Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (91��Ƭ) is pleased to announce the addition of Makenna Hubert, as their new Health Careers Coordinator.  Makenna, a native Vermonter, brings a wealth of skills to this position. She studied history at Endicott College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health at Boston University. Makenna possesses a strong interest in community health, education, and workforce development, and brings both academic and practical perspective to this role.

Jennifer Scott, Executive Director of Southern Vermont 91��Ƭ, said this, “We’re delighted to have Makenna join our team. She brings classroom experience and advanced studies in public health that will improve the breadth and depth of our health careers programming with students.”

“I am happy to be of part Southern Vermont 91��Ƭ because it aligns with my passion for community, health, education, and workforce development. I am extremely glad for the opportunity to support health pathways in Vermont and collaborating directly with local communities is incredibly meaningful to me. I am excited to contribute to 91��Ƭ’s mission of improving access, equity, and opportunity in healthcare across Vermont,” said Makenna Hubert.

About Southern Vermont 91��Ƭ
Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (91��Ƭ) is a nonprofit educational organization committed to increasing access to primary and preventive care through workforce development, especially in our rural and under resourced communities. We enhance community efforts to grow and sustain the health workforce in southern Vermont and invest our resources in connecting students to health careers, health professionals to communities, and communities to better health. Southern Vermont 91��Ƭ is one of two independent nonprofit regional 91��Ƭ centers funded by federal, state, and community support working in partnership with the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine’s Office of Primary Care and 91��Ƭ Program.

The CSHIP program provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working on meaningful, project-based initiatives with Vermont community and health organizations. Internships will take place during June, July, and August 2026 and are primarily remote, allowing students from across the state to participate while making a real impact in Vermont communities.

This program is designed for students enrolled in a postsecondary degree or certificate program who are passionate about community health, health equity, and creating positive change through applied learning experiences. The application deadline is March 30, 2026. Students can download the CSHIP application at:

For more information, please contact Alysia Straw, Director of Programs at Southern Vermont 91��Ƭ, at 802-885-2126 x106.

Beginning January 2026, Vermont residents can train to become a CCMA through a 20-week hybrid program offered by Skilltrade. This nationally recognized program combines bi-weekly online instruction with hands-on lab sessions at North Star Health’s Springfield campus, ensuring students gain both the knowledge and clinical experience needed to excel. Participants will also complete a real-world externship at North Star Health, providing valuable on-the-job training and networking opportunities.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Program costs can be self-paid or covered through grant funding for eligible participants.

Do not wait to take the next step toward your healthcare career.

Learn more and secure your spot today at 

This program is part of a collaboration between North Star Health, Southern Vermont 91��Ƭ, and the Vermont Department of Labor.

Here is the detailed job description.

Job Summary

The Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (91��Ƭ) Health Careers Coordinator coordinates the delivery of health careers programs and key projects. Responsibilities include support for and assistance to the Director of Programs, delivery of program activities, database management and monthly reporting, facilitating housing support for medical residents and fellows in training, and other tasks as assigned. Location-based: Springfield, VT.

This position reports to the Director of Programs.

Compensation: Starts at $20/hour, pay commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Assist the Director of Programs with the strategic planning and execution of key
  • Support the planning and execution of high-impact programs in close collaboration with the Director of Programs.
  • Stay up to date on information on health careers and educational
  • Support planning and coordinating activities and events, as part of the health careers program team, including recruiting and managing presenters, instructors, and volunteer staff; communicating with participants and their families; distributing paperwork, communications, and promotional materials; securing venues and other logistics for in-person events; and arranging for equipment, supplies, refreshments.
  • Build networks among participants and volunteers that strengthen the impact and reach of the organization in health careers programming.
  • Participate in regional and statewide health career promotion activities, including health career fairs, social media campaigns, and workshops.
  • Act as key staff on planning, promoting, and coordinating health careers exploration and preparation programs, such as MedQuest, HERO, and CSHIP.
  • Commit to functioning as an integral part of a team with the shared goal of benefiting people in Vermont.
  • Work in collaboration with staff throughout the Vermont 91��Ƭ Network on shared

• Special projects/programs:
  • Shared 91��Ƭ Network Data Infrastructure (SANDI; MS Access): data entry, management, and reporting.
  • Housing Program for Medical Residents and Fellows: facilitate homestays, develop/maintain roster of community hosts in southern Vermont.
  • Primary Care Survey: assist with distribution, collection, tabulation, and
  • Health Professions Enhancement Program (HPEP): partnership with
  • 91��Ƭ Scholars summer projects in education/mentoring and research/QI.
  • Represent the Director of Programs on advisory boards/91��Ƭ related meetings as
• Other duties as assigned.

