I’ve performed recitals at the hospital with coworkers on piano and violin. It’s rewarding but challenging. I still play guitar, too – everything from jazz to Joni Mitchell to “oldies."

I practice almost every day. I always want to learn something new, so I can get better. It’s also my oasis: When everything gets crazy, I go practice. It makes me forget pretty much everything and relax.

Music is just something that lives in you. Like a painter or an artist – you never stop.
~~~
The Mosaic Project is a collection of short stories about the people of University of Vermont Health Network. 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.

08/05/2025

🏫 It's hard to believe, but kids are going back to school soon. And we're proud to partner with Malone Central School District for a back-to-school shopping event and community health fair!

📅 Thursday, August 14 from 12-6 pm
📍 Malone Middle School
✏️ FREE school supplies, gently used clothing, backpacks and hygiene products

Items will be available for MCSD students PreK-12th grade while supplies last.

Plus, stop by the Community Health Fair for free health education, resources and
supplies partners. We hope to see you there!

08/04/2025

🤝 The entire community benefits when we partner with teams like the Saint Regis Mohawk Clinic.

Paul El Azoury, MD and Eric Gauthier, MD recently visited the clinic, where they held a formal meet and greet and shared a presentation with clinic leadership and staff. They were warmly welcomed by a remarkable team at this large, vibrant community clinic, strengthening partnerships that support access to care across our region.

We're grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with this team!

08/02/2025

For many, the term “palliative care” brings to mind end-of-life decisions. But its scope is actually much broader.

Research shows this specialized support that prioritizes quality of life can actually help patients live better.

07/30/2025

Medicare and Medicaid turn 60 today!
Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, these landmark programs continue to transform access to care.

✔️ Medicaid supports 1 in 4 in our region
✔️ Covers 40% of U.S. births
✔️ Supports 60% of U.S. nursing home residents

But proposed cuts threaten coverage for tens of thousands of our neighbors.
As a nonprofit academic health system, we never turn patients away based on their ability to pay — but these cuts would place even greater strain on an already stressed system.

07/30/2025

🎃 Lace Up for the 5K Pumpkin Run & Munchkin Mile! Signing up for either race before August 31 saves you money. It's just $20 for the Pumpkin Run and $8 for the Munchkin Mile.

🏃‍♀️ Register at https://bit.ly/4ltx69a

The event kicks off on Saturday, September 27 at the Malone Civic Center and Rec Park. You can check in beginning at 9 am, with Munchkin Mile starting at 10 am and the Pumpkin Run getting going 30 minutes later.

Whether you're running, walking or cheering from the sidelines, this family-friendly event supports our staff’s continuing education — and features prizes for 5K participants, including a Titus Mountain Season Pass (check out other prizes in the picture)! There's also a pumpkin decorating party for the Munchkins at the pavilion. Pumpkin Attire Is Encouraged! Dress up in your favorite pumpkin-themed outfit.

07/26/2025

They’re loaded with antioxidants, help fight inflammation and are a great source of fiber, vitamins and nutrients. In addition to being nutritious, berries require little to no prep and appeal to kids and adults alike. All those reasons make berries a great “pick” for an easy, crowd-pleasing snack or addition to a meal.

You can make the most of this sweet season by getting outside and picking your own.

07/22/2025

A healthier you, and up to $2,500 cash, could be just 25 days away.

The New York State Quitline is launching a Quit & Win Contest during the month of August.

Will you accept the challenge of going 25 days without smoking or va**ng? Check out the information below and register for your chance to win!

07/21/2025

🎃🏃‍♀️ Community Bank has once again stepped up in support of Alice Hyde’s 5K Pumpkin Run & Munchkin Mile, donating $1,000 toward this year’s event, happening Sept. 27. The bank has supported the event each year since it began, helping create a fun, family-friendly tradition that benefits local health care.

“We’re so grateful to Community Bank for their continued commitment to our health care team,” said Chantelle Marshall, director of philanthropy at Alice Hyde. “By sponsoring the Pumpkin Run & Munchkin Mile, they are supporting continuing education for our health care workers. That investment helps our team grow, thrive and deliver even better care to our community.”

Pictured: Sherry Boyea, district manager, and Darcy King, branch manager, presenting the check to Chantelle Marshall at Alice Hyde.

Learn more or register for the event: https://bit.ly/4ltx69a

07/21/2025

Hive Mind: Erin Duval
I spend a lot of time with bees, and they’ve taught me a lot about life.

When my son was young, he suffered from terrible seasonal allergies. A friend in my Crown Point community suggested he eat a teaspoon of raw, local honey each day – the idea being that by eating small amounts of the local mix of nectar, he’d gradually build up his body’s defenses to the pollen causing his allergies. I decided to take it a step further and invest in a future hobby for him: beekeeping.

Over time, his interest in beekeeping faded, but I was hooked. What started with two bee boxes on my property has grown to 10 hives over the past eight years. It’s a lot of work – often dictated by the weather and how the nectar flows. Some years my work is rewarded with tons of honey. Other years are lean, and I leave what there is for the bees – they’ve worked for it, they should have it for the cold, harsh winter.

It's relaxing to spend time among my bees. It's settling to listen to them, to watch as they return to their hive and do their little waggle dance, their way of giving directions to other bees about where they can find the nectar needed to sustain their colony.

I don’t understand everything about bees, but I think there is a lot they can teach us. Hives are a community: the bees must work together to survive and thrive. Each bee has its own role vital to the functioning of the hive, whether it be a nursing bee, a worker bee or the mighty queen. They are self-sufficient little creatures and take immaculate care of their home, which is practically sterile. If humans could learn to work this well together, we’d all be in a better place.

I love my community, and I see glimpses of that bee-like cooperation in my job at the Westport Health Center. I know most of the people who come in and out each day, and I strive to bring some brightness to their day and help them feel a little more comfortable. The way I see it, we’re all here to work together —and like bees, just try to make our community as healthy and strong as it can be.

Erin Duval is a clinic clerk at Westport Health Center, part of Elizabethtown Community Hospital. She has been with us since 2020.