BATTENKILL VALLEY HEALTH CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Co - Executive Director
- Co - Executive Director Clinical Director
Dr. Van Berckelaer (Dr. Van) is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and completed her family medicine training at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in California. She then spent time with Doctors Without Borders in Maradi, Niger, and in the Central African Republic providing direct care to adults and children. Dr. Van went on to complete her Masters in Health Policy Research from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010. Before moving to the area in 2017, she worked in Philadelphia at several community health centers, including Delaware Valley Community Health, Sayre Health Center, and Puentes de Salud. She speaks English, French, Spanish, and Dutch. She enjoys caring for patients of all ages. Dr. Van Berckelaer and Corey Bell, FNP provide care to BVHC patients as a care team.
Dr. Cunningham spent 36 years at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center as an internist. After retiring in 2014, he has been teaching at the Department of Medicine Residence Program at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. Previously, he served as a board member of the Bennington Area Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, as well as the board of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. Dr. Cunningham and his wife, Janice, have four grown children. They enjoy traveling and visiting their children and grandchildren.
Carol has worked in the field of psychology for over 30 years. Early in her career, she spent four years as an instructor at the University of Toledo, teaching psychology courses. Since 1995, Carol has been conducting individual, marital, and family psychotherapy through her private practice. In her free time, Carol enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and hiking. Carol and her husband live in Dorset and have three adult children.
Chris worked for the Vermont Department of Health for 32 years before joining the Rutland County Supervisory Union in 2016. During her time at the Health Department, she collaborated with various community partners to enhance health outcomes in Bennington County. As a school nurse, Chris promoted health and wellness and connected families to community services. She was previously on the board of the Northshire Day School and currently serves on the board of Hunger Free Vermont. Throughout the years, she has been actively involved with numerous organizations across Bennington County. Now retired, Chris is enthusiastic about contributing to the advancement of health equity as a member of the BVHC board. She and her husband, Seth, have one adult son.
Following his graduation from Regis College in 2010 with a Bachelor's degree in Science of Nursing, Corey Bell, Family Nurse Practitioner, began his nursing career at Bennington Health and Rehabilitation in Bennington, VT. In 2012, Corey relocated to the Capital Region and worked as a registered nurse in Albany Medical Center's Emergency Department. Six years later, he began a Science of Nursing Master's program at Frontier University while continuing work as a registered professional nurse at Malta Medical Emergent Care. Graduating in 2018, and subsequently receiving his post-graduate certification as an FNP, Corey joined the teams of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York and of Northern New England. During his time at Planned Parenthood, Corey was responsible for preventive and episodic care related to sexual and reproductive health, including primary care services, management of depression and anxiety, and gender-affirming care. Corey and Dr. Van Berckelaer provide care to BVHC patients as a care team.
Corey's patient panel is currently full.
Job Titles:
- Executive & Operations Support Manager
- HR and Operations Manager
- Human Resources and Operations Manager
Courtney Hopkins joined the BVHC team in June 2015 as a Patient Service Representative, and in short order she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our patients. She never fails to take the lead when issues arise or when opportunities for improvement become apparent. In 2018, Ms. Hopkins was promoted to Executive/Operations Support Manager. In this position, she is responsible for providing support to members of the management team and Board of Directors. In addition, Ms. Hopkins oversees facilities management and human resources for BVHC.
Job Titles:
- Biller and Dental Patient Service Supervisor
- Medical and Dental Biller
Dawn George was born and raised in Pownal, VT, and graduated from MAU in 1997. Shortly after graduation, Ms. George began her career at Morrison's Auto Sales as a Parts Department Associate. In April 1999, she entered the medical field as a personal care attendant, followed by positions as a Licensed Nursing Assistant and a Subacute Coordinator at Centers for Living Rehabilitation. Four years later, Ms. George began her dental career holding various roles, including front desk operations, Treatment Plan Coordinator, Orthodontist Assistant, Dental Assistant, and Biller. She joined BVHC in October 2018 as a dental patient services representative and has been in her current role as a Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Biller since October 2022. Ms. George enjoys most things outside (camping, gardening, and fishing to name a few) with her grown son, dog Rigby, family, and friends.
