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Northwestern Occupational Health Staff
“Keeping Workers Healthy in our Community”
Meet the NOH Staff!
At NOH we pride ourselves on our outstanding communication within our clinic, and with our client companies. We want you to feel comfortable contacting us because we are here for you!
What better way to become familiar with us than to see who we are and learn more about us. This also gives you the opportunity to check out another of our unique aspects, our dedication to continuing education and specialized training.
All NOH staff have had training specific to occupational medicine and we are always looking for new ways to improve what we have to offer you!
NOH's Clinical Staff:
Verne Backus, MD, MPH, CIME
 | Dr. Backus is a board certified occupational medicine physician with a distinguished clinical occupational medicine and impairment evaluation background. Dr. Backus received his M.D. from Dartmouth Medical School June 1993 and received his M.P.H. from Harvard School of Public Health in 1997. He completed his residency in Occupational Medicine at the Harvard School of Public Health in 1999. Dr. Backus also has a B.S in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with 9 years of industrial experience, providing him with a unique insight to Occupational Medicine. Dr. Backus has several years experience in performing independent medical and impairment evaluations, including specialized training in the use of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. He is a Certified Independent Medical Examiner (CIME) by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME).
He is the Medical Director of Northwestern Occupational Health. He is also Medical Director for the State of Vermont, Risk Management program for employee workers’ compensation claims, and Medical Director, Fletcher Allen Health Care, employee health department. Dr. Backus is also a certified MRO (Medical Review Officer) for the purposes of drug testing. Dr. Backus reviews all of NOH’s full service drug screen results and acts as a resource in regards to drug testing laws for employers.
If one word described Dr. Backus it would be: Protagonist
On the weekends you will find Dr. Backus: running his teenage kids around. |
Laurance Thompson, M.S., Licensed Psychologist-Masters
 | Larry provides behavioral medicine care for outpatients at NOH and for those participating in the Multi-Disciplinary Work Rehabilitation/Pain Management Program. He specializes in the treatment of chronic pain, stress-related medical disorders and psychological factors associated with work-related medical conditions.
He provides individual and group therapy targeted to the patient who may have psycho-social factors that interfere with successful rehabilitation and return-to-work. He teaches patients the prevention of disability and collaborates with industry, insurers, healthcare providers and patients to design successful return-to-work programs.
If one word described Larry it would be: Understanding
On the weekends you will find Larry: Snowshoeing, traveling, camping-- anything outdoors.
e-mail Larry at lthompson@nmcinc.org |
Kylee J. Ladd, PA-C
 | Kylee is a physician assistant for NOH. She has previously worked in Urgent care and family practice over the last 5 years. She received a bachelors Degree of science in biology from Butler University and her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
If one word described Kylee it would be: Nurturing.
On the weekends you will find Kylee: Doing any Activity outside with her husband, Marc, and son, Lachlan.
e-mail Kylee at kladd@nmcinc.org |
Kim Goss, RN
 | Kim has her Associates Degree in Nursing and is the Case Coordinator for NOH. She has lived in Franklin County for 40+ years. Kim is working full time and participating in a first responder course leading towards receiving her EMTI. Kim is CAOHC certified. She is also certified in performing drug screens and breath alcohol tests. Kim has had extensive training in FEMA for national incident command systems.
If one word described Kim IT would be: Reliable
On the weekends you will find Kim: You can find Kim at home on the weekends enjoying her husband, 5 children and 3 grandchildren. Kim also volunteers for the East Fairfield and Bakersfield Fire Departments. In the winter time Kim and her family are very busy sugaring. In the summer they work on cleaning up the woods around their home.
e-mail KIM at kgoss@nmcinc.org |
Sherry Gaudette, MA, COHC
 | Sherry is the Medical Assistant for NOH. She works full time. She has worked for Northwestern for 13 years, 8 of those years in the Emergency dept., 2 in the Rehabilitation dept. and the remainder in Occupational Health. Sherry is a Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist. She is NIOSH certified for pulmonary function testing as well as a certified drug and alcohol collector and drug collection trainer. Sherry attended Champlain College, and is currently enrolled at CCV.
If one word described Sherry it would be: Dependable
On the weekends you will find Sherry: Winter: At the ice rink, with her husband and boys that play hockey. Summer: Anything outside enjoying the sunshine!
e-mail Sherry at sgaudette@nmcinc.org |
Lesley Bliss Palmer, RN
 | Lesley is employed by Northwestern Occupational Health as the Clinical Safety and Health Coordinator for Northwestern Medical Center. She case manages all NMC Workers Comp clients, does ergonomic training on site on all new NMC employees, coordinates the NMC respiratory protection program, and assists with new employee orientation and in-service presentations. Lesley is a member of the environmental rounding team at Northwestern medical center and does accident investigation with the NMC safety officer. She sits on many hospital wide committees to represent employee health and safety issues. Lesley attended The University of Vermont for her Associate of Sciences degree and Johnson State College for her Bachelor of Sciences in Health Sciences. Lesley is a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist Level II and a Registered Nurse.
