Clinical Professor and Chair, College of Nursing and Health Sciences Department of Nursing

Rosemary Dale is a native of the City of New York and has been associated with the University of Vermont since 1976. She holds a bachelor's degree from the College of Mount St. Vincent in New York City, and an M.S. in Nursing and an Ed. D. in Administration with cognates in Nursing and Higher Education from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She also holds an Adult Nurse Practitioner certificate and is licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Dale's career has spanned teaching, education and practice. She spent 25 years as the Chief Nursing Officer at Fletcher Allen Health Care, ten years as Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Vermont, and 12 years in the private practice at Vermont Internal Medicine. She returned to the University of Vermont in September 2010 to chair the Department of Nursing. She maintains a clinical practice as an adult nurse practitioner at Vermont Internal Medicine. She has served on numerous boards, including Champlain College, United Way of Chittenden County, Mater Christi School, Vermont Catholic Charities of Vermont, Voluntary Hospitals of America Nursing Advisory Board, Visiting Nurses of Chittenden and Grand Isle Board, Vermont Health Foundation Board.

Professor Emerita, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Jacqueline Dowling began her career as a pediatric clinical nurse at the University of Rochester Strong Hospital in New York and UMass Medical Center in Worcester. She has held positions as an assistant, associate, and full professor, as well as nursing laboratory director at UMass Lowell and director of the learning resources center at Boston University. She is the recipient of regional and national grants, has authored and co-authored articles for nursing journals and textbooks, and has presented at international, national, and regional conferences. Her most recent co-authored manuscripts accepted for publication are titled Validating the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale for Pediatric Nurses and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Pediatric Nurses. She will be recognized as one of 50 UMass Lowell nurse leaders at their 50th Anniversary Celebration in October 2018, received the Mary A. Manning Mentoring Award from ANA Massachusetts in 2016, is a certified nurse educator, fellow of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Leadership for Academic Nursing Program, and past president of the Eta Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing. Jacqueline received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont, a master’s degree from Boston University and a Ph.D. from UMass Amherst.

Chief Nursing Officer, University of Vermont Medical Center

Peg Gagne, M.S.N., RN, was selected as Chief Nursing Officer for the University of Vermont Medical Center, starting January 11, 2021. She has been serving as Interim CNO since September 2019. Gagne has been at the UVM Medical Center for more than 19 years, serving as a staff nurse, nurse educator, and director at different times. Over the past 14 months, Gagne has partnered with the executive and operational teams at the UVM Medical Center to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and several crises, including an unprecedented cyberattack and challenges at the Fanny Allen campus. Earlier in 2019, she served as the Clinical Lead for the successful transition into the Miller Building, including the design, build, transition planning, move day, post-move support and optimization. Gagne has also partnered with the Chief Medical Officer, Vice President of Quality, and Chief People Experience Officer to champion a new Collaborative Leadership model through all levels of the hospital. Key ongoing initiatives that support her commitment to frontline staff engagement and leadership include the Unit Staffing Collaborative project and the reintroduction of unit/department practice councils as part of the Nursing Professional Governance structure. Gagne received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec and her Master’s in Nursing from the University of Arizona, Tucson. She and her husband Paul enjoy family time the most, with their three children and grandchildren as much as a large extended family. Her downtime favorites are gardening, hiking, baking and knitting.

Former President and Clinical Director, Audiology and Speech Pathology, Inc., West Palm Beach, FL

Mel Grant is a board-certified audiologist who served as president and clinical director of Audiology and Speech Pathology, Inc. He is past chairman of the Audiology Standards Committee for the Florida Speech Language and Hearing Association and the Private Practice Committee for the Florida Speech Language and Hearing Association. He is also a member of the Florida Speech Language and Hearing Association, the Florida Academy of Audiology and the American Audiology Association. Grant developed and operated the Burlington Community Health Center Hearing Clinic, providing equipment, support and guidance to clinical providers and consultation in providing audiological services to health centers and clients. He earned his master's and doctoral degrees in Audiology from the University of Florida and a bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Ithaca College. Grant is a pro bono consultant for a hearing technology company, providing product development feedback and advice, beta-testing new products, and volunteering with Bike Recycle North.

