Northern Vermont AHEC

05/27/2026

A strong system of care depends on a strong workforce.

Our latest blog highlights the Vermont Department of Health ’s Division of Substance Use Programs and its Workforce Development Resource Hub, designed to help current and future substance use professionals find training, career pathways, and support for their work across Vermont’s prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery systems.

Read More:
https://nvtahec.org/vt-substance-use-workforce/

Southern Vermont AHEC

05/15/2026

Yesterday, our Step Up participants completed their final certifications for the course - earning the First Responder Certification, which includes CPR and Stop the Bleed training.

Led by NVTAHEC Health Careers Instructor Kevin Adams, these certifications represent more than just skills training - they’re real tools that can save lives and build confidence as participants continue exploring healthcare careers.

Congratulations to this incredible group on reaching another milestone in the program!

05/14/2026

Healthcare careers aren’t one-size-fits-all — and neither are the pathways into them.

This month, Northeast Kingdom Learning Services, Inc and NVTAHEC are hosting two Step Up to Health Careers EXPO events at Community College of Vermont (CCV)-Newport designed to help students and community members explore the many different ways to enter the healthcare field right here in the Northeast Kingdom.

From hands-on career exploration to conversations about local trainings, certifications, and educational programs, these events are all about making healthcare careers feel more accessible, approachable, and real.

Whether you’re interested in nursing, pharmacy, dental careers, patient care, or just figuring out what’s next - this is a great place to start.

Educational Pathways and Advancement in Health Care EXPO
📅 Thursday, May 21 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Career Pathways in Healthcare EXPO
📅 Thursday, May 28 | 1:30pm - 3:30pm
📍 CCV-Newport Lounge, Hebard State Office Building

See flyer for full details!

05/06/2026

There’s something really powerful about hearing nurses talk honestly about the work they do - not just the clinical side, but the humanity, adaptability, and heart that comes with it every single day.

On the first day of National Nurses Week, this new Southern Vermont AHEC “Let’s Talk” podcast episode feels especially meaningful. Featuring Karen Cote and Amy Visser-Lynch from Mount Ascutney Hospital & Health Center, the conversation reflects this year’s theme, “The Power of Nurses,” and highlights the many ways nurses continue to shape healthcare, support communities, and care for people through every stage of life.

Give it a listen - and thank a nurse this week while you’re at it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-O_-rGfxPg

We’re kicking off 2026 National Nurses Week (May 6–12) a little early with the launch of our newest Southern Vermont AHEC “Let’s Talk” podcast episode: Celebrating National Nurses Week!

This special episode features inspiring conversations with Karen Cote and Amy Visser-Lynch, Nursing Professional Development Specialists from Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor, Vermont. Their stories truly reflect this year’s theme, “The Power of Nurses,” as they share personal experiences and insights into how the nursing profession continues to evolve and shape today’s healthcare landscape.

Tune in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-O_-rGfxPg

Stay tuned all week as we continue to highlight more Nurse Stories you won’t want to miss!

After you listen, drop your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear what resonates with you.

Please share out if you can.

National Nurses Week

National AHEC Organization Vermont State University Randolph Campus Vermont State University Castleton Campus Vermont Department of Health UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences North Star Health Vermont Nurse Practitioners Association Vermont State School Nurses' Association River Valley Workforce Investment Board River Valley Tech Center Vermont Health Careers Northern Vermont AHEC

05/04/2026

In recognition of National Nurses Week (May 6–12), we’re celebrating the Power of Nurses - the people who show up in the moments that matter most, bringing skill, compassion, and a steady presence when it’s needed most.

In honor of that impact, the American Nurses Association is offering a series of free webinars open to nurses, students, and anyone exploring a path into healthcare.

To all nurses: thank you for everything you do - often unseen, but always felt. Thank you for the care you provide, the way you show up, and the difference you make every day.

For webinar registration and other National Nurses Week information, visit: https://pages.nursingworld.org/nursesweek26

04/30/2026

Our Step Up to Health Careers participants are more than halfway through the program, and the past few weeks have marked a shift from classroom learning to time spent inside two of our partner hospitals.

At North Country Hospital, participants got a closer look at the day-to-day realities of hospital work. They explored the importance of HIPAA - especially in ACCESS roles - applied infection control practices in EVS, and learned how biomedical waste is managed safely. Time in the Emergency Department highlighted the pace of the work and the reality that patients often arrive scared, in pain, or unsure - and every role plays a part in how they’re cared for.