If one word described Lesley it would be: Comical
On the weekends you will find Lesley: Gardening and swimming in the summer and traveling in the winter. Visiting daughters during all seasons.
e-mail Lesley at lpalmer@nmcinc.org |
Lori Deering, PT
 | Lori is an Industrial Rehabilitation Physical Therapist at Northwestern Occupational Health (NOH). She provides a wide variety of services for NOH which include overseeing the Work Rehabilitation Program, performing Functional Capacity Evaluations and Post-Offer Pre-Placement Screens, designing Post-Offer Pre-Placement screens, going on-site to local businesses to perform ergonomic evaluations for both office and industrial settings, job analyses, job coaching, and educational lectures, and providing out patient Physical Therapy services. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Vermont. Lori is a resident of the St. Albans area and is familiar with the local businesses.
If one word described Lori it would be: Outgoing
On the weekends you will find Lori: Spending time with her family (Andy, McKinley, and Demetrius). Winter: snowmobiling, snowshoeing, building snowmen, stacking wood. Summer: gardening, biking, walking, and coaching soccer and baseball. Lori will get outside any chance she has in any weather-- even throwing a ball for her German Sheppard.
e-mail Lori at ldeering@nmcinc.org |
NOH's Administrative Staff:
Chris Sweeny
 | Chris is the Executive director at NOH. She oversees and manages the overall operations of NOH services. She has a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Ithaca College, and her MBA from the University of Maine. Chris has over 20 years experience in healthcare management.
If one word described Chris it would be: Dedicated
On the weekends you will find Chris : Geocaching, bird watching or out on her boat with her husband.
e-mail Chris at csweeny@nmcinc.org |
Emily Dunsmore
 | Emily is the Sales & Marketing specialist for NOH as well as the clinic’s medical and administrative support. She is a 7th generation St. Albans resident who greatly values the community. Businesses should feel free to contact Emily to learn more about how Northwestern Occupational Health can assist them with their work related healthcare needs. Emily received her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Florida Atlantic University College of Business; she also has a background in nursing. She has been in management positions in the service industry for several years.
If one word described Emily it would be: Versatile
On the weekends you will find Emily: Winter: working & working out, Summer: Hanging out with her chocolate lab Scout at the lake.
e-mail Emily at edunsmore@nmcinc.org |
June Collins
 | June is the Collections Associate for NOH as well as the clinic’s back up reception. She was an Army brat and has lived in Germany, Alaska, California, Pennsylvania and Kansas just to name a few places. Businesses should feel free to contact June with any questions or concerns about invoices, claim numbers, insurance carriers, or scheduling issues and she will research the problem and follow up immediately. June attended Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina. She has taken accounting at Champlain College. June has worked in the xray department at Fletcher Allen and NMC as well as several medical practices in Chittenden County. She and her husband have lived in North Hero, Vermont for twenty three years and have enjoyed sailing, camping, and ice fishing. June and Roger have two children Roger, Jr., a junior at Johnson State College and Clancy, a senior at South Burlington High School.
If one word described June it would be: Loyal
On the weekends you will find June: Winter: running, snow shoeing, cooking and listening to good jazz music. Summer: running, gardening, motorcycling, and relaxing on the deck while watching the boats go by.
email June at jcollins@nmcinc.org |
Sarah Royea
 | Sarah is the Registrar/Biller at Northwestern Occupational Health. She is currently working full time. She has lived in Franklin County since she was born at the Northwestern Medical Center. Sarah has taken various courses at CCV, and is currently taking some time off from school to decide what road she wants to travel for continuing her education.
If one word described Sarah it would be: Creative
On the weekends you will find Sarah: Winter: Spending time with family and friends, or relaxing reading a good book. Summer: At the beach, or out walking her dog, May.
e-mail Sarah at sroyea@nmcinc.org |
Jennifer Jarvis
 | Jennifer is the Registrar/Biller Coordinator for NOH. She has lived in Grand Isle County for 30 years. Jennifer is working full time and attending CCV part time. She is working towards her Associates Degree in Liberal Studies focusing on Health Care Administration.
If one word described Jenn it would be: Organized
On the weekends you will find Jenn: Winter: Focusing on homework primarily. She does love to spend as much time with her husband, family and friends as possible. She also fits plenty of time in for her Blue Tick/Plott Hound dog “Joe”. Summer: You can find Jenn out on her boat with her husband. Don’t be surprised if you see her doing her homework out there as well.
e-mail Jenn at jjarvis@nmcinc.org |
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