Meet Community Health’s Health Care Professionals

Community Health, one of the top 50 largest companies in the state of Vermont and employs about 400 people (not one was furloughed during the pandemic). It’s the largest federally qualified health center (FQHC) in the state and provided primary care to almost 42,000 patients last year in Rutland and Addison counties.

“We have medical doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and licensed social workers; two dental offices and a new pediatric dental practice; behavioral health professionals at each of our seven locations, pediatrics, a pharmacy, a population health director and a team of clinical and nonclinical administrative experts,” said Jill Jesso-White, Director of Communications and Development. “And,” she said, “we’re hiring!”

The experience and skill at Community Health comes from a team of professionals trained and educated in some of the finest medical schools in the country and also from a long line of local residents who provide the community connections to the healthy, outdoor-loving Vermont lifestyle.

Community Health professionals live and work in the Rutland/Addison county area, serving the community with their unique dedication to health and wellness.

Meet Dr. Jeremy Bullock, a 2005 graduate of Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine.  Dr. Bullock operated dental practices in Utah, Colorado and Texas before joining Community Dental in 2019 where he sees patients at the Rutland and Shorewell practices.

“I was part of a big group practice in Texas and my wife and I wanted to experience something different. At Community Health I don’t have to deal with the management of the practice. It’s been nice to not have to worry about that. The biggest challenge is that we are always booked. I had no idea there is such need for dentists in Vermont. And it’s a great place to raise a family. We love Lake Dunmore and have spent time there. My kids had never been around winter sports, and they all started Nordic skiing and enjoy just being outside. The rewarding part is that I am making a difference in people’s lives, in the community we serve. We were one of the few dental offices that stayed open for emergencies during the pandemic. Everybody uniting together company-wide was pretty awesome to watch. And look at Vermont! We are the first ones to come out of Covid. Vermont is absolutely a role model.” 

 

Meet Heather Hurlburt-Ducharme, MA, Administrative Clerical Manager at Financial Services and 2020 Employee of the Year. Heather joined Community Health in 2006 as part of the administrative team, became a certified medical assistant in 2018 and managed the front office operations at the Castleton practice. A lieutenant in the Castleton Fire Department and a race car mechanic, she’s also a veterinary assistant.

“I grew up in Bomoseen, Vermont and Community Health is where I went to the doctor. I have always loved cars and trucks and actually wanted to be a mechanic. I started working at a veterinary clinic in high school and learned to be a veterinary assistant. I like to take care of people too, so I started at the front desk as a checkout person at Community Health Castleton. My manager had a lot of confidence in me and within a couple of years there was an opening as a front office manager. I have worked at Castleton for 15 years. A few years ago, the Medical Assistant certification was offered to the front office staff, so for me it was a chance to have more clinical knowledge. I like to take challenges and run with them. Just recently I was promoted to Administrative Clerical Manager, where I’ll be working with front office staff at all our practices. There are so many opportunities at Community Health and they are always willing to work with you if you want to get more education.”

 

Meet Jason Keicher, LICSW, a licensed independent clinical social worker. Jason joined Community Health in 2019 following a decade long career as a clinical social worker at a hospital in New York state. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from State University of NY at Oswego and a master’s degree in social work from Syracuse University.

“I had come up to Vermont to participate in the Spartan Races at Killington and liked the area. My wife and I were living in Syracuse, New York and wanted to experience a different area. What really stuck out about Community Health was during the interview process they were interested not only in my clinical experience, but also in what I was looking for going forward with my career. They were curious about why I wanted to move to Vermont and they were interested in me as a person. Once I started working here I saw that not only does Community Health care about their employees, but it was really pronounced how much the staff cares about the community. There are mental health needs in the area and the strategy in which Community Health tries to meet those needs of the population is just amazing.”

Community Health has recently received the 2020 Family Medicine Teaching Award.  The award, sponsored jointly by the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians and the University of Vermont Department of Family Medicine, recognizes excellence in teaching medical students and commitment “above and beyond” the standard contributions to their teaching programs.

Learn more about our amazing providers and their wide range of expertise. For more information about Community Health’s career opportunities, check our Career Center or contact Jan Buxton or Anna White at 802-855-2086.

Community Health is Vermont’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), a network of primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, dental and pharmacy services with offices in Rutland, Brandon, Castleton, West Pawlet and Shoreham. Community Dental offices are located in Rutland and Shoreham, Community Health Pediatrics is in Rutland and Behavioral Health services are available at all of our locations. Community Health Express Care Centers, open 7 days a week, are located at the Rutland and Castleton Community Health Centers.