At NVRH, participants built on that experience, exploring many of the same areas - HIPAA, EVS, and ER registration - while also touring departments across the hospital. They met staff they’ll be working alongside during their job shadow experiences and spoke with the head of talent acquisition about what their path into healthcare could look like after completing the program.

These visits are where things start to feel real - where participants move from learning about healthcare to actually seeing it, and where they might fit within it.

More to come as this cohort continues their journey.

04/20/2026

A fitting time to share this spotlight - recognizing Occupational Therapy Month and Neurodiversity Celebration Month and the impact of OT in everyday life.
Check out the spotlight on the VTHealthCareers blog: https://vthealthcareers.org/otspotlightnadiayala/

What stands out most about occupational therapy isn’t always something you can easily measure - it’s the quiet, steady shifts that make daily life feel more possible. Sometimes it’s a child who can focus a little longer, a student who feels less overwhelmed, or an adult moving through the day with a bit more calm, coordination, and confidence.

In a place like Vermont, that kind of work feels especially personal - rooted in community and in the everyday moments that shape how people live, learn, and grow.

During Occupational Therapy Month and Neurodiversity Celebration Month, it feels especially meaningful to share this spotlight on Nadia Yala of Flow Therapy Vermont and the work she’s building here. Her practice supports neurodivergent individuals and families in ways that are grounded in connection, regulation, and real life - not just what happens in a clinical setting, but what actually makes daily life feel more possible.

A reminder that healthcare isn’t always about big, visible moments. Sometimes it’s something both simple and profound: helping people feel safer, calmer, and more capable in their everyday lives.

Check out the spotlight: https://vthealthcareers.org/otspotlightnadiayala/

04/09/2026

The Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC) needs your help! Please LIKE and SHARE to show your support.

Vermont’s primary care workforce challenges are not new - but the solutions require sustained, strategic investment.

This recent piece from VTDigger highlights an important truth: strengthening our healthcare system depends on supporting the programs that train, connect, and retain the people who make care possible.

That work doesn’t begin at the point of hire. It starts much earlier.

Across Vermont, AHEC programs are helping build a long-term workforce strategy by connecting students, especially those in rural and underserved communities, to healthcare careers. Over the past five years alone, more than 20,000 students have participated in AHEC programming, with 76% coming from rural communities.

This early pipeline work matters. When students are given the chance to explore, connect with professionals, and see themselves reflected in this work, it changes what feels possible. That’s how we grow our own workforce.

However, much of the funding that supports this work has not yet been fully reinstated in Vermont’s budget.

Investments in programs such are VT AHEC's are not just about addressing today’s shortages - they are about building a sustainable, locally rooted healthcare workforce for the future. And that kind of impact depends on sustained investment - not just once, but consistent, continued support.

Read the full VTDigger article:
https://vtdigger.org/2026/04/08/if-vermont-is-going-to-scale-up-primary-care-health-advocates-say-this-one-funding-priority-is-crucial/

The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont Southern Vermont AHEC Vermont Department of Health Governor Phil Scott

The House-approved budget for next fiscal year gives scholarship and loan repayment programs more money than the governor originally proposed, but many worry it will not be enough.

03/27/2026

For many healthcare professionals across Vermont, AHEC programs were an early step in their journey.

Students begin exploring healthcare careers through programs like MedQuest, HERO, and GIV. Over time, some go on to pursue education and training in health-related fields, internships, mentorship opportunities, and professional practice.

Every student’s journey looks different, but the goal remains the same: helping Vermonters discover opportunities in healthcare and supporting them as they grow into the professionals our communities need.

This week we’ve highlighted just a few of the ways AHEC programs support the healthcare workforce pipeline - from early career exploration to supporting practicing professionals.

Across Vermont and across the country, AHEC programs help connect students, educators, healthcare providers, and communities to strengthen access to care.

Thank you to the students, alumni, mentors, educators, and partners who make this work possible.


The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont Southern Vermont AHEC National AHEC Organization

03/27/2026

The Vermont AHEC Network is showing up where decisions are made.

Yesterday, we were at the State House connecting with legislators to share how AHEC programs are strengthening Vermont’s healthcare workforce - from early pipeline experiences that spark interest, such as hands-on Stop the Bleed demonstrations - to training and supporting providers across the state.

Each conversation was a chance to highlight what’s possible with opportunities of early exposure, meaningful pathways, and the support in pursuing careers in healthcare.

Because investing in AHEC isn’t just about programs - it’s about ensuring every Vermont community has access to the care it needs.


The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont Southern Vermont AHEC National AHEC Organization