Our Team

Care that Matters

The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving with new procedures, technology and medications.

Our skilled medical and dental care teams provide the highest level of individualized support for our patients.

Our goal is dedicated to improving the quality of life, reducing hospitalizations and improve health outcomes for everyone we serve.

Mountain Community Health Management

MCH is dedicated to keeping health care local, serving the people from the Five Town area in Addison County, Vermont, including Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven and Starksboro.

We are committed to encouraging the wellness of our families, neighbors and friends through improving access to Primary care, Dental care and Mental healthcare services.

Our Executive team, Support Staff

The Mountain Community Heath Executive Team and support staff works every day to ensure the mission and vision of the organization is carried out in an efficient and professional manner. Providing an environment where quality, compassionate care is paramount – our executive team is dedicated to making our community a better place to live.

Our Board includes local community leaders who bring a wealth of experience from within and outside the medical and dental fields.

Our Clinical Team

Exceptional Patient Care

Providing exceptional care includes creating a healing environment where all patients feel safe, comfortable and where recovery and restoring full health is our main goal. At MCH, our priority is to ensure that each patient is valued, respected and well cared for, providing the highest quality of care. At MCH – the patient always comes first.

Clinical Team

Brian Bates, MD

Brian grew up in Maryland and first ventured to New England for undergraduate studies at Dartmouth. He went to medical school at the University of Maryland and then completed his family medicine residency at Boston Medical Center where he continued to work as a teaching physician. He practices full-spectrum primary care for children and adults. He also provides medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders with Suboxone. Outside of work, Brian enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, outdoors activities, beekeeping, gardening, and playing music.

Melanie Connah, MD

Melanie grew up in Maryland where she attended medical school at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed her residency at Medstar Franklin Square Family Medicine Residency Program in Baltimore. After residency, Melanie worked as a faculty member and helped to build a new family medicine residency program in Seneca, South Carolina. There she practiced full spectrum family medicine including inpatient and outpatient care and delivering babies, and taught students and residents. Melanie came to Vermont in 2022 with her husband and two girls and quickly fell in love with the state in general and Bristol in particular. She is excited to join the Mountain Community Health team and provide excellent care to patients while pursuing her clinical interests in quality improvement, addictions treatment, and integrative medicine.

Tonya Howard, FNP

Tonya is doing acute care one or two days a week at MHC. She has been involved at many levels and in different roles in the community health center world in Vermont. She lives in Underhill, has 2 cats and a big farmhouse and barn she has been “bringing back to life”, and enjoys having guests, retreats, and gatherings there. She always has an audiobook queued up for the commute. She graduated from Yale University School of Nursing with her Master’s too many years ago to admit and continues to love learning, traveling, swing dancing, hiking, singing, eating and cooking good food, and cherishes time with her diverse group of friends.

Kate LaMancuso, MD

Kate is originally from western New York. She took the long path to medicine, via undergraduate studies in literary arts and Italian studies at Brown University. She completed her post-baccalaureate premedical studies in Buffalo. There, she fell in love with family medicine and its power for individual and community transformation while working as a medical case manager. She completed medical school and a family medicine residency at Brown University, where she pursued clinical and research interests in maternal health, global health, and populations with limited access to healthcare. Kate is eager to participate in the Addison County community through her work at Mountain Community Health. She enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, yoga, Green Mountain culinary adventures, and spending time with family and friends.

Lindsay Soares-White, FNP

Lindsay Soares-White graduated from the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in 2008. She has chosen to work in community health centers throughout her career because she shares the belief that health care is a human right and that individual health is interconnected with family, community, and society. Lindsay takes a collaborative approach to the care she provides. She loves learning about people, hearing their stories, and building trusting relationships that help people move toward their health goals. She lives with her partner and toddler in Lincoln, where they spend their days exploring puddles and singing while meandering.

David Turner, MD

David has practiced in Family Medicine and Women’s Health for over 25 years, the last 13 locally in Vermont. He enjoys working with patients to improve their overall wellness and believes his role is to listen to and help patients make informed decisions about their health. He graduated from the Dartmouth/Brown Program in Medicine, Tacoma Family Medicine Residency and Rural Fellowship, and Dartmouth/Hitchcock OB/GYN Residency. He enjoys coaching soccer, hiking, cross-country skiing, and spending time with his wife Laura Weylman MD, and their family.

image of physicians assistant Bryanne Breezy Salmonsen

Bryanne (Breezy) Salmonsen, PA-C

Breezy Salmonsen, PA-C is delighted to be back in Vermont after spending the last 15 years abroad and in the Western US. She grew up in Beverly, Massachusetts and completed her undergraduate degree at UVM. She received her masters in physician assistant studies at UC Davis and then practiced as a PA at Planned Parenthood in Reno, NV. Her professional interests include maternal health and community medicine.

