In the North Country, where long drives and limited access often define the health care experience, a quiet transformation is underway.  

A growing partnership between University of Vermont Health–Alice Hyde Medical Center, University of Vermont Health–Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and Saint Regis Mohawk Clinic is reshaping how patients in our rural communities connect with care. The collaboration is rooted in a shared commitment: ensuring patients across the North Country have access to the care they need, close to home — and from providers they know and trust.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Clinic has long been a cornerstone of primary and preventive care for the Akwesasne community and surrounding areas. By working with Alice Hyde Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, the clinic is expanding access to specialty services while maintaining the continuity of care that comes from longstanding relationships.

“This collaboration is about building bridges,” says Paul El Azoury, MD, associate chief medical officer. “The Saint Regis Mohawk Clinic is doing remarkable work for its community. By sharing resources and expertise, we can help make sure patients have access to even more of the care — without leaving home.” 

That partnership was front and center during a recent gathering between Dr. El Azoury and Eric Gauthier, MD, medical director of interventional cardiology and the Mohawk Clinic’s leadership and staff. While the meeting included presentations on available specialty services, its deeper purpose was clear: strengthening ties, exchanging ideas and identifying new ways to work together in support of patients. 

“In rural health care, none of us can do it alone,” says Dr. El Azoury. “When we collaborate across organizations, we expand what’s possible. Together, we can reduce barriers and make care more reliable for the people we serve.” 

The partnership reflects a broader vision for rural health: keeping care local whenever possible, building on the trust patients already have in their providers and making it easier to connect with specialists when they need more support.  

As the collaboration grows, both organizations see opportunities for deeper integration — from e-consults and shared education to smoother transitions between primary and specialty care. The result is a model that not only supports patients, but strengthens the health system as a whole. 

For families across the North Country, it has tangible benefits: fewer trips out of town, more consistent care and a health care experience built on trust.