Our Providers

Andrea Mendelssohn, MD

Dr. Andrea Mendelssohn provides care as part of the Obstetrics, Gynecology, Midwifery team at Gifford Medical Center. As a general obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Mendelssohn sees women of all ages, from teenagers to women experiencing menopause. She provides a wide range of services, routine to emergency, delivers babies and supports Gifford midwives, and performs surgery.

Dr. Mendelssohn, who takes a holistic approach to patient care, says, “I’m very aware of how all parts of the body are wired and speak to other parts. The body is very wise, and the best kind of medicine is to support the body healing and to know that the body knows what to do best. That applies to illness, or delivering babies.”

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Lucy Merriam, MD

Lucy Merriam, MD, is a pediatrician who provides primary care for children from birth through adolescence at Gifford Health Care in Randolph, Vermont. A native Vermonter, she grew up in Elmore and completed both her undergraduate education and medical degree at the University of Vermont before completing her pediatrics residency at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Merriam was drawn to pediatrics by the opportunity to build lasting relationships with children and families while emphasizing preventive care. She especially enjoys supporting new parents and newborns, guiding families through the different stages of childhood development, and working with adolescents as they begin taking a more active role in their own health.

Her approach to care centers on listening and partnership. She believes medical providers bring clinical expertise, while patients and families bring an essential understanding of themselves, their children, and their concerns.

 Outside of work, she enjoys skiing, hiking, running, gravel biking, paddle boarding, and spending time outdoors.

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R. Mariah North, MD

Dr. North provides care as part of the Obstetrics, Gynecology, Midwifery team at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Vermont and provides comprehensive women’s health care across the lifespan. She is drawn to community-based practice and caring for patients in rural settings, where access to OB/GYN services is critically important. Dr. North completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of New Mexico and has practiced in both large urban hospitals and small community health systems. She values the balance OB/GYN offers between continuity of care and acute clinical work and emphasizes evidence-based medicine alongside active listening and shared decision-making.

“There is a real need for OB/GYN care across rural America,” Dr. North said. “Community hospitals are essential in meeting that need, and I value the personal connections and teamwork that come with practicing in a small hospital setting.”

Dr. North is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

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Alexander Orem, MD

Dr. Alexander Orem is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult hip and knee replacement surgery. He has completed a fellowship in adult joint replacement surgery and has special interest in anterior approach total hip replacement. He also performs partial and total knee replacement surgery. He greatly enjoys helping patients regain their quality of life after suffering from degenerative joint disease and strives to help each patient meet their best possible outcome.

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Averill Pazdro, DPT

Averill Pazdro, DPT enjoys working with all age groups and diagnoses but has a special interest in lymphedema/cancer patients and those with neurological conditions. She works to incorporate fitness, strength, balance, and pain free movement into all treatment approaches to promote health and wellness. She prioritizes each patient’s goals and works to get people back to the activities that they love.

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Stacy Pelletier, RD

Stacy Pelletier, RD specializes in nutrition and dietetics. She particularly enjoys working with our geriatric population in the acute care and long-term care setting. Working with patients and their families to achieve their individual health goals and improve quality of life brings her joy. And she finds it especially rewarding to help patients better understand the connection between the food we eat and our health.

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Jen Pelletier, LCMHC, LADC

Jen is a licensed mental health counselor and a licensed substance use counselor, as well as a certified clinical trauma professional. She works with individuals across a wide range of ages and backgrounds, tailoring her approach to meet each client’s unique needs. Jen utilizes a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Person-Centered Therapy. She brings compassion and judgement-free support into each session and is committed to meeting clients where they are—empowering them to choose the path that best supports their personal growth and healing.

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Deanna Perreault, PT

Deanna works with patients from infancy to geriatrics and believes in treating not just the injury site, but the whole patient.
Before becoming a physical therapist, Deanna worked in the mental health system which enables her to recognize and empathize with patients on both the physical and emotional aspects of their recovery. She sees herself as a partner in her patient’s recovery and works to ensure they understand their diagnosis and plan of care.

Her family is very active. Both of her children have grown up playing many sports, her husband coaches, and Deanna herself has been both a player and coach and enjoys treating athletes of all ages.

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Logan Teresa Porter, MD, FAAFP

Dr. Logan Porter is a board-certified family physician serving on Gifford Health Care’s primary care team in Randolph, Vermont. She comes with more than 35 years of experience caring for patients in family medicine, community health care, emergency medicine, tribal health care, hospital medicine, and urgent care settings.

Throughout her career, Dr. Porter has practiced in both rural and community-based settings, including 17 years in Alaska serving patients through Native health services and other organizations on Kodiak Island.

“Family medicine has always been about relationships for me,” said Dr. Porter. “I really value getting to know patients over time and caring for the whole person.”

Dr. Porter is known for her thoughtful, thorough approach and for taking time to understand each patient’s health concerns, lifestyle, and goals.

“I spend time getting to know patients as people,” she said. “It makes a big difference in understanding their health and helping them move forward.”

