The Vermont Community Health Worker Workforce Initiative, a health equity-driven project led by Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center, has announced the selection of a diverse leadership team to advance the community health worker profession in the state.

The team of nine health care and community leaders will serve on the leadership team of the Vermont Community Health Workers Alliance, an independent coalition working to organize and establish the first member-led professional association in Vermont.

Leadership members are:

Tristan Roy, a former emergency medical technician in the emergency department at North Country Hospital in Newport, has returned to the facility as a physician assistant in the hospitalist program.

She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and holds a Master of Medical Science in physician assistant studies from West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

Susan Rhodes, a clinical social worker and therapist formerly in private practice in Texas, has joined the care team at St. Johnsbury Pediatrics, a service of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital.

In her new role, Rhodes will work with the medical providers, nurses and care coordinators at St. Johnsbury to offer holistic care for young patients. She is especially interested in building adolescent coping skills to navigate a world post-COVID as well as the social media/digital age.

The Vermont Historical Society recently welcomed four new members to its staff — Katie Grant, collections manager; Gail Wiese, access librarian; Scott Sorrell, program assistant; and Nick Brown, 2024 educational intern.