Gifford Health Care has named Kathleen Bryant as its new school-based nurse practitioner. In this role, she will primarily work with students in health clinics at local elementary and high schools.
Bryant comes to Gifford with 20 years of experience as a nurse practitioner. During that time, she has worked in school-based health centers in Vermont, including Berlin, where she created and coordinated a program in the local PreK-8 school. She also spent time in nursing education at both Norwich University and the University of Vermont. She earned a Master of Public Health at the University of Vermont.
As a nurse practitioner, Bryant can provide primary and acute care as well as mental health support. One of her goals as Gifford’s school-based nurse practitioner is to look at ways to improve the health of the communities she serves.
“Having somebody in the school to provide care does make a positive impact on the health of children in our communities,” Bryant said. “By being in the school, you develop a relationship with children that you don’t get with a periodic visit to the clinician’s office. We’re also keeping them in school instead of shortening their school day for a medical appointment.”