In October, CHC was pleased to welcome a delegation of leaders in public health representing eight countries organized by the Vermont Council on World Affairs. The group visited our Riverside location for a conversation about CHC’s role in protecting public health and learned about best practices in managing the threat of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. CHC’s Chief Medical Officer Adam Greenlee and Besty Fowler, CHC’s Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Services hosted the group which included clinicians, public health workers, and law enforcement from four continents. CHC staff shared information about CHC’s range of services and many community collaborations. The group included representatives from Cambodia, Liberia, Lithuania, Pakistan, Peru, South Korea, Ukraine, and Uruguay. The group visited Vermont from October 9-October 15 through the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

On Wednesday, CHC staff joined Congresswoman Becca Balint at the O’Brien Center in Winooski for a roundtable discussion on how proposed Medicaid changes could impact the health of our community. The conversation focused on the challenges ahead for both patients and healthcare workers, as many individuals may lose healthcare coverage if the proposed spending plan moves forward.

Congresswoman Balint emphasized the importance of hearing directly from frontline workers as she continues to advocate for affordable healthcare. We’re proud that our CHC staff could represent our organization and share their perspective in this important discussion.

Tayler Levesque, FNP-C grew up in Massachusetts but fell in love with Vermont when she was a teenager. She earned her BSN from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and worked as an RN in inpatient cardiology and then the emergency room for over a decade. She received her MS in nursing at Frontier Nursing University. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, she loves caring for people of all ages and has a passion for pediatrics and supporting families. She and her family have made Vermont home since 2014. She loves gardening, practicing French, and fixing up her 1850’s farmhouse.

John Wermer, LICSW, grew up in Essex, Vermont. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Johnson State College (Vermont State University) and received his Master of Social Work from Boston College. He provides mental health counseling with a focus on anxiety management, executive functioning skills, and processing through and past developmental trauma. In his free time, he enjoys reading and spending time with his family.

 

Kristina Reynolds, CNM, MSN grew up in northern Vermont after moving from Massachusetts in early elementary school. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Vermont and began her career at CHC as a registered nurse. After spending several years in the southern United States, she returned to school to pursue midwifery and graduated from Georgetown University in 2021 with a Master of Science in Nursing, Midwifery. She provides comprehensive reproductive and gynecologic care, including contraception and hormonal management, annual gynecologic exams, menopause care, sexual health services, and evaluation of other gynecologic concerns. She also offers full-spectrum perinatal and obstetric care. Her approach to healthcare is rooted in shared decision-making, informed consent, and the development of strong, trusting relationships with her patients. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her wife, twin toddlers, and their many dogs and cats. She also loves crafting and getting outdoors whenever possible.

Isaac Bass, APRN, PMHNP, was born and raised in New England. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Clark University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northeastern University, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Ohio University. In his practice, Isaac focuses on improving function and quality of life through collaborative, evidence-based, patient-centered care. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors, cheering on Boston sports teams, exploring new restaurants, and sharing time with friends and family.

 

Caitlin Jacobs, NP, is originally from Vermont and completed her undergraduate degree in Nursing at the University of Vermont. After working as RN for 10 years, she went on to earn her Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Simmons University. Caitlin cares for patients across the lifespan and especially enjoys chronic disease management, addiction medicine, and gynecologic care. She takes a holistic, patient-centered approach and strives to create a supportive environment where people feel heard, respected, and empowered in their health decisions. Outside of work, Caitlin loves spending time with her family, hiking, reading the newest sci-fi novel, and trying out new recipes!

Hannah McDonald, MSW, LICSW, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, grew up in North Carolina and earned both her BSW and MSW from East Carolina University. She has worked in a variety of settings, including residential care, private practice, and community mental health, where she provides client-centered, trauma-informed care. Hannah has experience supporting individuals from adolescence (13+) through adulthood and specializes in working with LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as those navigating depression, anxiety, life transitions, and self-discovery. In her therapy space, Hannah strives to create an environment where each person feels truly seen and supported in connecting their authentic self with the version the world sees. Her approach is rooted in a humanistic perspective, integrating tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other evidence-based practices to help clients build confidence, resilience, and personal growth. When she’s not in the therapy room, you can find Hannah out in the wild—coffee in hand—exploring new live music and food spots, experimenting in the kitchen, or spending time with loved ones.

Lea Peier, DNP, FNP-C, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Vermont to pursue her studies at the University of Vermont, where she earned her undergraduate degree in 2018 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in May of 2025. She provides primary care across the lifespan, with a focus on preventative health, patient education, and supporting patients in achieving balance in their physical and mental well-being. Lea is passionate about equitable, non-judgmental care and building trusting relationships with her patients and providing care that is both compassionate and evidence-based. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, going for runs, playing soccer, and connecting with friends and family.

 

Caroline O’Shea, FNP-BC grew up in Burlington, VT. She earned her undergraduate nursing degree from the University of Vermont and received her Masters of Science in nursing from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2024. In addition, she completed a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner residency program through the White River Junction VA in August of 2025. Caroline’s clinical interests include preventative medicine as well as women’s health and gynecology. Outside of work, she enjoys being outdoors and is passionate about running, hiking, animals and making a perfect loaf of sourdough. She is thrilled to be working in her hometown community in a place that means so much to her.

 

CHC is thrilled to announce a generous donation of 20 iPads and carts from Propio Language Services to support real-time video interpreter services for our patients!

Since 2021, CHC has partnered with Propio to provide thousands of hours of interpreter services for patients. Last year alone, interpreters assisted CHC patients on more than 18,000 calls, providing services in 66 unique languages.

With the donation of iPads and carts, CHC is now able to provide video-remote interpreting, an improvement over phone-based service that makes communication easier for patients whose primary language is not English and those with hearing loss. With the new equipment, CHC staff can quickly connect with qualified, HIPAA-compliant interpreters in over 300 languages, including American Sign Language.

Video-remote interpreting removes barriers to care, gives patients greater independence in accessing healthcare, and allows our staff and providers to communicate critical information in real time. Thank you, Propio Language Services, for helping us strengthen language access and ensure every patient can receive the best care possible!

You’re invited! Please join us on Thursday, October 24 at 5:30pm to celebrate the accomplishments from CHC’s past fiscal year and enjoy a special panel discussion with our extraordinary staff! This is a free event hosted at our Riverside location (617 Riverside Avenue, Burlington). RSVP is appreciated to mstevens@chcb.org.