Yes! The children of our community continue to be cared for by at twelve Pediatric offices and Family Practice offices, all of whom are open to new patients.  There has been discussion of the upcoming closure of the practice of Dr. Laura Bellstrom and Dr. Kristen Connolly, and that prompted concerns regarding access to care.  We thank Dr. Bellstrom and Dr. Connolly for the care and service they have provided and wish them all the best. Fortunately, we have good existing depth in our community for the care of children, so access to quality local care can be maintained while we actively.  NMC’s Community Relations Office recently called all of the Pediatric and Family Practice offices to confirm if they were accepting new patients.  Here is what they found:

• Dr. Michael Corrigan, whose practice is located on on Church Street in Swanton, and Physician Assistant Kristin Vickers care for children and are accepting new patients. Reach them at 868-3175.
• Mousetrap Pediatrics, located in Suite 11 of the Doctors Office Common in St. Albans, features Dr. Chip Chiappinelli, Dr. John DiMichele (who is leaving as of January, 2016), Dr. Roya Mansoorani, Dr. Deanne Haag, Dr. Stacy Strouse, and Dr. Heidi Zvolensky. They are currently accepting new patients and can be reached at 527-8189.
• St. Albans Primary Care located at Suite 9 of the Doctors Office Common in St. Albans, features Family Practice specialists Dr. Terri Nielsen, Dr. Toby Sadkin, David Manchester, Nurse Practitioner (NP), Mohammed Moussawi, NP, and Sarah Plunkett, NP. They are accepting new Pediatric patients and can be reached at 527-0753.
• The St. Albans Office of NOTCH (Northern Tier Centers for Health), located at 48 Lower Newton Street in St. Albans, features Matt Miffit, NP who is currently accepting new patients over the age of 13. The office can be reached at 524-4554.
• Dr. Taylor Yates’ Pediatric practice is located at 91 South Main Street in St. Albans. At this time, their acceptance of new patients is limited to the siblings of their current patients. The office can be reached at 524-6746.
• Dr. Joe Nasca’s Pediatric practice is located at 927 Ethan Allen Highway in Georgia and features Dr. Nasca and Leah, Macaulay, NP. At this time, their acceptance of new patients is limited to newborns. The office can be reached at 527-2237.
• The Swanton office of NOTCH, located on Church Street in Swanton, features Kari Schnaars, Physician Assistant (PA) and Martha Walker, PA. They are currently accepting new patients. Dr. Bob Zelazo also sees patients at NOTCH’s Swanton office and is currently accepting new patients over the age of 13. They can be reached at 868-2454.
• The Alburg office of NOTCH, located at 1 Industrial Park in Alburgh, also features Kari Schnaars, PA, and Martha Walker, PA. They are currently accepting new patients at that location as well, and that office can be reached at 796-4414.
• Mousetrap Pediatrics, located at 44 Center Street in Enosburg, features Dr. Deanne Haag and Dr. Stacy Strouse. They are currently accepting new patients and can be reached at 527-8189.
• The Richford office of NOTCH, located at 44 Main Street in Richford, features Dr. Eric Lavallee, Nathaniel Burns, PA, and Martha Walker, PA. They are accepting new patients and can be reached at 255-5500.
• Northwestern Georgia Health Center, located at 4178 Highbridge Road between Georgia and Fairfax, features Dr. Sue Saferstein, Dr. Miriam Sturgis, Dr. Carol Thayer, Sarah DeSilvey, NP, and (for patients 12 and older) Anne Standish, NP. They are accepting new patients and can be reached at 752-1930.
• The Enosburg office of NOTCH, located at 382 Main Street in Enosburg, features Dr. Mara Vijups, Aidan Ranieri NP, and Karen Towle NP. They are accepting new patients and can be reached at 933-5831.
• The Cold Hollow Family Practice office, located at 84 Water Tower Road in Enosburg, features Dr. Lorne Babb and Lynn McMorrow, NP. They are accepting new patients and can be reached at 933-6664.

The relationship between a child and their Pediatrician or Family Practice provider is vital to a healthy future.  We are fortunate to have wonderful options here within our own community for the care of our children.  If your child does not have an established provider, please help them take an important step on their journey towards good health and contact one of these offices.

— Jill Berry Bowen, NMC’s Chief Executive Officer