Patient Services Manager, Radiation Oncology Service Line, Yale New Haven Health System

Sherry Greifzu is currently the Supervisor of Education and Quality at Constellation Health Services Home Care and Hospice in Orange, CT. She previously served as the Nurse Manager of Radiation Services at Yale New Haven Hospital and Nursing Director of Ambulatory Services at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, CT. She is an adjunct faculty member at Franklin Pierce University in NH, teaching undergraduate and graduate nursing courses. She is interested in clinical practice, education and leadership development, legislative issues related to improving patient care and grant writing. Her research interests include nursing staff job satisfaction, quality of life and symptom management in cancer patients, and nursing scope of practice. As a nurse educator, Sherry focuses on the passion and commitment needed to care for patients and how the course material relates to patient-centered care. Previous publications in nursing journals include topics of nursing care in cancer diagnoses, educating patients about their disease process, and educating nurses on patient care delivery. Sherry Greifzu received her nursing education at Southern CT State University, where she was awarded a B.S.N. and M.S.N. Sherry is also a practicing advanced certified oncology nurse (AOCN). In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, home improvement and spending time with her family.

Physical Therapist

Maura Guyer has been practicing physical therapy for more than 20 years. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in English and again with a B.S. in Physical Therapy several years later. She has owned and operated Momentum Physical Therapy, located in South Burlington, VT, since 2006, serving the community’s outpatient physical therapy needs. Maura has been working as a clinical instructor with UVM’s PT students since she completed her degree and has mentored other therapists involved in clinical education. Maura has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 2002 and is a member of the organization's Vermont Chapter, the Orthopedics Section and the Private Practice Section. Maura enjoys supporting local organizations, including the Greater Burlington Boys and Girls Club, Girls on the Run, and Spectrum Youth and Family Services. In her free time, Maura loves to ski in the winter, enjoy the beautiful Green Mountains, and spend time on the lake with her family in the summers..

Retired Marketing Executive

Brian Harwood is a Waterbury native with a dual career in radio and television broadcasting and marketing. He founded an advertising agency in Stowe in 1976, which still exists as HMC in Richmond. He began his radio career at WDEV in Waterbury in 1954 and maintained an on-air presence in 2012. He has served on several non-profit boards and is currently a member of the VNA, UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences advisory board, Vermont Life advisory board, and Vermont Symphony board. Harwood was an aide to former U.S. Representative Dick Mallary. He has been board chair of the Northfield Savings Bank, Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Vermont Public Television; he served as Copley Hospital's board member and chair of the Copley Hospital Foundation. He and his wife Janet live in South Burlington. They have three grown daughters and three growing grandsons.

Emerita Chair of the Board of Advisors

Jane Kaufman has been a practicing physical therapist for more than forty years. She graduated from the Ithaca College Physical Therapy program and earned her master’s degree at the University of Vermont. In 2005, Jane achieved international board certification in the use of biofeedback for pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Jane is President of Phoenix Physical Therapy, PLC, a specialized private practice located in South Burlington, VT. Jane’s career has included practice at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Vermont, and at the former Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, where she supervised the Department of Physical Therapy. She has also worked with and managed Burlington area physical therapy practices. Jane has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Vermont’s Department of Physical Therapy for over thirty years. Jane is a faculty member for the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, which provides educational programs for healthcare providers across the USA. She is also a lead instructor for Texas-based Biofeedback Training and Incontinence Solutions, which offers pelvic floor muscle function courses for health professionals worldwide. Jane has served on many professional boards and volunteer committees, including the UVM Alumni Association’s Vermont Regional Board. Previously, Jane co-chaired the former UVM Parent’s Council. Jane has also served on various South Burlington public school committees. Jane and her husband have three grown sons, two of whom are UVM graduates.

Emerita Member

Born in Newport, Vt., Marcelle Pomerleau Leahy is a first-generation American born of Canadian parents. Married to Patrick Leahy for over 55 years, she has sustained a career as a registered nurse in Vermont, Washington, DC, and Virginia. As the honorary chair of the Vermont National Guard Family Readiness and Support Program, she raised awareness of the selflessness and sacrifices of members of the armed forces and their families as challenges they face upon reintegrating after deployment. Mrs. Leahy has also served on the board of the Washington National Opera and with the Spouses of the Senate chapter of the American Red Cross.

Chair, Emerge Vermont

Joan Lenes served in the Vermont General Assembly, representing the Towns of Shelburne and St. George from 2007-2017. She was a member of the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions. Joan currently is the Chair of Emerge VT and an elected justice of the peace in Shelburne, Vermont. Joan serves on the Age Well Board, CVSD Connecting Youth Board, Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation, the University of Vermont Continuing and Distance Education Board, the University of Vermont Nursing and Health Science Advisory Board, and the Wake Robin Board of Directors. She is a Charlotte/Shelburne/Hinesburg Rotary Club and Shelburne Business & Professional Association member. Joan is a former member of the University of Vermont Board Of Trustees and former school board member for the Champlain Valley School District from 1992 until 2018; she was a founding member of Robin's Nest Children's Center and a former volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels. Joan previously taught in the Center for Service-Learning at UVM and owned and operated Climb High, an outdoor mountaineering business. She has two grown children and lives in Shelburne with her husband, Helmut. Joan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida and her M.ED. from the University of Vermont.

