UVM Health - Porter Medical Center

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UVM Health - Porter Medical Center

University of Vermont Health - Porter Medical Center is a non-profit hospital in Middlebury, Vermont.

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.

11/17/2025

A lot of injuries happen during ordinary moments - but the good news is, most can be prevented.

Here are a few quick reminders to help you stay safe as the snow starts to arrive.

Want to learn more?
Our team is hosting a virtual "lunch and learn" tomorrow, November 18 at noon.
Link in the comments.

11/17/2025

🚌🚨 Planned Emergency Preparedness Exercise 🚨🚌
WHEN: Monday, Nov. 17 | 5–8 pm
WHERE: Bristol, VT | Route 116 at the former Andrew Johnson Lumber Yard

This is only a training exercise.

Porter Medical Center is partnering with EMS, fire, law enforcement, state agencies and school district leaders for a full-scale emergency drill simulating a school bus rollover with about 20 volunteer patient-actors.

This exercise helps all participating agencies practice communication, incident command and patient transport — strengthening the systems that keep Addison County safe during real emergencies.

Please be aware: increased emergency vehicle activity is expected, but this is only a drill.

Middlebury Regional EMS | Bristol Rescue Squad | Mount Abraham Unified School District | Bristol Police Department | Bristol Fire Department - Vermont | Vermont Emergency Management | Vermont Department of Health

11/16/2025

✨ MOSAIC PROJECT | Not Just Smoke and Mirrors ✨
“I never imagined a magic trick could save a life.” Meet Kurt Trautmann, a licensed pharmacist, at Alice Hyde Medical Center.
~~~
I never imagined a magic trick could save a life.

But after decades of performing the Mr. Yuk Magic Show, I’ve seen how a little wonder can leave a lasting impression. Kids remember the giggles, the surprises and most importantly, the message.

For 50 years, I’ve blended magic and poison-prevention for children. Not because I wanted to be a magician, but because I wanted them to remember. You can’t lecture 4-year-olds about poison safety. But if you make it fun, colorful and engaging, they’ll carry that lesson with them for life.

I don’t try to fool them. Little kids are literal. If something disappears, they’ll say, “It went up your sleeve.” So, I don’t aim for mystification — I aim for joy. I bring out spring snakes, inflatable wands, silly props and a stuffed rabbit named David Hopperfield. I ask them to help me make the magic happen. And when they do, their faces light up. That’s the moment I live for.

Every year, I tweak the show — adding a new trick or swapping out a prop. I’ve got banners that say “Caution: Magic Zone,” and a six-foot wand that’s always a hit in class photos. But the heart of it never changes: teaching kids to be smart, safe and to have fun doing it.

I’ve seen thousands of kids over the years. Some still have Mr. Yuk stickers on bottles at home. Some remember the exact tricks I did. That tells me the message stuck.

And that’s the real magic. It’s not about the disappearing scarves or misbehaving wands. It’s knowing something I did helped a child stay safe. That’s why I keep going. If I can leave a little wonder in their hearts and a little wisdom in their heads, then I’ve done something that matters.
~~~
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.

11/15/2025

A kitchen fire spiraled into an opioid addiction that nearly took everything from him.

🎧 Listen to the podcast to hear how he found his way back.

Link in comments

~~~

Real stories. Real care. Real impact.

Living Healthy Together | Pathways to Recovery: Inside Central Vermont’s Unique Substance Use Disorder Treatment System

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.

11/13/2025

In late September, friends, loved ones and members of the Green Mountain Nurses Honor Guard gathered in Fair Haven to celebrate the life of nurse Mary Lussier. Throughout her long career as a nurse, Mary worked selflessly to treat each one of her patients with the highest standard of care.

At her service, the Honor Guard passed the symbolic Nightingale Lamp along to Mary's granddaughter, Lauren, who is in her final year of nursing school. Mary's legacy of compassion and resilience will live on through all those who knew her.

The Green Mountain Nurses Honor Guard is made up of active and retired nurses who volunteer their time to pay tribute to Vermont nurses who have passed away. Their missions is to honor nurses' legacy of care, compassion and sacrifice.

11/12/2025

When one patient’s dialysis journey revealed how complex kidney care can be, Dr. Macaulay Onuigbo teamed up with UVM engineers to find smarter, more reliable solutions. Together, they’re working to make dialysis treatment safer and easier for patients.

“This is exactly where academic medicine shines,” says Dr. Onuigbo, “when a committed and dedicated multidisciplinary team can combine clinical insight with engineering innovation to find a new solution for an old problem.”

👉 Read the full story in the comments.

The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont | UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences

11/11/2025

When you think of fall produce, pumpkins and apples may come to mind — but there’s a whole harvest of other nutrient-rich foods worth adding to your plate. We asked chef educator Christina Vollbrecht and registered dietitian Bridget Shea of University of Vermont Medical Center to share their favorite fall ingredients and how to prepare them.

Link in the comments

11/08/2025

🏃‍♀️ MOSAIC PROJECT | Heart and Hustle 🏃‍♀️

“I never played sports growing up; I was the girl in band class, ducking out of gym when I could.” Meet Claire Robinson-White, an executive assistant at UVM Health - Home Health & Hospice.
~~~
I never played sports growing up; I was the girl in band class, ducking out of gym whenever I could. But in May 2014, I had Chiari decompression surgery — a delicate operation to ease pressure on the brain. While recovering in the ICU, I started walking laps. Then I started walking along my road in Richmond. Eventually, I signed up for a race called the Moosalamoo Ultra. After so much time spent healing, it just felt good to push myself again. That was it. I was hooked.

Since then, I’ve run ultramarathons, races exceeding the standard 26.2-mile marathon distance, across Vermont and beyond, including Beebe Farm’s 48-hour Ultra, Notchview Ultra and the Endurance Society’s Deca Marathon — ten marathons in ten days. In 2024, I was the only woman to finish.

This year, after six brutal days of heavy rain, thunderstorms and mud, I dropped. This time, I simply couldn’t finish.

But I showed up the next morning with locally made donuts. If I say, ‘I’m yours for ten days,’ I mean it.

That’s how I approach work, too. I think of myself as the crew chief. Like at an aid station, I ask: What do you need? How can I set you up to succeed? There’s no ego. Just support. It’s about heart and hustle, too.

Ultra running isn’t about medals. It’s about showing up when it’s hard. It’s sharing a muddy trail with strangers who become your people. When someone’s hurting, you fall into step beside them. You give them your jacket. You say, ‘I’ve got you.’

You don’t have to finish first. You just have to keep on going. And when it’s your turn to fall back and help someone else get there — that counts just as much.
~~~
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.

11/07/2025

They were told they might never walk again — until robotics changed everything.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast.
Link in comments

~~~

✨ Real stories. Real care. Real impact. ✨
Living Healthy Together | Steps to Recovery: How Robotics is Transforming Rehabilitation

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.

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115 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT
05753

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http://UVMHealth.org/

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