Program Directors
Aaron Levit, DO - Program Director
Aaron Levit, DO received his undergraduate degree from Boston University, and his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine residency training at Stony Brook University, Renaissance School of Medicine, where he also served as Chief Resident. He began his career as an academic hospitalist at Yale New Haven Hospital/Yale School of Medicine before relocating to The University of Vermont Medical Center as a faculty appointment in the Department of Medicine. A passionate medical educator, Dr. Levit is resolute in his commitment to the longitudinal education of both resident physicians and medical students alike. He is an active committee member within the Larner College of Medicine and UVMMC Department of Medicine. His interests and effort are principally focused on clinical competency, communication skills, systems-based practice, and departmental operations. Outside of the hospital, he is the adoring father of two girls, husband to the other, superlative Dr. Levit, and spends as much of his time outdoors as possible, skiing, hiking, and exploring the world with his family.
Katherine Menson, DO - Associate Program Director
Katherine Menson, DO received her degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. She pursued both her internal medicine residency and pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Vermont Medical Center. She joined on as faculty in 2019 and is the medical director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation. She is active in American Thoracic Society and American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and has clinical interests in sarcoidosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2. When not at work she enjoys biking, shopping on Church Street, and exploring greater Burlington with her family.
Andy Hale, MD, FIDSA - Associate Program Director
Andy Hale, MD, FIDSA received his undergraduate education at Middlebury College, then went to medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed internal medicine residency, chief residency, and infectious diseases fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. He is now an Infectious Diseases physician at UVMMC and an avid medical educator and researcher. He is the course director of Cardiac, Respiratory, and Renal pathophysiology at UVM College of Medicine, and Comparative Physiology at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory. Research interests pertain to improving clinical practice in ID. He has produced over 60 peer-reviewed publications and is an associate professor of medicine. When not at work, he enjoys backcountry skiing, rock and ice climbing, trail running, exploring Vermont and playing with his golden retriever Mango.
Tara Scribner, MD - Associate Program Director
Tara Scribner, MD received her medical degree from the University of Washinton through the WWAMI program in Alaska. She completed Internal Medicine residency and chief residency at the University of Vermont Medical Center, then experienced community hospitalist medicine at Central Vermont Medical Center before returning to UVM in 2018. She has long been a champion of POCUS, and role as APD has included creation and directorship of the residency’s longitudinal Point of Care Ultrasound and procedural training curricula. Her main academic interests include promoting procedural competence and confidence, teaching critical thinking in clinical practice, and supporting resident wellness both in and out of the hospital. In her own free time, she tends to travel spontaneously, garden obsessively, and strives to expose her children to as many new experiences as possible.
Halle Sobel, MD - Associate Program Director
Halle Sobel, MD graduated from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and completed her primary care internal medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics. She practices general internal medicine at Burlington Adult Primary Care where she is passionate about resident precepting. She enjoys curricular development and is always looking for ways to innovate the ambulatory curriculum and the primary care track. She has a passion for medical education and is a distinguished educator in the teaching academy and is involved both regionally and nationally with SGIM. Her academic interests include resident education and mentoring, addiction medicine, population health and narrative medicine. Outside of work, she enjoys visiting independent books stores and farmers markets, gardening, playing with her new puppy Olive and spending time with her family.
Chief Residents
Sydney Ferrell, DO, grew up in McAlester, Oklahoma. She attended Oklahoma State University for both her undergraduate and medical school education. In the couple matching process, she and her husband chose the University of Vermont Medical Center for the friendly community, the value of resident well-being and the supportive faculty members. For her training specifically, she chose the primary care track for the elective opportunities and the mentorship. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys reading, being outside and spending time with her husband (Matt), their cat (Jet) and dog (Otis). After her chief year, she plans to pursue a career in primary care.
Aditya Vangala, MD, is a native of Westford, MA. He graduated with Honors from the University of Vermont, earning a degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Following his undergraduate studies, he gained valuable clinical experience working as an ophthalmic technician in Boston, MA, before attending the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. He chose to return to Vermont for residency, drawn by its close-knit community, supportive faculty, and a successful couples match with his partner in Pediatrics. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys exploring global cuisines, cherishing time with friends, and skiing the slopes of Jay Peak. His research interests include optimizing management of shock and improving the care of wounds related to intravenous drug use. After his chief year, he plans to pursue a career in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
Vall Vinaithirthan, MD, grew up in the Bay Area, California, and completed her undergraduate studies at UC Santa Barbara. She earned her medical degree from the University of Colorado, where she developed a strong interest in medical education and research. She was drawn to Vermont for its rigorous academic training within a welcoming, collaborative environment — all set against the backdrop of beautiful New England scenery. Outside of the hospital, Vall enjoys cooking, leisurely outdoor activities, and treating herself to a maple creemee. After her chief year, she plans to pursue a career in Cardiology.