Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Tyler Ruggles, Enterprise Technology Solutions Engineer, to explore the evolving role technology plays in supporting healthcare, employees, and the communities North Country Healthcare serves.

Together, they discuss Tyler's journey, his role within the organization, and what happens behind the scenes to ensure the technology people rely on every day continues to support the delivery of high-quality care. From solving complex challenges and implementing new solutions to adapting to the rapidly changing world of technology, the conversation offers a closer look at an area of healthcare that often operates quietly in the background but has an enormous impact across the organization.

The episode also explores the importance of innovation, problem-solving, collaboration, and staying ahead of an ever-changing technological landscape. Tyler shares his perspective on what it takes to build solutions that not only support today's needs but help prepare rural healthcare for the future.

From technology and teamwork to career growth and the unique challenges of supporting a rural healthcare system, this episode is a conversation about the people behind the systems we depend on—and how innovation continues to shape the future of healthcare in the North Country.

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with members of the WOMB Initiative to talk about motherhood, maternity care, and what it means to build support for families across the North Country.

Together, they explore the realities of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum life in a rural community, where geography, access, trust, and connection can all shape a family's experience. The conversation also highlights the North Country PhotoVoice project, on display at Androscoggin Valley Hospital throughout August, which uses photographs and personal stories to bring the lived experiences of local women into the conversation about maternity care.

From doulas and community support to informed choice and the importance of truly listening to women, this episode looks at what it takes to create a stronger village around mothers and families. It is a conversation about partnership, visibility, and making sure the voices of the people receiving care are part of how rural healthcare continues to grow.

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Evan Tassis, Human Resources Talent Development Manager at North Country Healthcare, to talk about the people side of rural healthcare and the experiences that shaped the way he approaches it.

Before joining NCH, Evan spent more than two decades in hospitality, working across operations, human resources, management, sales, marketing, and employee development. Together, they explore what that world taught him about service, leadership, relationships, and employee experience, and what changed when he made the move into healthcare.

Evan also takes us behind the scenes of Talent Development at NCH, from leadership bootcamps and job descriptions to High Reliability, employee engagement surveys, and the everyday work of helping managers and employees grow. 

Along the way, the conversation looks at what makes people feel valued at work, why strong employees do not automatically become strong managers, and what rural healthcare can learn from an industry built around the experience of the people it serves.

Season Three of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled is here, and Ren and Gavin are easing back behind the microphones after a little summer break.

In this short season opener, they catch upn life outside of work, from new homes and family traditions to doctoral studies, college tours, new babies, and the reminder that sometimes stepping away is part of doing good work. They also reflect on how much can change as our lives and careers unfold, including a few of the jobs they were convinced they would have when they were teenagers.

Then, they look ahead to what is coming this season: more conversations with the people who make rural healthcare work, community partners from across the North Country, new topics, a few different episode formats, and even some guest hosts joining the journey.

It is a quick welcome back, a glimpse of what is ahead, and the start of another season exploring the people, places, and unexpected paths that shape healthcare in the North Country.

In the Season 2 finale of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin revisit some of their favorite moments from a season centered on collaboration, community, and the realities of rural healthcare.

Through a collection of memorable clips, the episode explores what it means to work together across teams and organizations, support the people delivering care, listen closely to the communities we serve, and face the challenges of rural healthcare with honesty, creativity, and commitment.

It is a look back at the conversations that made Season 2 meaningful, along with a few moments that reminded us why the people behind the work matter just as much as the work itself.

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Angie Schierer, President of Ambulatory Operations at North Country Healthcare, to explore the often unseen side of healthcare that happens long before a patient ever walks through a hospital door.

Angie shares her journey into healthcare leadership and offers an inside look at the role ambulatory services play in keeping rural communities healthy. Together, they discuss access to care, the importance of prevention and primary care, and the unique challenges rural patients face when transportation, distance, and provider shortages become barriers to getting the care they need.

The conversation also explores leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build systems that work for both patients and healthcare teams. Along the way, Angie reflects on lessons learned throughout her career, the value of listening, and the opportunities she sees for the future of rural healthcare.

From community health to healthcare access, this episode is a reminder that some of the most important care happens outside the walls of a hospital, and that strong rural healthcare starts with meeting people where they are.

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In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Natalie Valliere, RN, CLC, C-NPT, Nurse Manager of the Valley Birthplace at Androscoggin Valley Hospital.

Natalie shares what personalized, family-centered maternity care looks like in a rural hospital setting, and how her team supports families through one of life’s most meaningful transitions. From private labor and delivery suites to lactation support, wireless fetal monitoring, nitrous for pain management, and the small comforts that help families feel more at home, the Valley Birthplace is designed around safety, connection, and individualized care.

Together, they also explore AVH’s use of the TeamBirth model, an evidence-based approach that strengthens communication, shared decision-making, and trust between birthing parents, support people, nurses, and providers.

Natalie reflects on why feeling heard matters so deeply during childbirth, how rural maternity care is rooted in relationships, and what it means to care for families close to home.

From first contractions to first memories, Natalie and the Valley Birthplace team are helping families feel supported, informed, and cared for every step of the way.

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Erica Hoyt, Medical Staff Coordinator at North Country Healthcare, whose work supports the behind-the-scenes processes that help keep rural healthcare safe, organized, and ready for patient care.

Erica shares what credentialing really involves, why trust and confidentiality are central to the work, and how careful coordination helps ensure that medical staff are prepared to serve patients across the North Country.

This conversation also reflects on the value of work that is not always visible, but is deeply essential. Erica talks about what it can feel like to lean into discomfort, grow through new challenges, and step into responsibilities that require precision, communication, and courage. Her story is a reminder that rural healthcare depends not only on the people providing care at the bedside, but also on the professionals who protect trust, support providers, and keep the System moving behind the scenes.

In this heartfelt episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Karen Gagnon from North Country Healthcare’s Case Management team. Known by colleagues for her extraordinary compassion, Karen shares what it means to support patients and families during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

Recently recognized through a DAISY Award nomination, Karen reflects on the power of empathy in healthcare, the importance of staying curious, and how asking thoughtful questions can help patients and families feel heard, understood, and supported.

This conversation explores the emotional side of healthcare work, the humanity behind case management, and the quiet leadership that happens through presence, patience, curiosity, and care.

Warm, thoughtful, and deeply grounded in mission, Karen reminds us that healthcare is ultimately about people showing up for one another.

In this episode of Rural Roots: A Road Less Travelled, Ren and Gavin sit down with Derek Eastman, Director of Outreach Rehab at the Gorham Clinic, to discuss the impact outpatient physical therapy has on patients and communities across rural northern New Hampshire.

Together, they explore Derek’s path into rehabilitation services, the importance of personalized care, and how physical therapy helps patients recover from injuries, surgeries, and chronic conditions while staying close to home. The conversation also touches on the importance of community involvement, promoting healthcare careers to younger generations, and encouraging youth to explore opportunities within rural healthcare. Derek shares insight into the challenges and rewards of serving rural communities and the meaningful relationships built throughout the recovery process.

From improving mobility to mentoring future healthcare professionals, Derek’s work reflects the compassionate, community-focused care that helps keep rural healthcare moving forward.