Expertise and Caring 2025 Report to Stakeholders and Friends
Steve Cummings, BSN, MBA President and Chief Executive Officer, Brattleboro Retreat
Our people,
At the Brattleboro Retreat, everything we do begins and ends with people.
Formorethan190years,wehaveupheldthe visionofourfounder,AnnaMarsh,who believedthatthosestrugglingwithmental healthissuesdeservetreatmentdelivered withcompassion,dignity,andrespect.That beliefisstillthecornerstoneofeverythingwe do.
Asaspecialtyhospitaldedicatedentirelyto mentalhealth,weunderstandthattrue healinghappensthroughhumanconnection. There’snohigh-techshortcutforwhatwedo thisispeoplehelpingpeople.Ourmission comestolifeeverydaythroughtheworkof ourdoctors,nurses,technicians,therapists, andsupportteams.Andit’snotjustourclinical staff everyteammember,fromfacilitiesand medicalrecordstofinance,contributeswith skill,empathy,andcommitment.Together,we delivercareacrosseveryleveloftreatment, frominpatientandresidentialtooutpatient services.
Weareproudtoserveasastatewideand regionalresource,partneringcloselywith otherhospitals,communityproviders,and
stateagenciestomeettheevolvingmental healthneedsofVermontandbeyond.We continuetoexpandourservices,especially foryouth,andtoadvanceinnovative treatmentsguidedbyemergingresearchand bestpracticesinthefield.
Foreverypersonwhowalksthroughour doors,ourpromiseisthesame:tocreatean environmentofhope,healing,andsafety.As someonewhohasworkedinhealthcarefor morethan40years,Icansaywithout hesitationthattheworkwedohereatthe RetreatisthemostmeaningfulI’vebeena partof.It’saprivilegetobepartofthisteam, andtocarryforwardalegacyofcarethathas enduredandevolvedfornearlytwo centuries.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Brattleboro Retreat
our purpose
Leaders Who Listen
At the Brattleboro Retreat, leadership is not a title; it’s a practice rooted in collaboration, purpose, and humility. Our executive and medical leadership teams are not only guiding the organization but are also deeply embedded in the day-to-day work of our hospital. United by a personal commitment to mental health care, our leaders strive to listen as much as they direct. They lead by example, drawing on the wisdom and expertise of our dedicated staff to shape decisions that reflect our shared mission.
Our philosophy is that we take care of our staff, so they can best take care of our patients.”
-Amelia
Shillingford, Chief Nursing Officer
Brattleboro Retreat Executive Team, left to right: Erik Rosenbauer, Vice President of Operations, Christine Konkowski, Vice President of Human Resources, Kurt White, Vice President of Community Partnerships, Christine Avalrez, Vice President of Residential and Outpatient Services, Jill Meschke, Chief Financial Officer, Elizabeth Wohl, General Counsel, Steve Cummings, President and Chief Executive Officer, Amelia Shillingford, Chief Nursing Officer, Karl Jeffries, M D , Chief Medical Officer
Brattleboro Retreat Medical Staff, Back row, left to right: Trina Brown, PMHNP , Geoffrey Kane, MD, Amelia Shillingford, PMHNP, CNO, Scott Robinson, PMHNP, Matthew Narlesky, DO, Karen Smith, PMHNP, Susan Plante, PMHNP, Matthew Dove, PMHNP, Karl Jeffries, MD, CMO Front row, left to right: Carly Macken, NP, Patricia Kijak, PMHNP, Sara Gilbert, PMHNP, Heather Leonardy, PMHNP, Kaitlyn Finneran, NP, Samatha Peabody, PMHNP
Expertise
In Their Own Words
Our staff are the heart of everything we do. Each person, across every role, helps bring our mission to life with compassion, dedication, and expertise. In their own words, see how they contribute each day to making the Retreat a place of hope, healing, and human connection.
