by Jennifer Nachbur, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, UVM Energized and costumed in “under the sea” themed outfits, headbands, and trinkets, members of the medical Class of 2023 enjoyed an upbeat, emotional, and life-changing Match Day in the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine’s Hoehl Gallery on March 17. The 113 students participating were among a record-breaking nearly 43,000* future physicians taking part in the National Resident Matching Program’s (NRMP) 2023 Main Residency Match. Of the Class of 2023 medical students participating, 42 were matched into primary care residencies (internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics). Class members matched at 77 different institutions across 29 states, with eight students matching to residencies at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Vermont Business Magazine The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), a Vermont-based nonprofit, is marking three significant milestones in April. It is celebrating 25 years of service to the children of Vermont and New Hampshire under the guidance of founding executive director Duncan McDougall. It is announcing McDougall’s retirement and the selection of Laura Rice as just the second executive director in the nonprofit organization’s history. And it is moving into a new, purpose-built headquarters in Waterbury Center. McDougall founded the nonprofit in his garage in Waterbury Center in 1998. Since then, CLiF has grown into a regionally-recognized, award-winning organization that has provided inspiring, free literacy programs to 375,000 under-resourced young readers and writers in 430 communities across Vermont and New Hampshire and given away more than $10 million in new, high-quality books to children in shelters and low-income housing, refugee, foster, and migrant children, children in rural communities with limited resources, children of incarcerated adults, and many others.

Vermont Business Magazine Dotdash Meredith's FOOD & WINE announces its 2023 Drinks Innovators of the Year, recognizing nine people leading the drinks world right now with extraordinary creativity and ambition. Some, like the winemaker making exceptional wines in a climate on the very edge of where grapes can be grown, and the distiller transforming an invasive species into bourbon, are addressing climate change with creativity and verve. ​This includes Deirdre Heekin and her winery, La Garagista​ in Woodstock, Vermont. ​​Others, like South Africa’s first Black woman winemaker, and the San Diego brewer celebrating Latino culture in craft-brewing, are bringing their life experiences and stories to the table in liquid terms. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported March 15, 2023, that COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations were down from last week. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Hospitalizations decreased by 9 cases to 34 last week (they were as low as 30 last fall). Total cases fell to 311 (from 346). There were 3 COVID-related deaths in the last week for a pandemic total of 932 as of March 11. Of the total deaths to date, 739 have been of Vermonters 70 or older. There have been 3 deaths of Vermonters under 30 since the beginning of the pandemic. There were 28 deaths in February; there were 24 in January, as data was adjusted based on more information. Only 2 deaths have been reported so far in March. Deaths are not spiking this winter as they have the previous two.

Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont Senate gave final approval to S37, known as the “shield bill,” which would provide protections to patients and providers who administer or receive reproductive and gender-affirming care in Vermont. The bill will now move to the House for further consideration. This bill would safeguard providers who provide abortion care and gender-affirming care, prevent insurance companies from raising rates for providers who provide abortion care and require pregnancy centers to adhere to Vermont’s consumer protection laws meant to protect patients from deceptive advertising.