President Emeritus, St. Michael's College; Professor and Vice President and Dean of Faculties at Boston College; Professor and Dean of Boston College's Carroll School of Management

John (Jack) Neuhauser is president emeritus of Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont. He served as president of the college from 2007 until 2018. Before that, he had a long career at Boston College, where he served as professor of computer science, dean of the Carroll School of Management, academic vice president, and professor. He has served on over 20 nonprofit and corporate boards during his career, including the UVMMC board. Dr. Neuhauser earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Manhattan College, a master's in operations research and statistics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a doctorate in operations research and statistics: mathematics, also from Rensselaer. He has an impressive record of publications in creative computing and business. Jack participated in the Boston Marathon seven times. He has three children and seven grandchildren and spends as much time as he can with them on an old farm in southern Vermont.

Retired Nurse Practitioner

Barbara’s career started in oncology nursing as a clinician, educator, and manager. After training to specialize in oncology palliative care, she expanded her capacity to practice, teach and lead care for the seriously ill and dying. In 2022, Barbara retired from her job as Nursing Director for the Palliative Care Service and the Palliative Care Nursing Fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Her previous clinical leadership roles in palliative care clinical programs include the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, and adjunct faculty positions at their nursing schools. She continues to teach nurses and other clinicians part-time at the Harvard Medical School Center for Palliative Care. She earned nursing degrees from the University of Vermont (B.S.N.-1977), University of California, San Francisco (MS), University of Pennsylvania (NP) and University of Maryland, Baltimore (DNP). Her interests include communication skills training and integrating arts-based experiential learning for health professionals. In 2022, the Hastings Center’s Cunniff-Dixon Foundation awarded Barbara their Nursing Award for exemplary end-of-life care.

Sandy Robertson graduated from UVM in 1976 with a B.S. in Nursing and from Boston University in 1980 with an M.S.N. in Community Health Nursing with a Corporate Preventive Wellness specialty. She formerly served as a manager of Corporate Wellness Programs in NYC, including at NBC-TV and at VA Greater Los Angeles, where she worked from 2005 until 2021. At VA GLA, Sandy managed the “MOVE” Obesity Program, where she brought mindful eating and “stress hardiness” to the curriculum. She also served as a Manager of Patient Centered Care and helped design and launch several patient-centered care initiatives, including foundational Integrative Medicine and Holistic Nursing programs. She was part of a team that founded an Integrative Health and Healing Center where patients can experience the best of Western medicine along with many healing modalities such as Acupuncture, Healing Touch, Yoga, Tai Chi, MBSR, Mindful Self-Compassion, and Healthy Cooking. Sandy also contributes to mind-body articles in peer-reviewed journals and is the author of “Why Am I Eating This?” – a guide to retraining the brain about food. She has a private practice in LA. With her Advanced Energy Healing/Mind-Body Coaching, Sandy combines her training in holistic nursing, energy healing, mind-body medicine and other evidence-based holistic approaches. Her passion is sharing the wisdom of the body as an energy system and what might support client self-care and true nourishment.

Chair of the Board of Advisors, President, NJS Consulting

Dr. Nicholas Sears is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 40 years of experience as both a clinician and physician executive. He currently serves as the president of NJS Consulting, providing consultative services to providers, payers, and consultancies in the healthcare arena. Dr. Sears is also a member of the Senior Advisory Board to Nanowear Inc. and MyCare Inc., two early-stage healthcare startup companies. He completed his term on the Senior Advisory Board at MedAssets Inc. in March of 2016. Before starting his own independent consultancy, he served as the Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer at MedAssets Inc., leading its Clinical Resource Management Consulting Practice. During his 12-year tenure as CMO, he was instrumental in growing the company and helping position the organization for its IPO. Duties included delivering on consulting engagements and developing robust marketing literature, increasing sales and working with the business development division. Dr. Sears is widely respected among his peers and is recognized as a thought leader in the field of physician engagement strategies and enhancing hospital margins. He has published numerous articles, spoken at various healthcare industry conferences and been a keynote speaker at the annual AAHRM meeting. Before joining MedAssets, Dr. Sears was a Cap Gemini Ernst & Young principal. In this role, he was responsible for reducing supply chain expenses for high-cost physician preference items and clinical integration and transformation issues centered on leading practices, clinical pathways and LOS reduction while maintaining high-quality patient care. Dr. Sears worked closely with physicians and administrators to ensure smooth, effective management practices. For 15 years before his work as a consultant, Dr. Sears maintained a clinical practice of Cardiothoracic Surgery in private and academic settings in Tampa, Florida.