Prior to her career in medicine, she worked guiding kayak trips in the San Juan Islands, led educational travel trips in Ecuador, worked at a university in Costa Rica and taught ESL and Spanish in Jackson, Wyoming.

Breezy lives in Richmond with her spouse, their son and mastiff named Noodle. In her free time, she loves growing flowers, mountain biking, baking cookies, surfing in warm water and staying in yurts. She is accepting new patients.

Jessica Griffin, FNP

Jessica is a Vermont native and third generation nurse in her family. She attended undergrad at UVM where she was a Biology major. She then moved to Boston where she did HIV research and attended Simmons for NP school. She is board certified in family medicine so she can see patients of all ages. She has always worked in community health centers, first as a nurse, then as an NP. She enjoys the team based approach and the fact that you will inevitably learn something new every day! She particularly enjoys providing preventative care education and has recently started studying lifestyle medicine. Her approach is patient centered and she aims to help individuals make informed decisions that are aligned with their personal values. She has two young kids, a dog and loves to read, garden, ski, bike, hike and enjoy all that this beautiful state has to offer.

Jennifer Wisdom-Behounek, MD

Dr. Wisdom-Behounek grew up in a rural community in Illinois and attended the University of Illinois for medical school, where she had additional specific training in rural medicine. Residency took her to Columbia, Missouri, where she completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of Missouri. She has worked in private practice, and in academic medicine teaching medical students in addition to clinical care. She has additional training and a specialized interest in Lifestyle and Nutritional Medicine to prevent and reverse disease where possible. She loves to travel, recreate outdoors, and write about the research illustrating nature’s positive impact on human health.

Your Team of Local, Caring Dentists

Dental Care for the Entire Family

Our team is comprised of experienced and exceptional dentists, hygienists, nurses and support staff.

Using the most advanced technology available to achieve oral and overall health, we welcome you to our warm and inviting offices here in Bristol.

Our dental team offers care for your entire family, with comprehensive dental services to keep your smile beautiful and healthy for a lifetime.

Dental Providers

Elizabeth Knuff, DMD

Lizzie grew up in Connecticut and did her undergraduate studies at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass where she studied Spanish and Chemistry. After working in clinical research for four years, Lizzie decided to pursue her love for creativity and science and attended the University of New England College of Dental Medicine where she graduated with honors. She completed her General Practice Residency at the University of Vermont Medical Center and is thrilled to be staying in Vermont! In her spare time she enjoys being outdoors, skiing, hiking, painting, and all things crafty.

Megan Morrison, DMD

Megan grew up in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. After graduating high school, she journeyed to Maine where she attended the University of New England. At UNE, Megan studied medical biology before matriculating into the College of Dental Medicine. She graduated with honors and was recognized with an award in clinical excellence. In her spare time, Megan loves all things outdoors, reading, and building puzzles. She is thrilled to work with the team at Mountain Community Health and to continue her work to serve her home of northern New England.

MCH Executive Officers

Leadership for Today and Tomorrow

Our executive team manages the day-to-day operations of our organization, coming from all areas of the health management and business to help position MCH to succeed today and well into the future.

Heidi Melbostad, PhD, M.F.T.

Chief Executive Officer

Nancy Kusner

HR Director

Jennifer Wisdom-Behounek, M.D., DipIABLM

Medical Director

Meet the MCH Board

Making a Positive Difference in our Community

Our Board members each have distinguished careers and bring a wealth of experience to Mountain Community Health. The Board’s overall stewardship and advisory input is essential to helping maintain the exceptional services we provide our communities.

We are a group of citizens from the Five Towns area in northeastern Addison County, Vermont: Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven, and Starksboro. We come from a variety of backgrounds within and outside of healthcare. We are interested in community building and furthering the wellness of our families, neighbors, and friends through improving access to primary care, dental care, and mental healthcare services.

We believe that healthy communities begin with healthy families, neighbors, and friends and that receiving support from a primary care physician, dentist, or mental health clinician should not be limited by the ability to pay. We recognize that healthcare is a fundamental right to which all are entitled, and we are motivated to turn this belief into reality.

We are actively seeking new board members. Please contact our Board Chair, Norma Norland, at norlandnorken@gmail.com for more information.