Jamie has been serving southern Vermont as a member of law enforcement since 2004. He currently holds the rank of Lieutenant with the Manchester Police Department and is a member of the Career Development Center's Law Enforcement Program board. Throughout Jamie's career, he has worked to establish partnerships to enhance community well-being and looks to continue that work as a member of the BVHC board. He is committed to his family, his work, and his community. Jamie and his wife, Cat, have four children and have lived in Arlington since 2009.
Jim started working in the banking industry in 1987. Since 2000, he has been the President of Tri State Area Federal Credit Union, responsible for managing nearly $40 million in assets. Jim has been a board member of the Hoosick Falls Health Center and the SVMC Regional Advisory Board, where he gained valuable insight into the challenges of healthcare in rural areas. He is committed to addressing the shortage of healthcare providers and is willing to invest the necessary time to make a difference. Jim, along with his wife and college-aged daughters, resides in Hoosick Falls, NY.
Jessica Bachiochi oversees transitional care for BVHC patients and those with chronic conditions including diabetes and high blood pressure. Jessica works with BVHC transitional care patients, primary care providers, their family members and a wide range of community resources to ensure quality care post-hospitalization. She follows up with high-risk chronic care patients to ensure they are following their care plan and utilizing available Blueprint services, as well as community services, to help them meet their healthcare goals.
After graduating from Vermont Law School, Joe practiced law in Manchester from 1978 until his retirement in October of 2021. Throughout his career, he provided a wide range of legal services, including adoptions, estate administration, litigation, and family law. Joe has also been actively involved in various boards such as the Friends of Hildene Board, the Arlington School Board, and the Arlington Nursing Association Board. One of his most significant roles was representing the Board at United Counseling Services of Bennington, which he held for over thirty years. Joe found it fulfilling to work with the UCS team and was consistently amazed at the impactful work they did with the marginalized population of Bennington County. Joe and his wife, Sandy, have four adult children and eight grandchildren and have been proud residents of Arlington since 1978.
Job Titles:
- Director of Quality and Compliance
June Onorato's career in healthcare launched in 1993 in the front office of Arlington Family Practice (AFP) and later, Mrs. Onorato served as the practice's Office Manager for many years. When AFP transitioned to BVHC in 2014, Mrs. Onorato's role also transitioned with the development of the new organization, holding various positions including Practice Administrator, Assistant Director of Finance and Operations, Director of Administration, and most currently as the Director of Quality. She also served as a Vermont Blueprint for Health Quality Improvement Facilitator at Rutland Regional Medical Center where she provided support and facilitation in quality improvement activities for primary care practices in the Rutland health service area.
During Mrs. Onorato's tenure, she has managed projects such as AFP's implementation of an integrated Electronic Health Record and Practice Management system, the accreditation process to achieve National Committee for Quality Assurance's Level 2 Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), and facilitated in the development of BVHC's organizational structure in the years prior to its inception. As a member of BVHC's management team, Mrs. Onorato was instrumental in establishing BVHC's finance department, achieving the FQHC's Level 3 PCMH, and leading the quality team.
Mrs. Onorato is a 2017 graduate of Champlain College earning a Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration and a 2016 graduate of Johnson State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management. She is dedicated to serving the community where she and her family live and work. Mrs. Onorato is an officer and member of several non-profit organizations dedicated to health, veterans and children of the community where many of her family members serve as well. Mrs. Onorato enjoys travel, fitness, camping, opportunities for learning, new horizons, and making memories with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Director of Development and Community Relations
Kate Bryan was born and raised in Arlington, VT and graduated Arlington Memorial High School in 1996. Immediately following her graduation, Ms. Bryan joined the workforce.
Following jobs that included work as an innkeeper, retail associate, front desk receptionist, the opportunity to fill the post of Development Officer at Maple Street School, an independent day school in Manchester, VT, arose. During her time at MSS, she helped to close out a capital campaign that had raised $5 million and created a successful annual fund campaign that totaled over $1 million during her tenure. In 2014, Ms. Bryan received the Timothy G. Scott Award for Leadership in Development from the Independent School Association of Northern New England.
In early 2015, Ms. Bryan sat on the Community Relations and Development Community at BVHC, volunteering her time on the first fundraising golf tournament for the organization. In March of 2016, Ms. Bryan joined Battenkill Valley Health Center as the Director of Development. Shortly after joining the team, BVHC was awarded $1 million which commenced the renovation project at 9 Church Street. Originally working closely with the renovation team from a development stand point, Ms. Bryan, using her "jack of all trades" work ethic, slid into the role of project manager, acting as the liaison between the contractors and BVHC. Throughout the renovations, she worked with contractors, staff members, and designers to help bring BVHC to where it is today. Using her knowledge and love for the town of Arlington, Ms. Bryan has worked to cultivate relationships within Arlington to bolster BVHC's patient panel and philanthropic support.