Emerita Member

Mary Steiger graduated from St. Michael's College with a bachelor's degree in Biology. She received her graduate degree in physical therapy from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Mary has 27 years of experience in the practice of physical therapy and management. She was the chief of a physical therapy department at St. Mary's Hospital in New Jersey. In addition, Mary also owned and worked at Alpha Physical Therapy, a private practice, for 16 years. She has been an APTA member for 27 years and a member of the Advisory Board at the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences for five years. Mary was the Director of the Physical Therapy Center of Vermont. Mary is a member of VERG (Vermont Elder Resource Group) and is on the community assessment team for the Blueprint for Health.

Physical Therapist, Educational Consultant

Linda Tsoumas has been a physical therapist for more than 45 years, with 30+ years of experience in teaching and leading academic programs in physical therapy. Her clinical practice was in the area of pediatrics and neurological rehabilitation. She last served as the Founding Dean and Professor of Physical Therapy at MCPHS University and, before that, was on the founding faculty of the physical therapy program at Springfield College. Having recently retired, she works in higher education as an educational consultant, skilled in program evaluation, academic advising, literature reviews, instructional design, and curriculum development. Linda earned her B.S. in physical therapy from the University of Vermont, an M.S. in exercise science from UMASS-Amherst, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of Hartford. She was a founding member of UVM Rescue and, now as an alumna, has been involved with that student group since its inception.

Occupational Therapist, School-based Pediatrics

Chelsea Vaillancourt is a school-based occupational therapist (OT) specializing in sensory regulation practices. She is passionate about working with pediatrics and guides her practices with neuroaffirming, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive teaching. Chelsea is also the Vice President of the Vermont Occupational Therapy Association (VOTA) and the Conference Planning Committee Chair. She works to bring continuing education opportunities to her fellow Vermont OTs throughout the year. She is a member of VOTA's pediatric committee, which works on developing and supporting statewide initiatives and promotes collaboration with pediatric therapists throughout the state. She is an Oakledge for All Board Member, an organization that opened Vermont's first fully inclusive playground at Oakledge Park. Chelsea can be found painting, baking, working on housing projects, and hanging with loved ones when not working or volunteering.

President, Boston Biomedical Consultants

Kerry Weinert joined Boston Biomedical Consultants (BBC) in 1984 and was appointed President in 2004. Previously, she served as the company's senior consultant and vice president and acted as de facto general manager since 1995. During her tenure at BBC, Weinert's engagement has spanned all aspects of BBC's consulting practice, from IVD market sizing, forecasting, and IVD company benchmarking, to new company/product/partner search and strategic planning. Currently, her IVD industry focus is on Laboratory systems/products, POC/Near Patient Testing, and a supporting role in BBC's NAT franchise. As BBC has built its Asia Pac fact base and expertise, she has interfaced with/managed the company's Japan activity and was responsible for the early development of BBC's China market assessment, which began in 2001 and culminated in BBC's first immunochemistry China IVD market book in 2012. Before joining BBC, Weinert worked as a clinical chemist at the Conley Laboratory in the Maine Medical Center. Weinert received a bachelor's degree in Medical Technology from the University of Vermont and a master's degree in Business Administration from Babson College.

Associate Professor Emeritus in Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Vermont

Burt Wilcke has over 25 years of public health experience at the state and local levels. He served as Director of Health Surveillance for the Vermont Department of Health before joining the College of Nursing and Health Sciences faculty at UVM in 2002. At UVM, he chaired the Department of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences (now Biomedical and Health Sciences) for 11 years. Burt has served on committees and boards of the American Public Health Association, the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), the Institute of Medicine, and the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). He is the Past President of the Vermont Public Health Association (VtPHA) and currently serves as the VtPHA representative to the American Public Health Association. He consults on public health laboratory systems development both locally and globally.

Emerita Member

Mary Wilson is a practicing speech-language pathologist, president of Laureate Learning Systems, and professor emerita of communication sciences and disorders at the University of Vermont. She received her B.A. in Speech and Theatre from Smith College, her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from Emerson College, and her Ph.D. in Communicative Disorders from Northwestern University. She has been the Principal Investigator on multiple Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). These grants have supported the development of Laureate’s Sterling Edition language assessment and intervention programs. She has received numerous awards and honors, including Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Honors of the Vermont Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Emerson’s Alumni Achievement Award, and the 2012 Special Award from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD).