Our Vision - Pediatric Residency
"The vision of the pediatric residency program at The University of Vermont Children's Hospital in partnership with the University of Vermont College of Medicine is to foster in our residents the highest levels of humanism in medicine, advocacy for children through community, regional, national, and global outreach, commitment to high quality patient and family-centered care and the ongoing pursuit of research and scholarly activities. Core to our philosophy is an emphasis on foundational training, building our residents as teachers and producing competent and autonomous pediatricians who are critical thinkers and practice evidence-based medicine. The close one-on-one relationships and mentoring that is central to our program fosters deep experiential learning, professional development, and a well-rounded education and training that promotes the skills to excel as a pediatrician in any future career – from primary care for a rural or underserved population to the most specialized care in an academic institution." — UVM Pediatrics.
Pediatric Residency Program Leadership
Jill Rinehart, MD FAAP
Pediatric Residency Program Director
Dr. Rinehart graduated from this residency program and spent twenty years in private pediatric practice in Burlington as a full time community pediatrician, before “coming home” to the Vermont Children’s hospital as the residency program director in 2019. After growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, she attended Dartmouth College and then completed medical school at the University of Minnesota. Her formative years were spent as the big sister to two younger siblings with complex medical needs. This personal experience helped fuel a passion for family centered care and inspired her national expertise in medical home, care coordination and working with families to improve population health and medical training. She recently completed her tenure as the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont chapter president. Over the years she’s had the great fortune of having several remarkable physician mentors, most of them established as a result of this residency program. One of the best parts about our program is that you never really leave—you become a part of our family and your success, is our success.
Amelia Hopkins, MD
Pediatric Residency Associate Program Director
Dr. Hopkins grew up in New Hampshire and went to college at Carleton College in Minnesota. After a year of bioscience research, she attended medical school at the University of Connecticut School and then came to UVM for pediatric residency. After completing her fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care at the Children’s Hospital Colorado, she returned to Vermont to join the UVM faculty in 2007. Having trained both here and at larger institutions, she believes strongly in our small program’s ability to prepare pediatricians for careers in primary care, subspecialty pediatrics, or child health advocacy. Along with the other members of the residency leadership team and faculty, she shares the vision of a training environment that helps residents achieve their careers goals through an academically rigorous, personalized, and family-like environment.
Christina Imming, MD
Pediatric Residency Associate Program Director
Dr. Imming grew up in a small town in Northwest Ohio, prior to going to Miami University in Ohio for Undergrad. She subsequently went to the University of Cincinnati for medical school, and then matched into med-peds residency at the University of Pittsburgh/Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. She spent the following four years after residency graduation at Pittsburgh Childrens' as a pediatric hospitalist, combined with working in a clinic for Children with Medical Complexity- a population of kids that compelled her initial desire to be in medicine. However, after spending childhood summers and many winter trips here in Vermont, she was thrilled to have the opportunity to join the UVM Children's Hospital Faculty as a pediatric hospitalist in 2021. Working in a small program such as this creates a close bond with the residents, and she is very excited to now be a part of the residency program leadership. She believes the strength of the program lies in the close relationship between faculty, trainees and all members of the department- and looks forward to her new role of supporting the next wave of young physicians both personally and professionally as they pursue their goals.
Kenzi Nelson
Pediatric Residency GME Program Administrator
Kenzi grew up in a quaint and picturesque Vermont town, within what is referred to as the North East Kingdom. Growing up there has engrained a strong commitment to community, which is sensed by all who visit. Watching her father work hard and become successful in the ownership and growth of his business, she developed a passion for the intricacies and commitment business management entails. She received her BS in Business Administration in 2011 followed by an internship at a neighboring Community Health Center in New Hampshire. After two years as a legal administrative assistant, she continued to pursue her interest in the Health Administration field and began working at UVMMC in 2013. She was thrilled to join the Pediatric Residency leadership team in early 2016. Kenzi has a passion for helping others to succeed and focusing on resident wellness. Kenzi, her husband, and her daughter all love this area, the gorgeous views, and all this state has to offer. During the fall season you will find her at a local apple orchard almost every weekend replenishing her apple cider donut supply.
Jonathan Danel, MD
Pediatric Residency Chief Resident
Dr. Danel grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in California and attended the University of California, Davis where he double majored in Biology and Psychology. Before medical school he leaned into his love for teaching as an MCAT instructor. He attended Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, there discovering his passion for Pediatrics. During residency, he developed special interests in medical education, community advocacy, equity, and will be pursuing a career in primary care. His hobbies include playing the guitar, singing/songwriting, and spending time with his wife and friends. He challenges anyone to match his superhero knowledge – especially within the Marvel Cinematic Universe!