Recognizing our Healthcare Heroes
This month, we celebrate and recognize the hard work of BIPOC Healthcare Heroes, who have worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe during the past year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May, VT PoC launched a new branch of the organization called Vermont Health Equity Initiative that, in partnership with other BIPOC community organizations such as Associations for Africans Living in Vermont (AALV), VT Racial Justice Alliance (RJA) and the Black Perspective, and USCRI, led charge in the vaccination of Chittenden County’s BIPOC community members. Since March, the BTV BIPOC Clinic has helped administer 3,263 vaccinations at the clinic Below, we give you more details on VHEI and its mission, as well as the current vaccination rates and resources.
VHEI is not the only organization working tirelessly in this effort. In Windham and Rutland Counties, the respective NAACP chapters, led by Steffen Gillam (Windham) and Mia Schultz (Rutland) and their amazing volunteers, have also organized and led vaccination clinics in the Southern part of the state. More recently, Saudia Lamont, President of Racial Equity Alliance of Lamoille (REAL), completed two vaccination clinics in Central Vermont! It is thanks to these community members and all of the BIPOC healthcare workers, staff members, and community members, that we were able to reach 80% vaccination rate in the state! VTPoC, VHEI, and nine other organizations/businesses across Burlington, including AALV, USCRI, and The Multilingual Taskforce, received the honor a Key to the City of Burlington in a ceremony on July 3rd for their service to Burlington during the Covid-19 Emergency..
Healthcare is an important industry in Vermont, with UVM Medical Center as the top employer in the state. Employment in healthcare extend well beyond the clinical careers to administration (including human resources, operations, and patient relations) to technical fields (such as pharmacy, radiology and more).
Gary Scott, Vice President of Hospital Services at UVM Health, is our feature this month. A new addition to the state of Vermont, Gary tells us of his networking opportunities and employment opportunities in the healthcare field. You can learn more about his story below.
Above all, take time this month to honor our BIPOC Healthcare Heroes who have dedicated their lives to keeping our loved ones safe.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
With love,
The Fam
Get to Know VT PoC
Businesses and People
Gary Scott
VICE PRESIDENT, HOSPITAL SERVICES AT UVM MEDICAL CENTER
Gary Scott has lived in South Burlington for less than a year, but is already loving everything about being a professional in Vermont — from the networking, to community service opportunities, to the ability to make a difference. Still, in his experience transitioning to Vermont and into the healthcare field in the last 10 years, there are challenges as well. Scott cites the lack of diversity as the largest challenge about living in Vermont, but he “has gone the extra mile to meet other professionals.” The best way to overcome these challenges he says is to be “vulnerable and opening up my space and network to those who may need mentoring.” Many of these kinds of opportunities can be found in healthcare – including at the UVM Medical Center where Gary works as the Vice President of Hospital Services.
Read more on Gary’s experiences in healthcare at this link.
Updates and Resources
Events
- BIPOC Vaccination Clinics
The BIPOC Clinics in Burlington are now run by AALV in partnership with Vermont Health Equity Initiative! They have clinics on Thursdays and Saturdays at the ONE Community Center at 20 Allen Street.
Multilingual services available.
Register at this link. - BIPOC Vaccination Clinics
The BIPOC Clinics in Burlington are now run by AALV in partnership with Vermont Health Equity Initiative! They have clinics on Thursdays and Saturdays at the ONE Community Center at 20 Allen Street.
Multilingual services available.
Register at this link. - BIPOC Outdoor Festival
Outdoor Gear Exchange is organizing a day of mountain biking, trail running, canoeing, SUPing, biathlon, birding/nature walk for BIPOC in an inclusive, fun, and supportive setting! Join the fun on July 24th at Craftsbury Outdoor Center!
Click here to RSVP! - Higher Ground Presents
Wheels of Soul
Mexican-American rock band Los Lobos is coming to the Champlain Valley Expo, as part of the Wheels of Soul Festival. The concert has been postponed until July 2022, but tickets are available now!
Get them at this link.
News
- VHEI
The Vermont Health Equity Initiative launched in May, as a community partner organization managed by VTPoC. VHEI leads COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Chittenden County, providing a safe, dedicated, and community-focused environment and resource for COVID-19 education and vaccination for the BIPOC population in Vermont.
To learn more about the mission of VHEI, click here. - VT Reaches Vaccination Goal
As of June 14th, Vermont reached Gov. Scott’s goal of 80 percent of the state’s eligible population vaccinated against COVID-19. Reaching the goal meant the end of VT’s State of Emergency, and gives us the title of the most vaccinated state in the country.
Read the announcement at this link.
- Job Openings at UVM Health
Looking for a job in healthcare? As our feature Gary Scott noted, there are lots of opportunities working for UVM Health. Learn more about the available openings below!
Find job listings here.
- Calling all new (and old) members!
We are in the process of creating a private database for VTPoC members to network with one another. Whether you have been a member since we started or have just joined, please include your information at the link below so we can better connect YOU!
Click this link to access the form.