Southern Vermont AHEC

Southern Vermont AHEC Connecting students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health. College of Medicine to boost healthcare workforce development.

A 501 (c)(3) organization Serving Addison, Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor Counties. Working in Partnership with the University of Vermont Robert Larner, M.D.

AHEC Advocacy in Action! Our Director of Programs, Alysia Straw, recently attended the Vermont Medical Society’s Legisla...
10/11/2026

AHEC Advocacy in Action!

Our Director of Programs, Alysia Straw, recently attended the Vermont Medical Society’s Legislative Candidate Reception in White River Junction, VT!

The event brought together local physicians, physician assistants, and political candidates from Windsor County and across Vermont to discuss important healthcare issues, exchange ideas, and learn more about candidates’ priorities and policy positions.

Alysia had the opportunity to share the AHEC Story and highlight the incredible work happening across Vermont to build, strengthen, and sustain our healthcare workforce!

From supporting future healthcare professionals to addressing workforce needs across our state, AHEC is proud to be part of the conversation shaping the future of healthcare in Vermont.

Photo on left is Alysia with Lexi Krupp, Communications, Policy, and Program Associate for the Vermont Medical Society.

National AHEC Organization Vermont Department of Health North Star Health Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce Springfield Hospital, Inc. - VT Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center Vermont Medical Society

Celebrating Vermont’s Health Professionals! During Vermont Health Careers Awareness Month, we’re putting our health prof...
10/09/2026

Celebrating Vermont’s Health Professionals!

During Vermont Health Careers Awareness Month, we’re putting our health professionals front and center! These dedicated individuals are committed, compassionate, and competent, always putting patients first.

Every health professional has a unique story to tell. Today, we’re highlighting Melody Mason, Laboratory Technician at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, whose journey shows how investing in our workforce helps people build meaningful careers while staying rooted in the communities they love.

Melody shares her story:

“Each laboratory result belongs to a person, and each person belongs to a community. I’ve been a part of the Brattleboro community since I was nineteen, and now, more than twenty years later, I’m proud to have built my career and a home with settled roots for my family.

I had the opportunity to go back to school and transition from a Phlebotomist to a Medical Laboratory Technician. Supported by Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s scholarships and state resources, like HireAbility Vermont, I was able to complete that Associate’s program with high honors and attain my license after passing the boards on the first try! This community invested in me. That’s why I continue to grow, stay, and engage here in Vermont.”

Thank you, Melody, for your dedication to patient care!

Vermont Department of Health National AHEC Organization Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation United Way of Windham County Windham Regional Career Center Vermont Health Careers

Our Program Director, Alysia Straw, is everywhere at once! One of her stops on her “Health Careers” tour was the 2026 Ru...
10/08/2026

Our Program Director, Alysia Straw, is everywhere at once!

One of her stops on her “Health Careers” tour was the 2026 Rural Health Student Summit, sponsored by the New England Rural Health Association and held September 12 at Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.

This annual event brings together students and early-career healthcare professionals, connecting them with the experiences, mentors, and practical knowledge they need to explore and pursue careers in rural health.

Alysia was joined by our newly minted Southern Vermont AHEC volunteer, Sheri Ablid, and together they had a table overflowing with information, resources, opportunities—and, of course, cool swag!

Sheri did a fantastic job sharing the Southern Vermont AHEC story and helping attendees learn more about what we do and the opportunities we offer.

Interested in becoming a volunteer or simply want to learn more about Southern Vermont AHEC’s programs and opportunities?

Email Alysia at [email protected] to connect!

What does it really take to prepare the next generation of Vermont’s health care workforce? Sometimes, it starts with an...
10/08/2026

What does it really take to prepare the next generation of Vermont’s health care workforce? Sometimes, it starts with an internship.

As we celebrate Health Careers Awareness Month, we're highlighting the College Student Healthcare Internship Program (CSHIP), a collaborative effort between Northern Vermont AHEC and Southern Vermont AHEC that gives college students the opportunity to explore health careers through meaningful, paid experiences in Vermont communities.

From supporting older Vermonters and addressing food insecurity to promoting wellness, oral health education and substance misuse prevention, this summer's CSHIP interns discovered that health care extends far beyond the walls of a hospital or doctor's office.

Along the way, they gained valuable skills, explored new career possibilities and developed a deeper understanding of the communities they may one day serve as health professionals.

Because building Vermont's future health care workforce isn't just about helping students choose a career. It's about giving them opportunities to see themselves in it.

Our latest blog shares the experiences of this summer's CSHIP interns and why programs like this matter for the future of health care in Vermont.

Read their stories: https://nvtahec.org/cship2026/

ATTENTION ATTENTION! NEW DEVELOPMENT!The Vermont Educational Loan Repayment APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED to Oc...
10/07/2026

ATTENTION ATTENTION! NEW DEVELOPMENT!

The Vermont Educational Loan Repayment APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED to October 30, 2026!💸💸💸

In order to adequately reach the new provider types covered under this year's updated program, we have extended the deadline by TWO WEEKS!

Please visit www.vtahec.org for complete program details, the overview & eligibility documents, and application links.