Ayla Clark, Ph.D. Inpatient Music Therapist
“Music touches all aspects of life... physical, emotional, psychological and behavioral. Music therapy is a treatment used in clinical settings as a complementary therapy that helps develop coping skills, emotional regulation, leisure and recreation skills, and interpersonal effectiveness. What music can do is endless.
Catie Nichols, Registered Nurse
One of the things I value most about working at the Retreat is the sense of autonomy and the team-based approach to care. Nurses are seen as essential partners in a holistic, patient-centered process that feels more meaningful than in many traditional medical settings. I’ve been able to grow, collaborate, and continue my education with the full support of my team. It’s rewarding work and for anyone considering psychiatric nursing, I’d say don’t hesitate to explore it”
John Halloran, Psychologist
“I started here as an intern over a decade ago, and now I get to mentor the next generation of mental health professionals. It’s a full-circle moment. The supervision I received shaped my path, and now I get to pay that forward. It’s meaningful work helping others become the kind of clinicians who will, in turn, help even more people. That’s the beauty of working in a place like the Retreat.
and caring
Kelli Dobosz and Autumn Kendall, Patient Financial Counselors
When someone comes here seeking mental health support, the last thing they should have to worry about is how to pay for it. We're here to lift that burden. Whether it's helping you enroll in health insurance through the state marketplace or guiding you through a financial assistance application to access low or nocost care.”
Brian Schindler, Security
People often think of security as just keeping things safe—but here, it’s about creating a sense of calm and trust. We’re often one of the first faces someone sees, so we make sure to show kindness and respect.”
Alix Bibik, Nurse Recruitment and Retention Specialist
“When I worked at a staffing agency in Michigan, I spent years sending travel nurses to the Retreat, and every one of them fell in love with this place. Eventually, so did I. I moved my whole family here, knowing no one, and it was the best decision we ever made. When you believe in a place that deeply, it’s not hard to inspire others to join you.
A legacy
Honoring the Past, Advancing the Future
As we approach 200 years of continuous care, we’re preserving our rich history while building a stronger, more modern foundation for the future. A newly hired medical records archivist is digitizing some of our earliest documents—including 19th-century records from our first patients and caregivers helping preserve the lived experiences that shaped the Brattleboro Retreat. This work honors every individual in our unbroken chain of compassionate care, ensuring the lessons of our history continue to guide our mission. At the same time, we’re investing in the future with a major upgrade to our electronic health record system, transitioning to MEDITECH to enhance efficiency, improve tools, and strengthen the experience for both patients and staff.
Sarah Federick, Medical Records Archivist
“I didn’t expect to learn as much as I did. But reading through thousands of these records—seeing their daily lives, their diagnoses, even how they were described I realize how humanizing and complex this history really is. People lived, worked, and found community here.
Running a hospital means more than what meets the eye. Behind every patient interaction is a web of essential, often invisible work, and our electronic health record is at the heart of it. With our move to a new system, we’re giving our staff the most advanced tools they need to deliver care more efficiently, safely, and compassionately.”
-Mike Hayes, Director of Health Informatics
Brattleboro Retreat Informatics Team
of caring
Stewards of a Storied Campus
The historic buildings on our campus have provided a uniquely restorative and healing setting for nearly 200 years. This is only possible because of our facilities team members who work with skill, pride, and purpose. From running our on-site power plant to crafting repairs in the workshop, they work year-round to ensure our historic buildings and scenic grounds remain safe, functional, and beautiful. Whether it’s painting, plowing, fixing, or building, much of the work is done in-house by a crew deeply committed to preserving the character of this special place—one that continues to offer comfort, safety, and space for healing.
Troy Revis, Facilities Operations Manager
"From our carpenters to our master electricians and locksmith, everyone on this team brings their own unique skills to the table. We take pride in doing whatever it takes to keep this place humming because we know the care that happens inside depends on the care we give to the building itself.
Paul Russo, Carpenter and Painter
Sean Bonnette, Electrician
Colin Young, Locksmith and Carpenter
Shawn Stone, Master Electrician
Expertise and
Expert Care at the Anna Marsh Clinic
With more than 30,000 visits in 2024, the Anna Marsh Clinic at the Brattleboro Retreat provides high-quality outpatient psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults, both in person and via telehealth. Our therapists bring advanced expertise in treating a wide range of mental health conditions—including trauma, mood disorders, developmental challenges, and LGBTQIA+ concerns—delivering care that is personalized, collaborative, and grounded in clinical excellence.
Susan Fields, Senior Program Therapist
At the Anna Marsh Clinic, Susan sees individual clients and facilitates therapy groups, including Women and Aging: Embracing the Changes. Susan also works in a collaboration between the Retreat and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s Comprehensive Care Clinic, offering care and support for people living with HIV.
“Psychotherapy can be hard work, both for the client and the therapist, and yet it’s so inspiring to see people make courageous and profound changes. It is very rewarding to observe people engaging in the work on a daily basis and then suddenly, one day, they notice that miraculous changes have occurred.”
It’s like doing a week’s worth of daily therapy in one session. For those who are open to the experience, group therapy can be transformational."
Jenny Karstad, Senior Program Therapist
With over 25 years at the Retreat, Jenny brings a depth of experience and empathetic, collaborative approach to her role as Senior Program Therapist at the Anna Marsh Clinic—a journey that began as a medical transcriptionist and evolved to skilled clinician.
“The therapy relationship in itself is therapeutic. It’s not just what we’re doing—it’s that people know they can come here, and what they say will be held in confidence. I’m someone who’s going to listen, not simply offer advice that doesn’t help. That’s powerful.”
Katie O’Connor, Senior Program Therapist
Sarah Turbow, Program Therapist
AttheRetreat’sAnnaMarshClinic,SarahTurbowandKatieO’Connor co-facilitateauniquepsychodynamicprocessgroupcalledExploring theSelfandRelationships.Designedforadultswithpersistent depression,anxiety,andinterpersonalchallenges,thegroupoffers immediate,authenticfeedbackandopportunitiesfordeeperselfawarenessandchange.
ThegroupintegratesseamlesslywithotherservicesattheRetreat— manyparticipantsarealsoengagedinindividualtherapy,psychiatry, orothertreatmentprogram.
– Katie O’Connor
innovation
Specialty Medication Clinic
The Brattleboro Retreat’s Specialty Medication Clinic offers esketamine (Spravato®), a groundbreaking treatment option for individuals with treatmentresistant depression. Administered as a nasal
spray in a structured outpatient setting, esketamine provides a fastacting and novel approach that differs from traditional antidepressants. As one of the only clinics in the area offering this treatment, the Retreat’s esketamine program is a valuable option for people who have tried other treatments without success and are looking for new hope and healing.
Karen Smith, Outpatient Specialty Medication Clinic
"When it works, it’s incredibly gratifying to see patients who come in crushingly depressed experience a real turnaround and reclaim their lives. I’ve had people tell me it saved their life. It’s a vital resource for our community, and I’m absolutely certain it saves lives."
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
The Brattleboro Retreat’s TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) program offers a non-invasive, innovative treatment for individuals with treatmentresistant depression. Launched in 2022, this therapy uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain linked to mood regulation, helping to create new neural pathways over a six-week course. Many patients experience improved energy, mood, and daily functioning, often alongside talk therapy or medication.
Julie Mills, Outpatient Specialty Clinic Coordinator, TMS Technician
“We’ve seen some really great success stories—individuals who’ve had robust responses and started feeling like themselves again after struggling with severe, treatment-resistant depression. For many, hope begins to return just a few weeks into TMS, and that can be incredibly powerful.”
Caring for our
Training the Future of Mental Health Care
TheBrattleboroRetreatiscommittedtoshapingthenextgenerationofmental healthprofessionalsthroughimmersive,real-worldclinicaltraining.OurAPAaccreditedDoctoralPsychologyInternship—oneofonlythreeinVermontand thelargest—wasestablishedin2011tohelpaddresstheregionalshortageof qualifiedmentalhealthproviders.Internsgainhands-onexperienceinboth inpatientandoutpatientsettings,workingalongsideintegratedcareteamsto supportindividualswithcomplexmentalhealthandsubstanceuseneeds. Sinceitsinception,theprogramhastrained43psychologists,withmany remaininginNewEnglandtoservelocalcommunities.Thirteengraduateshave continuedworkingattheRetreat,sixofwhomarecurrentlyonstaff.
Beth Rachlin, Post Doctoral Intern
The internship at the Brattleboro Retreat has been a truly formative experience from the supportive supervision to being fully immersed in clinical work on the unit. The culture of community here made a big transition feel manageable, even exciting. I’m so grateful to be continuing on as a post-doctoral fellow, expanding my role and deepening my training in a place that really values development and care.”
Jim Benton, Ph.D., Director of Psychology Training
"Our Doctoral Psychology Training Program was created to directly address the mental health provider shortage in Vermont and surrounding areas and it’s working. Since 2011, we’ve trained over 40 emerging psychologists, many of whom have stayed on to serve this community. Recent expansions in our inpatient therapy services are a direct result of this training pipeline.
community
Excellence in Medical Education
Dr. Jarred Zucker, Medical Staff President at the Brattleboro Retreat, was honored with the 2024 Faculty Teacher of the Year Award by the Department of Psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. This recognition, based on consistently exceptional student evaluations, highlights Dr. Zucker’s deep commitment to medical education and his ability to mentor with compassion, clarity, and care. Although he resides in California, Dr. Zucker provides regular remote mentorship to medical students completing their psychiatry rotations at the Retreat. His dedication to shaping the next generation of clinicians is evident and ongoing. He previously received this award in 2022, a testament to his sustained excellence and impact.
Dr. Jarred Zucker, Medical Staff President
I’m humbled, honored, and proud to be a part of the educational program at Geisel, shaping the doctors of tomorrow. I’m also very grateful to the Brattleboro Retreat for recognizing the importance of academia and the benefits it brings to our patients and the broader community.”
Clinicians in the Community
Jeff Rose, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, works in a unique and deeply community-centered role embedded within the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust and the Brattleboro Housing Partnerships. His work blends emotional support, informal therapy, and social connection. Jeff runs open-format groups where people can talk freely, often accompanied by the gentle background of his guitar playing. Jeff’s flexible approach helps remove traditional barriers to care;
participants meet with him as often as they need, without the pressure of formal diagnoses or fixed goals. Jeff’s work highlights the vital role of embedded mental health professionals who bring care directly to the spaces people call home.
“Being embedded in the community means I can meet people where they are, literally and emotionally. It’s about building trust over time, being consistent, and showing up without judgment. That kind of steady presence can be the difference between someone staying isolated and someone choosing connection.
-Jeff Rose, Social Emotional Wellness Clinician
Invested in
2024 Patient Care
Number of core staff members
Building a Stronger Core
Likemanyhospitalsacrossthecountry,theRetreatfacedseriousstaffingchallengesduringthepandemic,as nursesandotherfrontlineworkerslefttheprofessionorshiftedintotemporaryroles.Attheheightofthecrisis in2022,ourcorestaffcountfelltojustover400—anearly25%declinefrompre-pandemiclevels—forcingusto relyheavilyoncostlytravelandcontractlabor.Throughstrategicrecruitmentandretentionefforts,wenot onlystabilizedourworkforce westrengthenedit.By2025,ourcorestaffhadincreasedby33%fromthelow point,reaching538teammembers
Akeypartofthissuccesswasconvertingmanytravelandcontractworkersintofull-timeteammembers. Manywhoarrivedonshort-termassignmentsquicklysawwhatmadethisplacedifferent:acultureof collaboration,purpose,andstrongleadership.Theirdecisiontostayspeaksvolumesabouttheenvironment we’vebuilt onewherepeoplefeelvalued,supported,andinspiredtobepartofsomethingmeaningful.
