Aloha … from BetheSharon native returns to area as Gifford family nurse practitioner
RANDOLPH, Jan. 20, 2009 – Family nurse practitioner Megan O’Brien, formerly of Sharon, has joined Gifford Medical Center’s family practice in Randolph.
O’Brien grew up in Sharon and attended Hartford High School, where she says her biology teacher sparked a passion for health sciences. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Vermont, graduating with honors in 2001.
She’s since worked primarily in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington and graduated from the master’s degree family nurse practitioner program at UVM.
She holds board certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, was a Freeman Nurse Scholar and Gifford Auxiliary nursing scholarship winner, and, as part of her degree, trained at primary care practices in Vermont from 2006-2008.
Beginning this month, O’Brien began putting that training to work at Gifford.
She joined the Randolph medical center for the opportunity to work in rural health care and to work with some of the best in the field – Gifford family physicians Drs. Ken Borie, Marcus Coxon and Jonna Goulding and family nurse practitioner Kim Ladue.
“I really enjoy community and rural care,” O’Brien said, adding, “I was excited by the opportunity to work at an institution that still had a community feel and to mentor with such as strong team of experienced family providers.”
While her background is in infant care – she was seven years at Vermont Children’s Hospital and previously worked at the Duke University Health System in Durham, N.C. – women’s care will be one of O’Brien’s focuses at Gifford, along with family and preventative medicine.
O’Brien is the third female health care provider Gifford has hired in recent months to increase access to women’s care in the region.
She’s describes herself as taking a thoughtful approach to health care and looks forward to empowering patients in their own health by listening to patients’ concerns and desires, helping to guide them through the health-care system, and ensure care is individualized for their needs.
“I look forward to working with people where they’re at,” says the Vermont native. An example she gives is prescribing more affordable generic prescription brands whenever possible.
O’Brien’s maiden name is Jones. She is the daughter of Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Deb Jones, still of Sharon.
O’Brien now lives in South Burlington with her husband, Ben, a firefighter. The couple is looking for a home closer to Randolph. In her free time, O’Brien is the handler and trainer of the couple’s three dogs, a vizsla, border collie and terrier, which compete in agility.
Call (802) 728-2445 now to schedule a February appointment with O’Brien at Gifford Family Practice.