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11/19/2025

Hunting Season is Here—Stay Safe Out There!

Hunting season in New York runs from now until December 7, and we want everyone to enjoy it safely. Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:

✅ Wear blaze orange so other hunters can see you
✅ Use a safety harness if you’re in a tree stand
✅ Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded
✅ Know your target—and what’s beyond it
✅ Dress for the weather and tell someone where you’ll be

Let’s make this season safe and injury-free!

📧 Questions? Email CVPHTraumaDepartment@cvph.org

More tips in the comments below.

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.

11/16/2025

✨ 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.

11/16/2025

🩸Join us in making a lifesaving difference for the people in our region! Donate at an upcoming blood drive hosted by the Adirondack Blood Center:

💉 Monday, November 17: St. Augustine Parish Center (sponsored by Knights of Columbus) | Route 22, Peru | 3-6:30 pm
💉 Tuesday, November 18: St. Edmunds Church Hall (sponsored by Knights of Columbus) | Route 11, Ellenburg Depot | 4-7 pm
💉 Thursday, November 20: Cumberland 12 Cinemas | 18 North Bowl Lane, Plattsburgh | 4-8 pm
💉 Monday, November 24: West Chazy Fire Department | Route 22, West Chazy | 4-7 pm
💉 Friday, November 28: CVPH Lab Conference Rooms | 75 Beekman Street | 10 am-4 pm

Our Blood Donor Center at 85 Plaza Boulevard in Plattsburgh is also open Monday through Friday from 8 am-4 pm.

The blood we collect - at the Blood Donor Center and at blood drives throughout the region - provides more than 95% of the blood used at CVPH and is used to supply other hospitals in Elizabethtown, Ticonderoga, Malone and Saranac Lake.

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.

11/12/2025

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

11/10/2025

What Does Quality Really Mean in a Hospital?

At CVPH, quality isn’t just about numbers or ratings. It’s about how safe our care is, how well we listen, and how patients feel when they’re with us. Did they feel respected? Was their room clean? Did their care team take time to explain things clearly? That’s quality — and it matters just as much as clinical results.

One way we’re evaluated is through a visit from the Joint Commission — a national group that checks how hospitals care for patients. Their visit is unannounced, so they see us on a regular day, not one we’ve prepared for. They talk to staff, review charts, and ask questions like: Are patients getting the right care at the right time? Are safety steps being followed?
During their visit this past spring, two of our pharmacists really stood out.

Whitney LaPier, PharmD, was asked to explain how we handle medications patients bring from home. He walked the surveyor through the process with confidence. “It turned out to be a great opportunity to show what we do,” LaPier says.

Vincent Ludewig, PharmD, had a deep conversation with surveyors about how he reviews medication orders in Epic. They talked about drug safety, interactions, and how technology helps — or sometimes makes things trickier. His thoughtful approach showed just how much care goes into every decision.

These moments are a great example of what quality looks like in action.

We did earn the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval following the visit — but the real win is knowing our team is making a difference, one patient at a time.

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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75 Beekman Street
Plattsburgh, NY
12901

Website

http://www.UVMHealth.org/CVPH

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