Dr. Porter earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke University Medical School and completed her family medicine residency at Middlesex Memorial Hospital in Connecticut. She is board-certified by the American Board of Family Practice and has held teaching appointments with both Florida State University Medical School and the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. Outside of work, Dr. Porter enjoys gardening, hiking, biking, and spending time outdoors with her family in northern Vermont

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Marzouq Qubti, MD, MBA

“I’m on a mission to give back in any way,” says Dr. Qubti, who provides rheumatology care in Randolph and Berlin*. “Whether that’s helping Gifford from a clinical care standpoint, or representing Gifford as a volunteer in community-based programs.”

During the early days of his medical education, Dr. Qubti’s interests leaned toward internal medicine rather than the surgical field. He finished his internal medicine residency at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, Mass., before completing his fellowship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md. He has familiarity with our area having served as an adjunct professor at UVM’s Department of Family Medicine.

*Patients should call the 802-728-2430 number for appointments in both Randolph and Berlin.

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Courtney Riley, MD

Courtney Riley, MD rejoined the Pediatrics team at Gifford Primary Care in Randolph in 2021 after taking a brief hiatus. Dr. Riley originally joined Gifford in 2016.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Biomolecular Science with University Honors from Clarkson University, Riley had initially planned a career in medical research. But while pursuing an MD at New York Medical College, Dr. Riley quickly discovered she wanted to be out of the lab and caring for patients, especially children.

“The patient/child is my priority and I try to engage them directly as much as possible. I look for verbal and nonverbal clues and I solicit information from other sources as needed.”

Dr. Riley is honored when her former patients chose her to provide care for their own babies. She already has a few “grand patients,” having met the parents when they were teens.

 

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Rachel Salloway, FNP-BC

She/Her

Nurse Practitioner Rachel Salloway is passionate about helping to ensure access to high-quality preventative medicine in rural areas. She enjoys working with patients at all stages of life. She has a particular interest in providing care to older adults, women, and patients with diabetes. She describes her style with patients as collaborative: “I enjoy learning about patients and helping patients feel comfortable so they can meet their health care goals.”

Rachel brings to Gifford a background in global health, providing care in Uganda and India, and also experience working with underserved communities, including incarcerated women and Somali refugees.

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Rebecca Savidge, PA-C

Rebecca Savidge joined the Gifford family in 2013 as a Certified Physician Assistant working in family practice at the Chelsea Health Center. She enjoys coming to work in a rural area where each day is different and poses its own challenges.  One of the highlights of Rebecca’s job is forming relationships with the diversified patient population.

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Erica Schleif, LCMHC

She/Her

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) Erica Schleif has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, families, and new mothers. Erica provides clinical support for a range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and postpartum depression, and describes her counseling style as compassionate and responsive: “I don’t just sit and listen. I provide feedback—not advice—to express encouragement and support.”

When not at work, she enjoys spending time with family, hiking, biking, skiing, and cooking.

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Thomas Schmidt, MD

Dr. Thomas Schmidt is a neurologist at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Vermont. He evaluates and treats a broad range of neurological conditions and performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as part of comprehensive neurological care.

Dr. Schmidt completed his neurology residency at the University of Vermont Medical Center, following an internal medicine internship at the same institution. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from The University of Toledo College of Medicine. Prior to his medical training, Dr. Schmidt completed graduate studies in education and worked as a high school science teacher, an experience that informs his approach to patient communication and education.

His clinical experience includes EEG interpretation, lumbar punctures, occipital nerve blocks, and Botox® treatment for chronic migraine. Dr. Schmidt has practiced neurology in Vermont, Maine, and Michigan.

Dr. Schmidt has also been involved in medical education, providing bedside and didactic teaching to medical students during his residency training. He was nominated for the Gold Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award.

Outside of work, Dr. Schmidt enjoys hiking, fitness, kayaking, snowshoeing, camping, music, and cooking.

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Bryan Smith, MD

An internal medicine physician, Dr. Smith has practiced hospital medicine for the better part of his career. He brings to his role at Gifford more than 20 years of experience and a deep commitment to providing the highest-quality care to all patients:

“I think of the practice of medicine as a calling and access to excellent health care to be a fundamental human right. Because each of my patients historically has entrusted their care, and in many cases their lives, to me, I really am honored by this and indebted to them, and obligated to be the kind of doctor I would wish to have caring for me or my loved ones.”

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Julia Sobel-Faryniarz, MA

Julia Sobel-Faryniarz serves on Gifford’s Behavioral Health Team providing individual counseling for adolescents and adults experiencing a range of mental health concerns and life transitions. Her clinical interests include grief, traumatic grief and trauma. She takes a relational, humanistic and client-centered approach, adapting care to each person’s experiences, needs and goals.

“I see clients as the experts in their own lives,” Sobel-Faryniarz said. “My role is to listen, offer guidance and walk alongside them as they identify the changes they want to make.”

Sobel-Faryniarz earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Science from the University of Vermont. Her undergraduate studies included a minor in religion, giving her additional perspective on the role faith and spirituality can play in people’s lives and well-being.