Kayla Davis earned her Baccalaureate of Social Work with a second major in Sociology from Castleton State College in 2006 and her Masters of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in 2007.
Ms. Davis began working for BVHC in April of 2014. Ms. Davis quickly transitioned into the role of Executive and Operations Administrator where she helped develop the administrative infrastructure of BVHC as part of the management team. In that role, she managed human resources, facilities, credentialing, and board management, along with other responsibilities. Ms. Davis most recently filled the role of Director of Community Relations and Development.
Job Titles:
- Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Kelly Davis, a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, obtained her undergraduate degree from Samaritan School of Nursing in Troy, NY, and her Master's degree from Regis College in Weston, MA. Kelly spent 26 years as a registered nurse at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, caring for patients at SVMC's Women's and Children's Services at the beginning of her career. She later transitioned to Nurse Case Manager through the Vermont Blueprint for Health. In this role, Kelly provided care to patients engaged in treatment for substance use disorders for seven years. During that time, she saw first-hand the need for mental health providers. Kelly joined the BVHC team in October 2019 and is trained to provide medication management to patients across the lifespan. She resides in Shaftsbury with her husband and two children.
Kelly is currently providing services to patients 18 years and older by referral from their primary care provider.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Kiana Gates is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Vermont and a Licensed Certified Social Worker in Massachusetts. Kiana obtained her Bachelor's of Social Work (BSW) from Castleton University followed by her Master's in Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University, where she concentrated in the areas of health, mental health, and disabilities. Kiana has a very diverse skill set and has experience providing therapy to children, teenagers, and adults. Kiana is trained extensively in perinatal mental health and interpersonal psychotherapy and is certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C). Kiana is passionate about all populations she works with, but is particularly passionate about those who are parenting or are in the pregnant and postpartum period. Kiana does extensive work with Postpartum Support International, and is a Vermont board member and helpline volunteer.
Kiana is currently providing services to patients 5 years and older.
Kim was a teacher and school administrator for 37 years in Vermont and Texas before retiring in 2021. She developed a passion for literacy, gifted education, and mentoring during her career. After retiring, she started volunteering with several local organizations, including Neighbor to Neighbor, where she also serves as a board member, The Community Food Cupboard, Meals on Wheels, and the Medical Reserve Corp. In her free time, Kim enjoys downhill skiing, baking, reading nonfiction, and traveling. She lives in Manchester with her husband, Art.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Leigh Ullman, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, obtained his undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University followed by his Master's in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Leigh began his career as a child welfare worker in Kenosha, WI where he spent three years conducting child abuse and neglect investigations. For the next six years, he provided short-term individual and group therapy to patients at an in-patient psychiatric hospital. The majority of Leigh's career has been spent providing therapy to individuals, families, and groups. He has trained extensively in trauma treatment and has developed trauma-informed care programs for various agencies. Leigh is also trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. He believes that his trainings have enabled him to better understand and treat others with attachment and self-harm issues. After 40 years in Wisconsin, Leigh and his wife now call Vermont their home.
Leigh's patient panel is currently full.
Mary Ann is currently a self-employed psychotherapist and Reiki Master Teacher and practitioner. Previously, she worked as a Clinical Psychologist for children and their families at United Counseling Services for 14 years. Mary Ann volunteers her time to the Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, the Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, and Southwestern Vermont Medical Center as a Reiki volunteer. She has two adult children and is the proud grandmother to three.
Job Titles:
- Registered Mental Health Counselor
Meg Knight, a Registered Mental Health Counselor, graduated from Lesley University in Massachusetts with her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health and Counseling. Prior to pursuing her Master's, she held a dual Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education/Human Development and Family Studies, also from Lesley University. The majority of Meg's professional career has been in education working as a classroom teacher and as a school counselor. This experience has allowed her to help both children and parents cope with childhood traumas, communicate with one another better, and establish appropriate boundaries.
Meg is from southeastern Massachusetts and has lived primarily in Vermont for the last 15 years. She has worked predominantly with children and adolescents, though her current credentials allow her to work with anyone under the age of 65.