our people 2025
2024
Keneger Reid, Mental Health Technician, started at the Retreat as a travel staff member after working in various states like Florida, Georgia, Colorado, and Montana. The supportive environment and meaningful work inspired him to become core staff, and with the Retreat covering the cost of his continued education, he’s now pursuing a nursing degree.
“I decided to stay because the environment here is very different. It’s a place where people meet you where you’re at and help you grow. I’ve been surprised by how comfortable I’ve become working with kids and how much I’ve grown in building relationships with them. Working here has given me a real sense of purpose — helping kids overcome challenges early on means you’re part of shaping a better future. That’s really motivating, and it’s why I love it here.
Caring for
“The Brattleboro Retreat gave me my life back. Choosing to support them isn’t just about gratitude—it’s about helping others find the same hope and healing I did.”
When Rebecca Pelkey was elected Grand Madam President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, she was given the opportunity to choose a national fundraising project. Her choice was deeply personal.
Yearsago,duringadifficultchapterinherlife,RebeccaturnedtotheBrattleboro Retreat.Thecareandsupportshereceivedleftalastingimpact onethatcontinues toshapeheroutlook,herleadership,andhercommitmenttomentalhealth advocacy.
Today,asshetravelsthecountryleadingoneofthelargestcharitablefraternal organizationsinNorthAmerica,Rebeccaisusingherplatformtogivebacktothe placethathelpedherheal.Throughfundraisingeventsandawarenesscampaigns, she’srallyingEaglemembersaroundacausethattoucheseverycommunity.
WithhersupportandthegenerosityoftheEagles,Rebeccaishelpingtoensurethat otherswhoarestrugglingcanfindcompassionate,expertcarewhentheyneedit most.
Join Rebecca in making a difference.
Rebecca Pelkey, Grand Madam President Fraternal Order of the Eagles
our future
Brattleboro Retreat Board of Trustees
The Brattleboro Retreat is a private, not-for-profit organization governed by a volunteer board of trustees: Board Chair Justin Johnson, Vice Board Chair
Tom Borys, MBA, Steven Cummings, BSN, MBA, Drew Pate, MD, Joe Pyle, MA, Christopher Turley, Julie Potter, Kristan Outwater, MD, Julie Vieth, MD, Sara King, and ex officio member Jarred Zucker, MD.
You’re Invited: Anna Marsh Award Gala
Please join us for an elegant evening as we celebrate Elizabeth Catlin, our 2025 Anna Marsh Award Honoree, and support the Brattleboro Retreat.
Friday, September 19, 2025 Stone Garden, Westmoreland, NH
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Brattleboro Retreat’s Endowment Fund, helping to ensure the longevity and impact of the vital work we do for generations to come.
At the heart of the Brattleboro Retreat’s mission is caring for every patient who walks through our doors and every staff member, whether clinical or performing the vital work behind the scenes, is a steward of that mission. Together with our generous donors, we make recovery possible.”
-Justin Johnson, Board Chair
Go to brattlebororetreat.org/gala or scan the QR to purchase tickets and learn about sponsorship opportunities.
The Brattleboro Retreat is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible.
Contact us
Office of Development
development@brattlebororetreat.org 802-258-4366
In Memoriam: Thomas W. Huebner
The Brattleboro Retreat mourns the loss of Tom Huebner, our dedicated Board Chair, whose steady leadership, deep compassion, and tireless advocacy for patient-centered care transformed healthcare across Vermont. Tom’s legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and the enduring strength he helped restore to our hospital and community.