Board Members

Norma Norland

Board Chair

Norma Norland moved to Vermont in 2011 from Lexington, Massachusetts. Several years of community activity in Lexington led to work at a startup computer company, a brief stint working for the Governor at the Massachusetts State House and then to M.I.T. where she was Director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

Trevor Wilson

Vice Chair

Trevor Wilson and his wife moved to Bristol in 2023 and found the community they’ve always sought.

With over 15 years working in healthcare, Trevor has a passion to support increasing access to and equity in healthcare. He currently supports community cancer care practices in 6 states.

Trevor has a long history of volunteering – from the American Red Cross to being a youth mentor for First Exposures.

In addition to the MCH Board, he is also an educator at Dead Creek WMA, a member of the Bristol Equity Committee, and an advocate for prostate cancer care and research with ZERO Prostate Cancer.

In his “free” time, he and his wife enjoy working on their home, hiking, and visiting farm stands and markets.

Trevor holds a BA in English Writing & Literature. He is a member of Wednesday Writers.

His wife is a Photography Instructor, and chocolate maker.

Bob Donnis

Secretary

Bob is a retired Bristol resident. He was employed by IBM for 32 years as a Systems Analyst, Project Manager, and Sales Rep. He worked for Efficiency Vermont for 7 years as Retail Account Manager and Business Account Mgr. Previously, Bob was a member of the Mt Abraham Union MS/HS Board, the 5-Town Drug and Safety Alliance, and the Bristol Energy Committee. Bob is currently a member of the Turning Point Center of Addison County and the Lake Iroquois Association Board.

Richard Jack

Interim Treasurer

Richard Jack lives in Middlebury and is retired. He has a master’s degree in social work. He has previously worked as a psychotherapist,forensics coordinator, manager of mental health benefits, and developer of utilization and productivity models in a variety of nonprofit and for profit organizations. He also participated in integrating mental health care in rural family medicine clinics in the Adirondacks. In the past, Richard has served as a board member for low income, elder care, hospice, and nursing home organizations. He has been a partner in owning a nursing home, and from 1986-92 served as an initial Board Member of the Vermont State Board of Social Work developing the credentialing, disciplinary, and regulatory processes with which the statute was implemented Richard is married with two adult sons and four grandchildren.

Adam Rice

Director

Coming soon.

Rachel Lee

Director

Rachel is the Executive Director of the Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC). Active in governance and healthcare policy, Rachel also serves on the Board of Directors for Porter Hospital. She also contributed as a trustee to the UVM Health Network Medical Group’s board (2019-2022). Rachel holds a master’s in public health from the University of Vermont.

Mimi Damm

Director

Mimi Damm brings nearly 20 years of digital marketing and fundraising strategy experience to Mountain Community Health. Throughout her career she has partnered with nonprofits, community organizations, and small businesses of every size to help them tell their story clearly, activate supporters, and translate mission into meaningful financial backing.

Mimi has served as a strategist, mentor, and educator for entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders through organizations such as the New York SBDC, the Greater New York City Chamber, the Capital Region Chamber’s Business University, and the Florida SBDC. She has been invited to speak nationally on digital marketing, including most recently at the Florida SBDC Small Business Success Summit, and as keynote at Heritage Family Credit Union’s Community Connections.
She is Google certified in Video, Search, and GA4, and is accredited in e-commerce. Beyond her professional credentials, Mimi’s passion is helping community organizations strengthen the resources that allow them to serve people well — because access to healthcare depends not only on clinical excellence, but on sustainable support and community belief in the work.

Mimi is honored to support Mountain Community Health’s mission as a Board Member, and to help expand the awareness, advocacy, and philanthropic support that ensures high quality care remains available here for every person who needs it.

Robert Turcot

Director

Robert Turcot lives in Monkton on the small horse farm that he and his late wife built in 1997. He practiced as both a Mental Health and Addictions Counselor in the Burlington area from 1983-2021. He is a 1973 graduate of St. Michael’s College and earned his master’s degree in social work from Adelphi University in 1983. He retired from the University of Vermont Medical Center in 2021 after many years of work in their Employee and Family Assistance Program and hopes to bring that experience working supporting staff in a wide variety of medical settings with him to Mountain Community Health.

His interests include working seasonally as a museum guide at Fort Ticonderoga and he helped to establish the Monkton Historical Society Museum in 2025. He is actively involved with creative writing groups in Addison and Chittenden Counties.

Bruce Nason

Director

Bio Coming Soon.