BETHEL — Several health-related courses are included in this year’s offerings of the free Bethel University.
Courses with health-related topics this year include “Living with Late-Stage Cancer: A Survivor’s Guide,” which will be taught by Stephen Aldrich, a Stockbridge, Vt., resident who has followed the guidelines promoted by Dr. Kelly Turner in her book Radical Remission. In doing so, Aldrich has outlived his doctor’s prognosis of just four months he received in 2017 after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the esophagus.
Also offered are “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Let’s Talk about Sexting,” which will be taught by Lynn Rollins and Sue Perreault of the Chelsea-based nonprofit domestic and sexual violence prevention group Safeline; “Emotional Eating: Make peace with your plate,” which will be taught by integrative nutrition health coach Betty White; an autoimmune support group; a course on stress management also taught by White; and an overview of hospice and palliative care by Dr. Christine Maloney, a palliative care physician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon and at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph.
The courses meet on different days and in different locations around town. For more information and to register, visit betheluniversityvt.org/take-a-class/2020-courses/.
NEW LONDON — Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice presented staff and volunteer excellence awards at its annual meeting earlier this month.
The staff award, known as the Imagine the Possibilities Award, was presented to licensed nursing assistant Linda Mitchell at the Feb. 13 event.
“Linda is an amazing, caring, skilled LNA and a bright light wherever she goes,” said Jim Culhane, the organization’s CEO, in a news release.
New London resident Betsy Boege, a volunteer since 2002, received the Joanne Hughes Volunteer Excellence Award.
“Her commitment, enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, willingness to provide valuable feedback and happy smile make her a beloved member of our team,” Culhane said in the release.
The meeting also included thanking outgoing board member Dr. Donald Eberly for his years of service, and welcoming new board officers Kieran Kays, chairman, and Daniel Junius, vice chairman.
NEW LONDON — Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice has named a new chief clinical officer.
Caitlin Harmon began her nursing career in home health care after earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of New Hampshire. Since joining LSRVNA in 2010, she has held several positions including registered nurse case manager for both home health care and hospice clients, preceptor for new clinical field staff and quality assurance director.
“Caitlin has made substantial contributions to our organization in the 10 years she has been with us, and we know that she will provide strong leadership in this new position moving forward,” CEO Jim Culhane said in a news release.
As chief clinical officer, Harmon is responsible for oversight of clinical operations and program processes, including home care, quality assurance, intake, scheduling, medical records and performance improvement.
LEBANON — Laura Zitnik joined Dartmouth-Hitchcock in the outpatient physical therapy department at the Heater Road clinic.
Zitnik holds a doctorate in physical therapy from Widener University in Pennsylvania. She has been working with orthopedic patients in an outpatient setting for seven years.
She has experience in acute rehabilitation.
She is currently working toward a certification in orthopedic manual physical therapy, which she expects to complete in the fall.
— Compiled by Nora Doyle-Burr