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.

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.

 

Jiayu Kate Tian, MD was born and raised in Guangzhou, a vibrant subtropical city in Southern China. She came to the United States to attend the University of Rochester, where she earned a BS in Microbiology, minored in Music, and was selected as a Take Five Scholar in East Asian Studies. She went on to graduate from the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University before moving to Vermont with her husband for residency training. Dr. Tian is excited to provide full-spectrum, “womb-to-tomb” family medicine, including obstetrics, newborn care, and comprehensive primary care for patients of all ages and genders. She provides care in both Mandarin and English. Her special interests include migrant health, reproductive health, and medical education, and she enjoys working alongside medical students and residents. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Tian is passionate about advocating for more equitable care for all members of the community. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, indoor climbing, cooking and exploring new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family playing board games or video games.

Samantha Aguirre, DDS earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in 2016. She provides comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages, with specialized training in surgical extractions and root canals. Dr. Aguirre is passionate about supporting patients with high dental anxiety by creating a judgment-free environment and empowering them through chairside education to achieve healthy, confident smiles. Outside of dentistry, she enjoys spending time with family, volunteering in the community, and staying active outdoors.

 

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.