To commemorate National Children's Dental Health Month, Heather Blair, MPH, RDH, FADHA, Dental Hygiene Program Co-Coordinator/Associate Professor, with the Department of Oral Health Science at Vermont State University, Williston Campus, talks about the growing need for oral health professionals in Vermont, and how recruiting and supporting future hygienists directly impacts children, families, and communities statewide.

National Rural Health Day is November 20, 2025. Andy Lowe, Executive Director and Ann Marie Day, Chief Operating Officer, with the New England Rural Health Association (NERHA) talk candidly about the challenges and opportunities facing rural health today and NERHA's recent $1.6 million dollar HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Grant.

In celebration of Vermont Health Careers Awareness Month during October, Molly Hurd, 4th year student at the Robert Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont shares her journey into the field of medicine and her hopes of becoming a rural family physician.

Alysia Straw, Director of Health Careers Exploration with Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHED) and a former HR Recruiter, and Darcy Bixby, Director of Windham Center Psychiatric Hospital (part of Springfield, Vermont Hospital), share a page from the their playbooks on strategies recent college graduates can use to successfully apply for jobs in the Healthcare sector. Lots of great inside information on what employers are looking for and making that right first impression.

Dr. Caitlin Stover, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences at Vermont State University and Katelynn Brown, Registered Nurse, Labor and Delivery Unit, with Rutland Regional Medical Center, pull back the curtain on the nursing profession. They both share their unique insights and compelling stories, into the multiple pathways and huge rewards in this incredible profession.

In our latest episode we are diving into the vital role AHECs play both nationally and regionally as we gear up to celebrate National AHEC Week (March 24-28, 2025). We'll be exploring how AHEC's have been crucial to improving the quality, supply, distribution, and retention of health professionals especially in rural and underserved communities for over 50 years! I am joined by Dwain Harris, CEO of the National AHEC Organization and Nicole LaPointe, Executive Director of Northern Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC).

In our latest "Let's Talk" Podcast, we dive into critical conversation around equity in higher education. Join Michael Reeves, Director of the Social Work Program, and Margaret Miles, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Vermont State University-Castleton, as they explore how colleges are weaving the principles of equity into their curricula. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on how higher education institutions can foster inclusivity and equal opportunities for all students.

The guests in our newest Let's Talk Podcast are Andy Lowe, Executive Director of New England Rural Health Association (NEHRA) and Ann Marie Day, Chief Operating Officer, New England Rural Health Association -NEHRA discussing Health Equity with a focus on social determinants of health.

Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center's (AHEC) newest "Let's Talk" podcast episode "Health Equity" with guests Rudy Fedrizzi, MD-District Director, Vermont Department of Health, White River Junction Office, and Elizabeth Austin, Executive Director Good Neighbor Health Clinics & Red Logan Dental. The podcast is hosted by Peg Bolgioni, Marketing and Communications Manager with Southern Vermont AHEC.

Excited to be rolling out another episode of our program "Let's Talk" which airs on local public access station, Rutland Region Public Television (PEGTV Let's Talk highlights issues around health workforce development issues in Vermont. This episode highlights the vital importance of Community Health Workers in Vermont. Guests include Katina Cummings, Project Director VT Community Health Worker Workforce Initiative, Southern VT Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Jen LeFebre-Community Health Worker, Bridges to Health Program, and Tom Dougherty, Director of Community Health at North Star Health.