To be successful in this role:

Must enjoy delivering educational programing to various student populations.

Qualifications & Skills

• Associate’s degree (or equivalent). 3-5 years in administrative support Experience in healthcare or education setting highly desired.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, time management, and ability to effectively manage competing priorities.
• Strong written/oral communication and interpersonal
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office 365 and use of email, video conferencing, document creation/editing/sharing, cloud-based applications, and other office technologies.

Travel is required. Must maintain a valid driver’s license in good standing, proof of liability coverage, and have reliable vehicle or other form of transportation.

A criminal background check with fingerprinting and mandatory reporter training required.

Read full release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New England Rural Health Association Awarded $1.6 Million HRSA Northern Border RCORP Grant

Equipping 100+ Future PAs with Advanced Skills in Behavioral Health and SUD Care

West Lebanon, NH – October 7, 2025 – The New England Rural Health Association (NERHA) is proud to announce it has received a Notice of Award from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (HRSA FORHP) for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), Northern Border Rural Workforce Grant. The award totals $1.6 million over four years and will support training, placement, and sustainability efforts to strengthen the behavioral health workforce across rural Vermont and New Hampshire.

NERHA will lead the development of the Vermont/New Hampshire Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Training Network (VT/NH RBHWTN), a consortium designed to expand access to care for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD). Consortium partners include:

• Franklin Pierce University Physician Assistant Program
• Northern New Hampshire 91��Ƭ
• Southern New Hampshire 91��Ƭ
• Southern Vermont 91��Ƭ

Additional support will be provided by the Vermont and New Hampshire State Offices of Rural Health and Northern Vermont 91��Ƭ.

Training

Over the four-year project period, working closely with Area Health Education Center (91��Ƭ) partners, the program will train more than 100 Physician Assistant (PA) students in behavioral health and SUD treatment. Training will focus on competencies, including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) prescribing, such as buprenorphine, as well as related areas like recovery coaching and therapy. Franklin Pierce University’s PA Program will lead both didactic and clinical experiential instruction.

“This initiative directly aligns with our mission to prepare Physician Assistant students to meet the complex needs of patients in rural communities,” said Jeffrey Waldron, Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Physician Assistant Studies Program at Franklin Pierce University. “By integrating advanced training in behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment into our curriculum, we are equipping future PAs with the knowledge and skills to make an immediate and lasting impact in the communities that need it most.”

Placement

Working closely with 91��Ƭ partners, the program will place graduating certified and licensed PAs in rural healthcare facilities, such as Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Community Health Centers, and Community Mental Health Centers. These providers will expand rural access to evidence-based behavioral health care, with the ability to bill third-party payors for services.

“91��Ƭs are deeply committed to strengthening the rural health workforce,” said Kristen van Bergen-Buteau, the Director of Northern NH 91��Ƭ. “This partnership ensures that Physician Assistant students not only receive the specialized training needed to address behavioral health and substance use disorders but also gain meaningful experience serving in rural communities. Together, we are creating a workforce pipeline that is both responsive to community needs and sustainable for the future.”

Sustainability

To ensure long-term impact, the consortium will develop a comprehensive Sustainability Plan beginning in year two. The plan will include a communications strategy, budget, funding strategy, and identification of ongoing resources to maintain the training and placement pipeline.

“This award represents a major step forward in building a sustainable rural behavioral health workforce,” said Andy Lowe, Executive Director of NERHA. “By equipping Physician Assistants with the skills to prescribe MAT and provide integrated behavioral health care, we will strengthen the rural health system and improve outcomes for patients across New England.”

Why It Matters

Rural communities in Vermont and New Hampshire face urgent challenges in accessing behavioral health services and treatment for substance use disorders. Workforce shortages, particularly in primary care and behavioral health, leave many patients without timely or local care. By training PA students to deliver evidence-based care—including MAT prescribing—and placing them directly into rural practices, this initiative creates a sustainable pipeline of providers equipped to meet community needs.

The program not only expands access to care but also builds resilience in the rural health workforce, ensuring that individuals and families in rural areas have the resources and support needed to recover, thrive, and stay healthy.

About New England Rural Health Association:
The New England Rural Health Association has worked to improve health and wellness in rural New England since 1997. Serving over 550 members across six states, NERHA builds partnerships and programs that expand and strengthen workforce, promote access, and foster sustainability in rural health.

For More Information:
Andy Lowe
Executive Director, New England Rural Health Association
andy@newenglandrha.org
802-324-9282