RANDOLPH, Vt.—This month, Family Nurse Practitioners Katie John, Minta Trivette, and Azaliah Tillinghast joined the Primary Care team at Gifford Health Care.
John, who specializes in diabetes management, sees patients at Kingwood Health Center in Randolph and at Gifford Health Center at Berlin – Primary Care. The Vermont native describes her approach to patient care as collaborative and nonjudgmental.
“I try to meet the patient where they are,” said John, who previously worked at Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) in Berlin, Vt. “It’s about empowering patients by talking about how to make their care plan sustainable and work for them.”
Katie John
John was drawn to Gifford by “human connection” and a sense that “everyone seems really focused on providing good patient care and doing what is right for patients.”
As a nurse practitioner at CVMC, John worked with patients who have Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and also served as a primary care provider for several years. She previously worked as a registered nurse at CVMC; as a clinical instructor at Norwich University in Northfield, Vt.; and in several traveling registered nurse positions in Vermont, New Hampshire, and California. She earned a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt., and bachelor’s and associate degrees in nursing from Norwich University. When not at work, she enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with her husband and son.
Trivette, who sees patients as part of Gifford’s Primary Care team in Randolph, was drawn here by a desire to work in rural health care and for an organization with a strong sense of community. She is committed to practicing evidence-based medicine that is informed by shared decision-making and a patient’s individual experience.
“I’ve been interested in health and science my entire life, and ultimately decided to become a nurse practitioner because of the opportunity to connect with individuals and support them on their healthcare journey,” said Trivette, who’s originally from northeast Tennessee where her mother also serves as a nurse practitioner.
Minta Trivette
Among Trivette’s clinical interests are preventative health, women’s health, and adolescent health. Her previous experience includes registered nurse positions at Pathways Vermont and at Howard Center – Chittenden Clinic, both in Burlington, Vt., and as camp nurse at Green River Preserve in Cedar Mountain, N.C., and Point O’ Pines Camp in Brant Lake, N.Y. She completed several graduate clinical rotations in Vermont, including at Gifford Primary Care in Randolph, Pediatric Primary Care in Berlin, Women’s Health Clinic at University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Emergency Department at CVMC in Berlin, and Northwestern Primary Care in Saint Albans. She earned a doctorate of nursing practice from the University of Vermont in Burlington and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Clark University in Worcester, Mass. In her off-time, she bikes, runs, and plays banjo and fiddle.
Tillinghast sees patients at Gifford Health Center at Berlin – Primary Care. She is connected to the area by a strong sense of community, and describes her approach to care as patient-centered.
“I grew up in central Vermont, and my family is here,” said Tillinghast, who, before becoming a nurse practitioner, worked as a registered nurse at CVMC in Berlin and at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, N.H. “I enjoy being able to care for people in the same area I grew up in. I like the small community feel where everyone knows everyone.”
Azaliah Tillinghast
Tillinghast, whose clinical interests include women’s health and trauma-informed care, worked in the Emergency Department and served as a sexual assault nurse examiner at CVMC. In addition to her registered nurse positions at CVMC and DHMC, she gained clinical experience as a nurse practitioner in Primary Care and Ob/Gyn and Midwifery at Gifford and in Primary Care at CVMC. She earned a master’s degree in nursing from Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Ky., and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNY Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh, N.Y. When not at work, Tillinghast enjoys reading and running a small, family-owned maple syrup operation with her husband.
For more information about Primary Care at Gifford, including clinic locations*, visit giffordhealthcare.org/service/primary-care.
*Reminder during COVID-19: Gifford’s clinics are open. We encourage patients to schedule and keep their medical appointments. It is vital that we continue to provide care and treat members of our community so that medical conditions do not escalate. If a patient does not have a mask upon arrival for an appointment, Gifford will provide the patient with a mask. For more information about COVID-19 and answers to frequently asked questions, visit giffordhealthcare.org/coronavirus-covid-19, cdc.gov or healthvermont.gov.
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Gifford is a community hospital in Randolph, Vt., with family health centers in Berlin, Bethel, Chelsea, Randolph, Rochester, and White River Junction; and specialty services throughout central Vermont. A Federally Qualified Health Center and a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the country, Gifford is a full-service hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and inpatient unit; many surgical services; a day care; two adult day programs; and the 30-bed Menig Nursing Home, which was named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best 39 nursing homes in the country in 2012. The Birthing Center, established in 1977, was the first in Vermont to offer an alternative to traditional hospital-based deliveries, and continues to be a leader in midwifery and family-centered care. The hospital’s mission is to improve individuals’ and community health by providing and assuring access to affordable, high-quality health care in Gifford’s service area.
