UVM Health - Porter Medical Center, 115 Porter Drive, Middlebury, VT (2026)

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! 💚

12/31/2025

Many Porter Medical Center offices and clinics will be closed or have reduced hours on December 31 and January 1 for the New Year’s holiday.

ExpressCare in Middlebury will be open from 9 am–3 pm on December 31, but closed on January 1.

Our outpatient lab for blood draws and other testing will be open regular hours, from 7 am–7 pm, on December 31, but closed on January 1.

For urgent issues that can’t wait, on-call doctors are available by phone for most clinics, and the Emergency Department is always open 24/7 for emergency medical care.

View all holiday hours. 🔗 Link in the comments.

12/30/2025

Forget extreme New Year’s resolutions. Small changes are easier to stick with - and they add up.

🪥 Start simple: Replace your toothbrush every 3–4 months.
👉 See 8 easy health fixes to kickstart a healthier year
🔗 Link in the comments

12/28/2025

Snow and ice are here, but staying safe doesn’t require big changes.

Most winter injuries happen during ordinary moments, and a few simple precautions can make a real difference.

12/27/2025

🌟 MOSAIC PROJECT | Bringing Light, Building Trust 🌟
“Whether it’s welcoming a new neighbor or organizing community events, I’ve always believed small gestures make a big difference.” Meet Dana Frusco, the executive assistant for the Associate VP of operations and the facilities department at Champlain Valley Medical Center
~~~
I thought I’d be an attorney, shaping policy in the halls of power. In high school and college, I had my sights set on public service — writing legislation, working in government. I interned in Senator Clinton’s office, worked on agricultural policy and helped draft early versions of what would become New York’s farm-to-fork program.

It was meaningful work, but after a few years in D.C., I realized law school and life inside the Beltway wasn’t for me. I wanted something more human, more immediate. Not federal policy, but everyday care. Things essential to life, yet rarely in the spotlight. That realization brought me back to the North Country. I traded influence for impact, put down roots and focused on what matters most: building trust, creating space for others and making sure people feel seen. Whether it’s welcoming a new neighbor or organizing community events, I’ve always believed small gestures make a big difference.

I’ve also spent years building relationships at the hospital, especially with the teams who keep things running behind the scenes — people who don’t always get credit but whose work holds everything together.

I’ve always been someone who fights for others. I’ve done civil rights work, volunteered with LGBTQ+ organizations, and helped secure asylum for families fleeing political violence. I’ve been proud to help build bridges — literal and figurative — between Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and the community. The first year our team joined the Plattsburgh Pride March, someone in the crowd said, “It’s nice to see CVPH out here.” That moment meant everything to me.

I’m also a mom to an autistic son. I advocate fiercely for him and others like him. I believe healing isn’t just physical — it’s emotional and spiritual, too.

I dream of opening a community wellness center that complements medical care with things like energy work, compassion and Shrinrin-yoku, Japanese forest bathing, which encourages individuals to spend time in nature and reconnect. Until then, I bring my light wherever I can.
~~~
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.

12/24/2025

🎁💝 Grateful for a Giving Season 💝🎁

During the holidays, many Porter departments quietly came together to support this year’s Giving Tree Program. Through their generosity- shopping for, wrapping and donating gifts - 228 children in Addison County received a little extra warmth this season.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this possible. 💚

Special shout-outs to Jamie Armstrong and Lia McFarline from the Living Well for Life Committee for helping coordinate the effort, and to Phil Baldwin and Kavlin Bushey for transporting the gifts.

This effort was made possible in partnership with Addison Central School District and Parent Child Center.

12/24/2025

Many Porter Medical Center offices and clinics will be closed or have reduced hours on December 24 and 25 for Christmas.

ExpressCare in Middlebury will be open from 9 am–3 pm on December 24, but closed on December 25.

Our outpatient lab for blood draws and other testing will be open regular hours, 7 am–7 pm, on December 24, but closed on December 25.

For urgent issues that can’t wait, on-call doctors are available by phone for most clinics, and the Emergency Department is always open 24/7 for emergency medical care.

View all holiday hours. 🔗 Link in the comments.

12/21/2025

A new biomarker test developed by our cardiology researchers could reveal who’s at highest risk of dangerous bleeding from blood thinners - and who’s more likely to experience a second heart attack. Hear this breakthrough and more on this week’s podcast.

🔗 Link in the comments.

~~~

Real stories. Real care. Real impact.

Living Healthy Together | Changing the Beat: How UVM Medical Center Is Advancing Heart Care

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.

12/20/2025

The holidays are joyful, but they’re also busy. Small oversights can turn into big health emergencies.

Our emergency care experts recommend planning ahead:

✔️ Stock up on medications before holiday closures.

✔️ Know when to call your doctor vs. visit the ER - especially if you’re under specialty care.

✔️ Child-proof your home when hosting families. Secure medications and other hazards.

See all 7 expert tips to keep your holidays safe. 🔗 Link in the comments.

12/20/2025

🎅 MOSAIC PROJECT | Claus and Affect 🎅
“My wife says I become a different person in the suit. Maybe I do. People treat you differently.” Meet Ken Bell, the director of patient access and revenue cycle applications at UVM Health.
~~~
I didn’t plan on being Santa. A coworker brought a suit to our holiday party and asked if I’d wear it. I said sure, figured it’d be a one-time thing. It wasn’t.

Now every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’m somewhere in the red suit — hotel lobbies, toy drives, brunches, pet photo nights. Families come back every year. Some kids bring me drawings. Some take years to warm up. A lot of the adults are just as excited, if not more. I’ve had folks recognize me months later just from the beard and grin. That always makes me laugh.

I don’t charge for appearances. If someone offers, I ask them to donate to the food shelf or Toys for Tots. Restaurants have tried to pay me. One gave me hotel gift certificates so I could pass them along to someone who needed them.

I carry little Santa coins in my pocket. A while back, a coworker called me in a panic — her son didn’t think Santa could find him while they were traveling. I put on the suit and drove over to New York to surprise her son at a skating rink. I handed him a coin, and said, “Put this on your nightstand on Christmas Eve. I’ll know where to go.” His whole face lit up. I still think about that one.

My wife says I become a different person in the suit. Maybe I do. People treat you differently. Strangers start talking. People smile more. I see folks reconnect at events who haven’t caught up in years. Moments like that are rare these days. But in this role, for a little while, you feel like the center of something that still brings people together.

Being Santa isn’t about the costume, it’s about connection. And in a season that can feel rushed and commercial, that’s a gift worth giving.
~~~
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.

12/19/2025

Regarding the proposed rule that could affect funding for hospitals providing gender-affirming care for minors.

Please know that as of now, nothing has changed for our patients who need this care.

Yesterday's announcement is the start of a long process. We’re committed to following evidence-based medicine and will continue to work with our partners to ensure this care remains available. We’ll share updates as we know more.

Thank you for trusting us with your care.

UVM Health - Porter Medical Center

01/04/2026

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12/31/2025

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12/28/2025

12/27/2025

12/24/2025

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