Community Health Vermont Department of Health North Star Health Rutland Regional Medical Center Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Springfield Hospital, Inc. - VT

ATTENTION ATTENTION!The Vermont Educational Loan Repayment APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED to October 30, 2026!💸💸...
10/07/2026

ATTENTION ATTENTION!

The Vermont Educational Loan Repayment APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED to October 30, 2026!💸💸💸

In order to adequately reach the new provider types covered under this year's updated program, we have extended the deadline by TWO WEEKS!

Please visit www.vtahec.org for complete program details, the overview & eligibility documents, and application links.

DENTAL PROVIDERS: DON’T MISS THIS DEADLINE!

October 30, 2026 is just around the corner! This is your chance to receive up to SIX YEARS of funding through the Vermont Education Loan Repayment Program.

And there’s BIG news: DENTAL HYGIENISTS AND DENTAL THERAPISTS ARE NOW INCLUDED!

If you’re an eligible dental provider, NOW is the time to act. Don’t wait until the deadline is here! Read the full details below and apply before October 30th.

PLEASE SHARE! Help us get the word out to dental providers across Vermont. Someone in your professional network could benefit from this incredible opportunity—and your share could make sure they don’t miss it. DEADLINE: October 30, 2026 Spread the word. Share the opportunity. Take action!

Community Health North Star Health Rutland Regional Medical Center Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Springfield Hospital, Inc. - VT Grace Cottage Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Vermont Department of Health

Vermont Health Careers Awareness Month continues! What does it mean to build a meaningful health career right here in Ve...
10/05/2026

Vermont Health Careers Awareness Month continues!

What does it mean to build a meaningful health career right here in Vermont? For Lauren Prendergast, it means combining her passion for helping people with her love for the community she calls home.

After traveling for several years, Lauren chose Rutland as the place to put down roots. Today, she’s celebrating 10 years as an X-ray technologist at Rutland Regional Medical Center, where she finds both the diagnostic side of her work and the opportunity to connect with patients incredibly rewarding.

In Lauren’s own words:

“I was born and raised in Vermont, and after spending a few years traveling, I knew Rutland was where I wanted to settle because of its strong sense of community and the care people have for one another. I chose radiology because I wanted to help patients by playing an important role in their diagnosis, while also offering comfort and reassurance during what can be a stressful time.

Over my 10 years as an X-ray technologist, I’ve seen firsthand how important medical imaging is in providing answers and guiding treatment. Getting to care for patients in a community I love and being part of a hospital that genuinely cares about its patients is what makes my career so fulfilling.”

Lauren’s story is a wonderful reminder that health careers are about more than a job—they’re about making a difference in the lives of patients and in the communities we call home.

Rutland Regional Careers Community Health National AHEC Organization Northern Vermont AHEC UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences Vermont Health Careers Vermont State University
River Valley Tech Center

Our friends at Rutland Regional Medical Center are providing a sneak preview of their brand new da Vinci robotic-assiste...
10/03/2026

Our friends at Rutland Regional Medical Center are providing a sneak preview of their brand new da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical system on October 10 from 10am-Noon at The Paramount Theatre. What an opportunity to see this cutting edge cutting edge technology demonstrated. Please see all the details in the flyer below.

Stafford Technical Center River Valley Tech Center Springfield Hospital, Inc. - VT Vermont State University Castleton Campus

Return to Campus! Our Director of Programs, Alysia Straw, will be at Vermont State University Castleton Campus Career De...
10/02/2026

Return to Campus! Our Director of Programs, Alysia Straw, will be at Vermont State University Castleton Campus Career Development and Innovation Office the first Friday of each month, unless there’s an event.

Alysia will provide health career development support to VTSU students, including individual advising, graduate program guidance, career-focused workshops, and connections with regional healthcare partners. Students can also explore job shadows, internships, research, and applied learning opportunities.

Schedule an appointment by emailing [email protected], or stop by! If Alysia doesn’t have an appointment, she’ll be happy to meet with you.

Note photo of Alysia with Jessica Duncan, Director of Career Development and Innovation at VTSU Vermont State University Castleton Campus

We’re excited to help students explore meaningful careers and build Vermont’s health workforce!

10/01/2026

Celebrating Vermont Health Careers Awareness Month!

Throughout the month of October, we’re celebrating the people who choose to build their careers in health care and make a difference in the lives of Vermonters every day.

In this video, Samantha M. Helinski, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, AGNP-C, CWOCN, Nurse Practitioner with Community Health Geriatrics in Rutland, shares her personal story. Samantha talks about why she chose a career in health care, the joy and fulfillment her work has brought her, and why she has chosen to build her career and life right here in Vermont.

Her story is a wonderful reminder that a career in health care is more than a job — it’s about connection, purpose, community, and making a difference where you live.

▶️ Watch Samantha’s story and hear why she chose a career in healthcare.

Rutland Regional Medical Center Vermont Department of Health National AHEC Organization Vermont State University Castleton Campus

Address

368 River Street, Suite 145
Springfield, VT
05156

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+18028852126

Website

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