Psychiatry & Counseling Providers

Meghan Foster, DNP, FNP-BC

As a mom of three and a veteran nurse, Meghan draws from her personal and professional experiences to shape her holistic and inquisitive approach to psychiatry and counseling. “I want to know my patient’s stories. Listening and building trusting relationships is important in working together and helps me provide great care.”

Gretchen Hoyum, MS MFT

Gretchen joins the Gifford Health Care Behavioral Health Team in Randolph from Seattle, Washington.

What Gretchen finds most rewarding about the job is when a deep connection is made between her and the client. They feel safe enough to really open up and is vulnerable with their story. Gretchen’s specialty is helping people with the relationship between food and their bodies. Having been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teen, Gretchen became passionate about the psychological process when people are sick.

Hillary Liddick, PMHNP, RN

Hillary Liddick’s clinical interests are centered on psychotherapy, and she describes her approach to care as one that considers the whole person and incorporates not just medicine, but also, for example, diet, sleep, and exercise. Having worked in a variety of settings, she says, “Working with people from all walks of life has made me a better problem-solver and more openminded.”

Hillary McAllister, MSW

Hillary first came to Vermont for her undergraduate work at UVM. The Massachusetts native knew she wanted to continue her work in the state of Vermont. Hillary’s appreciation and interest in the unique needs of rural communities grew during her time as a school-based clinician with the Clara Martin Center at East Valley Academy. Hillary has worked with children, youth, and families in alternative schools, residential and outpatient settings. “The beauty of social work is we’re trained to think of people in the context of their environment. It is a unique perspective that informs what I do and helps me to relate to people authentically.”

Nicolas Nyirjesy, LCMHC, LADC

Nicolas Nyirjesy became a therapist in 2014 and previously worked for the Vermont Department of Corrections and the Northwestern Counseling and Support Services in St. Albans. He describes himself as eclectic in his counseling theory, working with a large range of mental health diagnoses including anxiety and mood disorders.

“My personal experiences with mental health struggles inform my counseling perspective. I consider the therapeutic relationship to be at the core of what I do and work to make people feel safe and heard.”

Emily Pizzale, MSW, LICSW

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) Emily Pizzale has extensive experience working with palliative and hospice patients, multi-stressed families, and the older adult and geriatric populations. She has a special interest in the sandwich generation and the silver tsunami. She describes her counseling style as strengths-based and solution-focused.

“I want to help my patients move forward with their lives and goals. And I want them to feel heard. I also like to make sure folks really understand what’s happening and what their options are.”

When not working, Emily enjoys hiking, skiing, cooking, traveling, and reading.

Marzouq Qubti, MD, MBA

During the early days of his medical education, Dr. Qubti’s interests leaned towards internal medicine rather than the surgical field. Dr. Qubti finished his internal medicine residency at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston 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.

“I’m on a mission to give back in any way. Whether that’s helping Gifford from a clinical care standpoint, or representing Gifford as a volunteer in community-based programs.”

Erica Schleif, LCMHC

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.

Roz Vara-Good, FNP

Family Nurse Practitioner Roz Vara-Good serves on the Addiction Medicine team at Kingwood Health Center in Randolph and at Gifford Health Center at Berlin – Primary Care. Roz treats patients for opiate use and alcohol use disorders. In her role, she provides medications and facilitates referrals for behavioral health supports, and coordinates care with primary care providers as well as a drug and alcohol use disorder counselor.

Roz’s philosophy of care puts patients in the driver’s seat.

“They are the experts of their own bodies. My goal always is to give patients information and help them make the best decisions for themselves. In general, I want folks to feel supported and heard, and understand that their opinions are important and that I value them. Each patient is unique. What works for one won’t work for another. My goal is to figure out what works for each person.”