From Our Leadership
As we prepare for the 2020 Annual Meeting, and at the time we write this message, it’s nearly one year since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, one year since Vermont Gov. Phil Scott declared a state of emergency, and one year since Vermont announced the first deaths attributed to the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19.
President and CEO Dan Bennett, holding a framed Gifford mask and empty vials from first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, prepares to join Board Chair Matt Considine for a Zoom meeting.
Over the course of this unprecedented-in-our-lifetime pandemic that continues to dictate how we live and work and go about our daily lives, Gifford has taken exceptional care of our community and each other. Our team, Essential Every Day, built upon their strength going into this—through collaborative work, creative problem-solving, and unwavering support for one another—and no doubt will be stronger coming out. At the same time, also thanks to the efforts of our remarkable team, we’ve managed to meet our financial goals to ensure the strength of our organization well into the future.
We are exceedingly proud of our colleagues, all of them, who swiftly adapted to ever-changing protocols and policies. Those on the front lines of our COVID-19 response. Those who’ve faced fear and confusion, particularly in the early stages of COVID, as they showed up to our clinics and hospital every day, every shift, and continued to do the “regular” work of seeing patients and providing vital services. And those who’ve continued to perform the behind-the-scenes work that keeps Gifford humming: environmental services, facilities management, technology, administrative support, nutrition and food services.
It’s been incredibly tough, and at times 2020 seemed unending, but here we are in March 2021 with many reasons to be optimistic. Our staff is vaccinated. Our community vaccine clinics are well underway. Case numbers and deaths are decreasing in our region and across the country.
Thank you to the dedicated providers and staff who’ve seen us through. You are Essential Every Day, and deeply appreciated.
In gratitude,
Dan Bennett, President and CEO
Matt Considine, Board Chair
