Faculty and Staff

Isaura was born in Belize, Central America, and immigrated to the United States at the age 20. She holds a BS in Biology from Brooklyn College, an MPH in Epidemiology from Hunter College, and an MD from SUNY Stony Brook.  She considered the Big Apple her home until she visited the Green Mountain State in 2012.  She loves Vermont’s natural beauty: Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains, long summer days, beautiful sunsets, and starry skies.   She enjoys spending time in nature on her deck surrounded by woods and backyard birds.  Her favorite vacations include trips back home to Belize, visiting beaches and exploring national parks.   Isaura’s professional goal is defined by her passion to lead, support and teach others how to care for older adults to ensure their safety and health.

Amy’s claim to fame is that she was in a plane crash on her way to her medical school interview in 1987.  Thankfully, everyone survived, including Amy.  She was subsequently admitted to UVA medical school, followed by residency at GW and back to UVA for her fellowship in Geriatrics.  Her and her husband and their 3 children then went to Pittsburgh for 21 years.  However, Amy is originally from Vermont and the beautiful state (and her geriatric parents) called her back and she joined UVM in 2020.  Since moving here, her whole family has enjoyed sailing on the lake, swimming in the lake, skating and skiing on the lake and basically any activity that involves the lake.  

Rosy grew up in Amherst, MA before moving to New Haven, CT where her family still lives. She graduated from Brown University with a Classics degree and was a middle school Latin teacher prior to moving to Vermont with her husband in 2001. As her career interests shifted, she completed her post-bac training and went to medical school at UVM. She completed her internal medicine residency at UVMMC and then a fellowship in Geriatrics at Yale. She and her husband have two teenagers and live in Essex. In her free time, Rosy can be found hiking, cross-country skiing or freezing in various hockey rinks throughout the state watching her son play youth hockey.

Alex was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from UVM College of Medicine in 2013 and joined the faculty in 2017 after residency and fellowship in the mid-West. In addition to spending time with family, she enjoys reading, hiking, gymnastics and singing.

Amanda is a native of Sweet Home Alabama and moved with her husband, Nathan, to Vermont in 2022. The Sings love Alabama football (Roll Tide) as well as traveling and trying new restaurants. Amanda loves to paint, enjoy the outdoors, cook, and be around the people she loves. She has visited over 30 different countries as well as lived in 4 different countries. Don't let her sweet, Southern charm fool you; Amanda can be assertive and a strong advocate for her patients. Patient education is her favorite part of being a nurse practitioner, which translates well into her current field.

Valerie was born and raised right here in Chittenden County Vermont. She is a third-generation nurse who obtained her BSN in Nursing from Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire where her passion for caring for older adults began. Her nursing journey continued to follow the geriatric path, working as an LNA in home health, as a staff nurse on an inpatient general medicine unit, General Medicine Care Coordinator and finally an inpatient Geriatric Nurse Clinician. As the Geriatric Nurse Clinician, she consults on admitted older adults who are at highest risk for delirium. She also leads the UVMMC Fall Prevention Committee and is the Hospital Elder Life Program Coordinator. She and her husband share a passion for horses and run a small horse farm at their home where you can find their two daughters enjoying their pony, Kally.

Karen is a lifelong multigenerational Vermonter. She holds a BS in Biology and a BSN in Nursing, both from the University of Vermont. After sixteen years as a nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at UVMMC, she obtained her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from UVM. She appreciates the privilege of caring for the members of the community where she grew up. Karen finds renewal in the outdoors of Vermont. During her time off she and her partner can be found camping in the State Parks, paddleboarding, hiking, or snowboarding.

Rick was born and raised on the south shore of Long Island, outside of New York City. Growing up, his summers were spent at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, a Rotary sponsored camp for children with physical and cognitive challenges. In 1967, Rick went to his first baseball game at Shea Stadium. At 9 years old, he was hooked. Rick worked with the National Park Service for three summers during college at Fire Island National Seashore. He always carried a “sharpie” to sign Ranger Rick Magazines. At 19, he was hooked on the beach. Rick holds a BFA in Music from Long Island University, Post Campus and a Master of Divinity from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Rick has served congregations in Maine and Vermont, is a co-founder of the Good News Garage in Burlington, Vermont and 20 years as a Board-Certified Chaplain at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Currently Rick is part of the Center on Aging at UVM. He is married with two grown sons. Given the choice of the beach or a ballgame, who really wants sand between their toes?

Devonna was born in Belize City, Central America and lived with her grandmother until age 6. She then immigrated to the United States and joined her parents. Devonna pursued her education through various institutions while working in corporate America for many years. At present she is a master’s student at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. She is married to her husband Roger and they have one adult son. She enjoys family time, cruises with her mom and travel group, singing, watching reruns of her favorite sleuth Columbo. Devonna calls herself a late bloomer as she did not plan on becoming a Chaplain but to her surprise she is now an interfaith staff chaplain at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Devonna and her husband are adjusting to life in South Burlington Vermont where they now reside.