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Rachel Spengler, ENP-C

Rachel has worked in Emergency Medicine for 35 years. She trained in Albany, NY, gaining experience in large medical centers before returning to Vermont to serve smaller hospital Emergency Departments and the communities of her home state. While in Albany, she also worked at Mountain Sports Medicine at Mount Snow Resort—her hometown—for over 20 years, where she developed a strong interest in sports medicine, wilderness medicine, outpatient orthopedics, and trauma care.

By 1995, Rachel was practicing full-time in Vermont and has remained here since, serving in Emergency Departments across Southern Vermont, including SVMC Bennington, Springfield Hospital, Mount Ascutney Hospital in Windsor, and Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend, closest to where she now resides. Since 1998, she has been co-owner and practicing clinician (PA-C) with Emergency Services of New England, Inc., providing contracted PA staffing to local EDs and walk-in/urgent care clinics throughout Southern Vermont and New Hampshire. Through this work, she has had the privilege of collaborating with—and mentoring—many of the region’s finest Emergency Medicine PAs.

Born and raised in Vermont, Rachel has spent most of her adult life here. She lives in South Central Vermont with her 20-year-old son, who works locally in construction, and has family in Wilmington and Massachusetts. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, scuba diving, sailing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and mountain biking. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, architectural sketching, and painting.

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Ellen Stein, MD, MBA, FAEMS, FAWM

Dr. Ellen Stein is an emergency medicine physician in the Emergency Department at Gifford Medical Center with experience in academic, rural, and prehospital care settings.

She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business. She completed an EMS Fellowship at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Prior to joining Gifford, Dr. Stein practiced with the University of Vermont Medical Group, providing care across multiple emergency departments in Vermont and New York.

Dr. Stein has a strong background in EMS and prehospital medicine, including medical direction, paramedic education, and simulation training. She also has experience in wilderness medicine and has provided care in remote and international settings.

Her approach to care is grounded in curiosity, listening, and helping patients feel more comfortable during difficult moments. She values taking time to understand each patient’s story and believes that a thorough history is an essential part of effective care.

Outside of work, Dr. Stein enjoys spending time outdoors, including hiking and mountain biking, and looks forward to exploring the trails throughout the region.

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Troy Stratton, PT

Troy Stratton, PT enjoys treating each patient as an individual and listening to what the patient is looking for from therapy. He will listen to your symptoms and limitations and work with you to develop reasonable goals for your treatment. He will assist you and motivate you to reach your goals with a thorough treatment plan that will involve an independent home program. No matter your age or activity level, he will work with you to improve your overall function.

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Emily Swint, PA-C

Emily Swint, MPAS, PA-C, loves working with patients from their first visit through their post-procedure care. She enjoys providing solutions to medical concerns. She takes care to explain treatment options as clearly as possible as she believes communication with patients leads to better results and patients who are more active in their health care.

Emily’s mother taught her how to sew. She feels that training improved her hand-eye coordination and made her more skilled in a clinical setting.

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Richard Taylor, MD

Dr. Richard Taylor serves on Gifford’s hospitalist team providing exceptional 24-hour care to hospitalized patients.

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Susan Thievon, APRN, BC-ADM

She/Her

Susan Thievon is a nurse practitioner certified in advanced diabetes management who provides personalized, compassionate care at Gifford’s Diabetes Clinic at Kingwood Health Center and Berlin Primary Care. She works with adults living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as well as individuals with prediabetes, offering guidance on blood sugar management, nutrition, exercise, medications, and diabetes prevention to help patients manage their health with confidence.

She enjoys working with patients and discovering what’s important to them and their health, and understands the importance of getting patients to engage in their own health care.

Susan enjoys gardening and cycling with her husband in her free time.

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David Turro Jr., PA-C, MS

David Turro Jr., PA-C, MS, is a physician assistant with Gifford’s Orthopedics team. He cares for patients of all ages and activity levels, with experience in general orthopedics, sports medicine, trauma, spine, hand and upper-extremity care, joint replacement, pediatrics, and foot and ankle care.

Turro focuses on understanding how an injury or condition affects each patient’s daily life and the activities that matter most to them. He emphasizes education and shared decision-making, helping patients understand their diagnosis, treatment options and recovery. Whenever appropriate, he works with patients to maximize nonoperative treatments before considering surgery.

He has nearly a decade of orthopedic experience in ambulatory clinics, inpatient units, operating rooms and rural health settings. Before joining Gifford, he practiced at Maine General Medical Center, Copley Hospital, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Vancouver Clinic. He began his healthcare career as a certified athletic trainer, including work with collegiate athletes at Dartmouth College.

Turro earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Bay Path University and a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Plymouth State University. He also earned a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering with a focus on healthcare systems from the University of Central Florida and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. His systems training informs his commitment to making healthcare easier for patients to navigate and improving the experience and outcomes of care.

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Kerin Vadnais, MSN, AGACNP-BC, RN

Kerin Vadnais is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and experienced Critical Care Nurse serving on Gifford’s hospitalist team. Kerin provides exceptional 24-hour care to hospitalized patients during their stay at Gifford.

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