White River Junction
Sass succeeds Sherry Thornburg, whose tenure as executive director began in January 2012.
Having worked in the health care management field in the Upper Valley for many years, Sass is well connected with its resources, networks and community partners, according to a news release from the nonprofit. She has more than 14 years of business management experience, including managerial and supervisory skills, mediation and facilitation, employee training, and human resource management.
Eric Fritz, the foundation’s board president and chair of the search committee, said he could not be more pleased to welcome Sass as the new executive director.
“Her experience is a perfect fit,” Fritz said. “She has shown a passion and professional dedication to community health in her previous positions. I am looking forward to supporting her so that she can continue the amazing work that Sherry has accomplished over the past several years.”
Before joining the Ottauquechee Health Foundation, Sass was the site manager of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in White River Junction. She had previously served as executive director of the Hartford Prevention Coalition in White River Junction and administrator of Community Rehab Care in Newton, Mass.
The board is currently updating its strategic plan to define and focus the foundation’s priorities for the coming years, said Liza Deignan, a board member and member of the search committee. “Adrienne’s deep and varied Upper Valley experience with a number of nonprofit organizations will provide the Ottauquechee Health Foundation unique opportunities to collaborate with the area’s health and wellness network.”
Sass said she is looking forward to working with individuals and community health partners while continuing the foundation’s outreach efforts “and forging new relationships.”
“There is wonderful work being done here and some new and exciting initiatives on the horizon,” she said. “I am thrilled to be joining the Ottauquechee Health Foundation family and honored to be continuing the excellent work that (it) is doing in the community.”
Sass holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Emanuel College in Boston, and a graduate certificate in mediation and conflict resolution from Champlain College in Burlington. She is pursuing a master’s degree in mediation and conflict resolution.
New London
Mahar will oversee day-to-day operations of the New London Hospital ambulatory practices for all ages in both New London and the Newport Health Center.
Mahar brings with her more than 15 years of practice management and operations experience, according to a news release from the hospital. Before her role in talent acquisition, she served as a practice manager at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. She had previously been the operations administrator for Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Fla. Prior to that, she was director of practice management services at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital.
Windsor
O’Brien, who joined the hospital staff last year, is a 2012 graduate of Franklin Pierce University in Lebanon, where he earned a master’s in physician assistant studies and was president of his class. He has been a member of the academy since 2009 and previously served as the organization’s treasurer and chair of the public relations committee.
“Sean is a dynamic and talented professional, and highly valued by his colleagues and patients here at the hospital,” Gay Landstrom, interim CEO of Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, said in a hospital news release. “We know he will provide outstanding leadership to the (academy) in the years ahead.”
O’Brien said he was honored to be selected as president and that he looks forward to advancing the goals of the organization and its members.
The 35-year-old academy’s main mission is to promote career education and support regulatory and legislative initiatives that advance the profession, he said. It also “forges and maintains partnerships and working relationships with other health professional organizations on a national, regional and statewide level.”
O’Brien will preside at the organization’s annual board meeting, held during its annual winter conference next month in Manchester Center, Vt.
Randolph
The newly created position is supported by federal funding to expand addiction medicine and substance use disorder treatment services in Vermont, according to a news release from Gifford Health Care. In addition to counseling patients, Pelletier is working with Gifford’s primary care practices to implement a screening and referral process to identify patients who are at-risk for alcohol and substance dependence, the release said. “Integrating assessment into primary care visits will help patients receive early, more comprehensive care, which can lead to better treatment outcomes.”
The work is part of a larger collaboration with Clara Martin Center, community treatment partners and others to implement a model of substance abuse disorder care known as “screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment.”
“I have watched people close to me struggle with addiction and know how crucial it is for people get support at the appropriate level of care,” Pelletier said.
Maintaining a consistent level of compassion and empathy is important when working with substance use disorders, she said, and addiction goes beyond the individual. “We need to provide resources for families, friends and our communities as well.”
A licensed drug and alcohol counselor, Pelletier holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in mental health and substance abuse counseling from Johnson State College. She has worked as a counselor and clinical care coordinator with substance abuse programs at Central Vermont Medical Center, Central Vermont Addiction Medicine, and Central Vermont Substances Abuse Services, all of which are in Berlin.
— Compiled by Aimee Caruso