University of Vermont Medical Center - Nursing Podcast

SPECIAL GUEST HOSTS! On this episode, we welcome two guest hosts: Sue Tschorn RN and Leilani Schnoor RN, both Medical Group Nursing Professional Development Practitioners. Sue and Leilani interview Patient and Family Advisors about how Joint Commission requirements affect their personal experiences in healthcare.   

Welcome 2025! We have two great interviews this month. First, we welcome NPG chairs Kelsey Pasteris, RN and Bridget Corriveau, RN to review NPG highlights from the last few years and what’s new in 2025. In our second interview, we talk to members of the Vascular Access Team and learn some great information about the device types, selection, and common complications of vascular access. We discover...

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Stephen Leffler back to the podcast. We talk big picture, state of the union, and we take a deep dive into the Green Mountain Care Board’s influence at the hospital and the Vermont healthcare system.  

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Marissa Coleman, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Patient Experience. She gives us an update on all of the exciting projects that the DEI team has put together including the Health Equity Summit on October 7-8. This event kicks off Diversity Celebration Week which is October 7-11.  

In this episode, we welcome nurses: Cynthia Peterson, Heidi Pecott-Grimm, Leilani Schnoor, Ashlee Brigham, and Genevieve Chandler to teach us about the Changing Minds, Changing Lives program (CMCL). CMCL is a ten week nurse-led, strengths-based resiliency development program offered at UVMMC.  

In this episode, we welcome Erin Phelan, RN and Rachel Preston to the podcast in celebration of Donate Life Month. Erin and Rachel work with the UVMMC    Transplant Program, which anticipates their 1,000th kidney donation this year!   Tune in to learn more about what it means to be a living kidney donor!  

In this episode, we welcome Rebecca Turner, RN to the podcast to discuss the PRAISE project, developed by the Nursing Professional Governance Practice Council. The Peer Recognition And Inspiring Stories of Excellence (PRAISE) program, allows for colleagues to nominate each other for the amazing work we do every day.  

In this episode we welcome Vanessa Rose and Alicia Hill to the podcast to discuss the Hair Equity project at UVMMC. This innovative grant-funded initiative brings exciting new hair products to UVMMC patients. Their thoughtful, well-executed project will help to meet the needs of our larger community. It is a great project with long lasting impacts.    

As 2023 comes to a close, we share some of the great work that nurses and staff are doing to support one         another. We welcome Amanda Young, RN and Andrew Gregg, Interfaith Chaplain, who talk about the Code Assist Program they created which will provide extra support to staff in difficult and challenging situations. In the second part of the episode, Kelsey Pasteris, RN discusses the incredi...

In this episode we talk to three RNs, Cynthia Peterson, Anna Marie Carlson and Jean Freeman from UVMMC who participated in the April 2023 MEDLIFE global health volunteer program to Ecuador. They share their experience with the program and how this inspiring trip impacted their lives.

We welcome two exciting guests to the podcast.  Mindy Pariser-Schmidt, RN discusses the Pathways to Excellence program, what it is, and how this nursing led initiative is creating a positive impact for all nurses at UVMMC. In the second part of our interview, Mike Kenney, RN discusses the Clinical Nurse Supervisor Role and how this role supports our nurses at night.  

Workplace violence in healthcare is on the rise nationally. In this episode we welcome Matt Looft, an RN IV in the UVMMC Emergency Department, to talk to us about the state of workplace violence at UVMMC and the actions being taken at the institutional and legislative levels.

Happy New Year! Please join us as we talk to the dynamic Bridget Corriveau, RN, the new UVMMC Nursing Professional Governance (NPG) chair. We had a wonderful discussion about the changes happening with NPG this year, her goals and visions for nursing and UVMMC's journey towards Pathways to Excellence.  

Phew, the last few years have been super challenging for healthcare workers. In this episode we welcome Debra Niemasz, a counselor from the Employee Family and Assistance Program (EFAP) at UVMMC, to talk to us about some of these challenges, the many services EFAP has to offer us, and how we as employees can most easily access this valuable resource .

Join us as we highlight the Forensic Nursing Team at UVMMC. On the podcast, we interview Charissa Rettew, RN, Abigail Garrett, RN,  Raenetta Liberty, RN and Louisa Smith, RN about their role as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE), how they got involved with this program and why they do this challenging work. Its an episode you don’t want to miss!  

Happy Nurses Week! Please join us for 2 great interviews that highlight how nurses are cultivating a culture of excellence at UVMMC. Rory House BSN, RN & Peg Gagne MSN, RN, CNO, join us to talk about the new UVMMC Nursing Professional Practice Model and how we as nurses are using transformational leadership to advance the profession of nursing.  Travis Beebe Woodard BSN, RN, Magnet Program Manager...

Please join us as we talk to Dr. Marissa Coleman: EDI Senior Advisor & Lead Staff Psychologist about the important work that the hospital is engaging with on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), EDI tools that we as nurses can use and steps the hospital is taking towards being an anti-racist organization. 

We have three really great interviews on the podcast. Rebecca Freeman, Network VP of Health Informatics, explains some important changes effecting how information will be released to the Electronic Record. Afterwards, Tory Forsyth, Cristina Price, and Crystal Krull, join us to share their amazing experiences as resource nurses as well as highlighting this important role in the hospital. Our final...

Please join us as we have an exciting conversation with Dr. Timothy Lahey, infectious disease physician and director of medical ethics at UVMMC about the newly available COVID vaccine.  Dr. Lahey discusses all of our top questions about the vaccines, how they are different, the most recent research about their safety and efficacy, potential side effects, and how life may or may not be effected as...

Please join us as we visit with Dawn LeBaron, Vice President of Operations at UVMMC about her incredible career at the hospital. Afterwards, we talk to Aaron Early and Michelle Monahan about the past year as well as what the new year will bring in Nursing Professional Governance. Disclaimer: These interviews took place prior to the cyber shut down.  

Meet a few of our highly skilled Nurse Clinicians at UVMMC as we discuss their very important roles and the impact they are making at the hospital.  Donna Benway and Kari Frederick join us from the Wound Care team while Valerie Adams discusses her role as the Geriatric Nurse Clinician. They share useful nursing interventions that we can all incorporate into our daily  practice.

In this episode, Leslie and Steph have a great conversation with Shaun Akin, UVMMC Patient and Family Experience Partner, about patient satisfaction, how we are doing at UVMMC, and what it means to nursing. Also, Sue Murdock, Director of Nursing Systems, Practice, and Outcomes comes to discuss our innovative approach to quality improvement, and the collaborative leadership model.  

June’s podcast features two exciting conversations with UVMMC ‘s infectious disease physicians Dr. Kemper Allston and Dr. Cindy Noyes. Dr. Allston explores all aspects of employee exposure and the impact of infection prevention at UVMMC. Dr. Noyes returns and discusses COVID testing, the different types of testing available and what the tests tell us about our patients.

Happy Nurses Week! Join Leslie and Steph as they talk to Colleen Roach, RN and Bronwyn Becker from Spiritual Care about their recent experience caring for COVID positive patients at Birchwood Terrace. Afterwards, Steph and Leslie are joined by Peg Gagne, CNO and Michelle Monaghan, NPG chair where they discuss nurses week activities and their gratitude for all of the nurses at UVMMC.

Join UVMMC’s Nursing Podcast Hosts Steph Rettew and Leslie Twitchell for a conversation with Dr. Cindy Noyes. Together they explore the Coronavirus, what we know about the virus, how to stay safe, and ways to stay up to date on current evidence and practice related to COVID-19.