Meg is currently providing services to patients under the age of 65.
Melissa graduated from Duquesne University's Science of Nursing Master's program and has since dedicated more than 20 years to the healthcare field. Melissa began her nursing career at Bennington Area Home Health (VNA&H-SVHC), growing the hospice program and guiding the agency through its initial Medicare survey for the hospice program. Since earning her certification as a Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in 2010, Melissa has worked in various care settings providing preventive care, disease management, and diagnostics to patients across the lifespan.
Melissa joined BVHC in August 2022 and continues to work with hospice. She enjoys caring for patients of all ages and collaborating with patients to improve their health. Melissa and Katelin Axtell, DNP provide care to BVHC patients as a care team.
Melissa's patient panel is currently full.
Dr. King was the director of the Bennington Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic from 1997 to 2015. During his tenure, the Clinic grew from a small office on a bus to a practice with 25 employees. Currently, Dr. King serves as the medical director at the Vermont Veterans' Home in Bennington, focusing on long-term care and medical services for older adults. He has also been a volunteer board member for the United Way and coordinated an afterschool music program at Molly Stark School. Dr. King and his wife, Dawn Dayton, have two adult children, and they are thoroughly enjoying their roles as grandparents.
Rachel Rodney provides patients with valuable dietary skills to lead a healthy lifestyle. During a patient visit, Rachel learns about current diet and offers ideas to help patients make healthy food choices. As part of our Church Street Clinical Campus Project, Rachel plans to utilize our community meeting room and teaching kitchen where patients can learn with a hands-on approach how to cook delicious, healthy meals for themselves and their families.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Retired Associate Director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Russ is the co-founder and retired associate director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a Professor Emeritus of architecture at Rensselaer. He has authored numerous research reports, books, and articles on lighting, daylighting, architecture, and energy. Russ has been the project architect for over 100 buildings, developed and directed the National Lighting Product Information Program, and has served as a Director of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. Together with his wife, Janice, Russ lives in Shaftsbury and has four grown sons.
Mrs. Parks joined BVHC in August of 2022, given the role of Human Resource and Finance Associate. She loves Vermont and living in the town she was raised in. Mrs. Parks' biggest passion is her family and she enjoys gardening, reading, painting, and music.
Our plan to ensure ongoing access to medical and mental health care and to increase access to dental care has evolved for many reasons. What has not changed is our commitment to sustain a healthcare clinic in the heart of Arlington for our current patients and for future generations of patients to come.
On June 18, 2016, BVHC purchased the former Lonergan & Thomas building at 18 Church Street followed by the acquisition of our current location, 9 Church Street on July 8th. Preserving the integrity and appearance of historic downtown Arlington, we embarked on a nine-month renovation project that was both ambitious and needed. The contractors and partners throughout the renovations created a working environment that was safe, and because it was a staged project, there were no interruptions to patient services; something we are very proud of.
On May 16, 2017, our dental clinic opened, providing greater access to those in need of oral care.
In keeping with the federally qualified health center mission, we are proud to announce that BVHC recently received funding to expand access to mental health services and substance abuse services focusing on the treatment, prevention, and awareness of opioid abuse. We are in the process of putting this grant funding into action and have begun offering these services to our current patients.
Sebastian has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare technology with Optum Insight. As a product support manager, he has implemented radiology solutions in over 25 major hospitals, introduced quality assurance software in hospitals of all sizes, provided technical support at all levels, and managed a team that supports claims processing software. In addition to his professional work, Sebastian has volunteered with the US Peace Corps in Niger for two years, focusing on developing projects related to food security for low-income rural communities. Currently, he serves on the Arlington Planning Commission. Sebastian values BVHC's impact on the community and industry and is pleased to contribute his expertise in a localized way. He lives with his wife, Jessica, and their two young children in Arlington.
Tom spent the majority of his 44+ year career as a chief financial officer for various health systems in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. During that time, he played an integral role in the strategic financial and facilities planning for health systems to prepare for changing technology and industry trends. Tom's knowledge of the complexities of the health industry and the delivery of health care in a community setting will be invaluable to the BVHC board. Tom is also involved with the Bennington Performing Arts Center, the Bennington Rotary Club, and Bennington County Open Arms. Tom and his wife, Sharry, live in Pownal and enjoy traveling to visit their grown children and their families.