Living Healthy Together

What does it take to remain grateful during a lifetime of hardship?  We sit down with Francisco Herrera of University of Vermont Medical Center as he shares his remarkable life’s journey defined by perseverance, family, and gratitude: From growing up in the Dominican Republic, helping to support his family as a child and surviving life-threatening challenges to building a career as a firefigh...

What if your health choices aren’t really your own?  Join us as we explore the powerful ways for-profit interests work to shape what we eat, drink and believe through product design, marketing and public policy influence. From tobacco to ultra-processed foods, industries have long leveraged science, psychology and messaging to drive consumption and decision-making, often at the expense of pub...

How far can your body and mind really go?  Explore the world of extreme endurance running with clinical dieticians Amanda Gibbs of University of Vermont – Alice Hyde Medical Center and Joni Gerken , RD, of Adirondack Health.  Lifelong runners and endurance athletes, Amanda and Joni share their journey from traditional races to ultramarathons, events that push athletes far beyond the 26.2...

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects millions of people. Managing it takes more than monitoring your blood pressure readings. Clinical care, nutrition, lifestyle changes and every day challenges all play a role.  Alison Hobart, FNP , a primary care provider, and Rachel Lorek, RD , a clinical nutritionist and director of Food and Nutrition Services at Central Vermont Medica...

Hospice Care is often misunderstood, feared or delayed – and the cost of waiting is measured in missed moments. In this episode of Living Healthy Together, explore hospice through the deeply personal stories of families and caregivers, and the insights of professionals who guide families and individuals through some of life’s most intimate and ubiquitous experiences.  Leendert Huisman , whose...

A stroke is a medical emergency in which every second matters. This week on Living Healthy Together, we explore how awareness, rapid treatment and coordinated care and clinical support can change everything.  Genie Denton of Central Vermont Medical Center shares her powerful personal experience surviving multiple strokes, joined by her husband, Steven Harnois, a firefighter and longtime EMT....

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unpredictable, often invisible and lifelong. For those living with this spectrum of conditions, every day can be shaped by pain, uncertainty and the need to constantly adapt.  We explore the realities of IBD through the decades-long medical journey of Joshua Peets, a North Country resident and Crohn’s d...

What does it take to build a medical practice that lasts not just decades, but generations? Join us as we visit Green Mountain Family Practice in Northfield, Vermont, and explore the human connections and experiences that form the core of family medicine for the Sullivan family, over the course of a hundred years.  Craig Sullivan , MD, began caring for families in Nor...

Health information is everywhere: online resources, third-party apps on your smartphone, artificial intelligence-driven chatbots; even the patient portal to your electronic health record.  So why does understanding and using health information remain a challenge for millions of Americans? And how does communication, trust and misinfo...

Preventing child maltreatment is complex, and everyone has a role to play. Child abuse and neglect affect every community. In this episode of Living Healthy Together, we mark Child Abuse Awareness Month by bringing together medical experts, foster parents, forensic specialists and community leaders to explore how we can keep children safe and how p...

Occupational Therapy helps people do the everyday things that make life meaningful, from getting dressing and preparing meals to returning to work, driving and caring for family.  On this episode of Living Healthy Together, we celebrate the impact occupational therapists have on lives across our region, and explore how this collaborative, relationship-focused approach...

Alcohol is deeply woven into American culture and its health risks often go unrecognized or minimized. Join us as we explore alcohol use disorder as a major public health issue impacting our region.  You’ll hear from clinicians, public health experts, recovery professionals and a Vermonter who shares his lived experience on how alcohol af...

Bone issues and injuries affect millions of Americans, often without warning. Join us as Living Health Together hosts a wide-ranging conversation about osteoporosis, low bone mass, and why bone health is a critical but often overlooked part of lifelong wellness.  Hear from experts in orthopedics, physical therapy, nutrition, primary care and  gynecolocy  about ho...

What happens when personal loss sparks not just grief, but the desire to ensure no one dies alone? In this episode of Living Healthy Together, sit down with Louella Richer, manager of palliative care support services at University of Vermont Health - Porter Medical Center, and explore her deeply personal journey through caregiving, grief and healing.  After caring for...

Each year since 2022, University of Vermont Healthy and the University of Vermont bring together clinicians, students, community leaders, educators, artists and advocates for the annual Health Equity Summit – a gathering focused on advancing equitable, person-centered care across Vermont and northern New York.  In this episode we explore what health equity truly means, why it&n...

Artificial intelligence is reshaping medicine: Ambient documentation tools free clinicians to be fully present with patients; AI trained to read medical images helps speed diagnoses in critical moments; chatbots connect patients with clear and prompt information through messages via their electronic medical record.  Medical artificial intelligence tools are reducing burnou...

Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) – nurse practitioners, physician assistants, midwives, CRNAs and others – are reshaping how health care is delivered. In this episode, we sit down with APPs leaders and clinicians from across University of Vermont Health, to learn how these practitioners are impacting everything from the state and national policies that define APP cl...

Explore the rapidly evolving world of structural cardiology through the story of Dorsey Naylor of Jericho, Vermont. An avid cross-country skier, hiker and lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Dorsey’s life changed dramatically in 2023 when she was diagnosed with severe mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation. Groundbreaking minimally invasive valve therapies helped Dorsey recover much of her heart functi...

Even if you don’t have a rare cardiovascular condition or need specialized cardiac care, heart health impacts almost every aspect of your life.  Join us for Heart Health on Living Healthy Together, as we sit down with experts in cardiovascular research, heart rehabilitation and prevention, exercise and nutrition related to cardiac health. As we celebrate Heart Month 2026,&...

Gabby Makatura remembers when her life reached a breaking point. After leaving a high-stress job for what was supposed to be a period of reflection and transition, anxiety and uncertainty took hold, leaving Gabby numb and disconnected. A series of escalating panic attacks left Gabby seeking care and support in the emergency department at UVM Medical Center; she was soon back at home and...

In mid-2025, Jayme Richland of Burlington was facing multiple crises: a serious medical condition left neglected for too long had put his health – and his foot – at risk; years of living with substance use disorder had left him isolated and struggling to ensure his basic needs were met; and the sudden and looming threat of eviction while he was in the hospital recovering from surgery had put in je...

At 14 years old, Kian Ruid’s life was suddenly turned upside down by debilitating headaches so powerful he couldn’t even stand upright.  An MRI revealed the reason: a rare abnormality in Kian’s brain known as an AVM – a dangerous tangle of blood vessels that causes headaches, pain, vision problems and more, as well as posing serious risks for internal bleeding resulting in seiz...

Our relationship with food is always changing. But one thing that doesn’t is its powerful impact on our health and wellness. Join us as we dive into the concept of Culinary Medicine, a paradigm-shifting approach to food and wellness at University of Vermont Medical Center that includes everything from the hospital’s nutritional services department, to specialty programs that support canc...

Alexa Valyou has faced more health care challenges in her 8 years than most people do in a lifetime. She underwent her first heart procedure less than 24 hours after being born and her first open heart surgery when she was less than a month old. Since then, Alexa has had four more – along with 17 other heart procedures, near fatal brain bleeds, emergency brain surgery and more.  Despite Alexa...

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 th...