Rima B. Carlson, MD

I entered the medical field with a simple but powerful guiding principle: to do all the good I can, by all the means I can, to all the people I can, for as long as I can. I earned my medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, where I was honored with the Edward E. Friedman Award for excellence in family medicine and the Kerzner Family Prize for dedication to community service. I also received the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, which gave me the opportunity to live and work at the Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, Gabon.

I completed my residency in family medicine at Marquette General Hospital in Michigan, followed by a four-year commitment to the National Health Service Corps at Portage Hospital in Hancock, MI. With a strong interest in holistic care, I pursued a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, which I now incorporate into my primary care practice.

My clinical interests include travel medicine, women’s, children’s and geriatric health, as well as office-based procedures such as colposcopy, lesion removal and long-term birth control. I currently practice at Integrative Family Medicine in Montpelier with Central Vermont Medical Center, where I provide compassionate, comprehensive care to patients of all ages.

Before becoming a physician, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Congo, teaching health education and water sanitation, and as an AmeriCorps/VISTA volunteer in Maine, supporting community health education programs at rural health centers. These experiences continue to shape my commitment to improving the health of my community and deepening the connection between medicine and service.