Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
John Richard Silkensen, MD, who practices internal medicine, has joined the medical staff at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Dr. Silkensen is a board-certified internist with a subspecialty in nephrology (the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases). He is associated with Brattleboro Primary Care in the Gannett Building.

Dr. Silkensen comes to Vermont via San Francisco, where he was a transplant nephrologist at the Department of Transplantation, California Pacific Medical Center. Prior to that he spent many years at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, both at the University Hospital as well as Hennepin County Medical Center.
The new physician on the BMH Medical Staff received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine, Little Rock, Arkansas. He served his residency in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis, where he also completed a fellowship in nephrology. Dr. Silkensen is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), and holds ABIM Certification in Nephrology.

Dr. Silkensen is author of numerous publications, and holds memberships in various nephrology organizations, along with being a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Central Vermont Medical Center
Tom Curchin, MD, Chairman, CVMC’s Medical Group Management Committee, recently announced that Patricia A. Driscoll, MS, ATC, PA-C joined CVMC’s Family Practice Group located on East View Lane in Berlin, Vermont.

Driscoll received her Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science at the University of Vermont.  She completed her Physician Assistant Studies at St. Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania and earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.  She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Medicine at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

“In addition to her outstanding academic record, Patricia is an excellent clinician,” noted  Dr. Curchin.  “She enjoys working in a family practice setting. This is  reflected by the response from our patients who find her warm and friendly.”

She is a full time member of the staff which also includes:  Lucy Patti, MD; Bram Starr, MD; Tom Curchin, MD; Justine Gadd, PA-C and Pat Driscoll, PA-C,

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Dr. Mark Novotny, Chief Executive Officer of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), recently announced that Carol Conroy will join the hospital as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) August 1.

Conroy has 37 years of experience as a nursing professional and two decades of experience as a nurse administrator, most recently at Caritas Christi Healthcare in Boston.

"Carol is an exceptionally talented nurse and administrator," Novotny said. "The skills, knowledge, and experience she brings will help our hospital overcome the challenges that lie ahead."

Conroy will replace Barbra Brown, the interim CNO. Novotny said that Brown will remain with SVMC through the transition: "Barbra Brown has provided strong leadership during a crucial time for SVMC. We are grateful that she can continue in this role to create a smooth transition until Carol Conroy comes on board."

Conroy said she chose SVMC "because it was clear to me during the interview process that SVMC lives its values - quality, empathy, safety, teamwork, and stewardship - each day, with each patient." She also praised the hospital for its reputation throughout Vermont as "a great place to receive care, to practice clinically, and to work."

As chief nursing officer, Conroy will be the vice president responsible for a wide range of clinical services at SVMC, including nursing, respiratory therapy, renal dialysis, cardiac and critical care services, women's and children's services, and others. She will report to Dr. Novotny.

Conroy is pursing a doctorate in nursing practice at Regis College in    Weston, MA, where she teaches a graduate-level course in nursing theory. She already holds two masters degrees - a master of science in nursing and a master of business administration, both from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass. - as well as a bachelor of science in nursing from Cornell University.

At Caritas Christi Healthcare, she was the corporate vice president for exceptional care. While there, she led an effort to develop a system-wide culture that focused on customer service, quality of care, and patient safety.

She also has a background in smaller community hospitals. She was chief nursing officer at Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, Mass., a 57-bed, for-profit, community hospital, and director of perioperative services at HealthAlliance, a 150-bed, community hospital in Leominster, MA.

She began her career as an operating room nurse at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and still maintains her CNOR certification.