By Michael Hawker
The Mad River Valley Health Center has a long history in The Valley. In 1980, the primary care physician serving the Mad River Valley announced he was leaving his practice to teach at the University of Vermont. This precipitated a grassroots community organizing effort to ensure that the Valley towns of Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren would not be left without a doctor.
The Mad River Valley Health Center (MRVHC) was the product of this effort. Community representatives of each of the four Valley towns developed the idea to buy the existing practice and building and turn it into a community-run health center. The group grew to eventually include 12 citizens from the four towns, who formed the original Mad River Valley Health Center Board of Directors. The MRVHC was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in January of 1981.
In the spirit of a traditional New England barn raising, a fundraising campaign began in March of 1981 and raised more than $150,000 in two months to purchase the existing practice, including the home on Main Street, which housed the doctor’s office. In July 1981, the first patients were served at the new Mad River Valley Health Center.
From its inception in 1981, the health center underwent various changes, but remained in the original ranch house. In 1986, in part due to the complications and time commitment of dealing with medical administrative red tape, the board of the health center decided to relinquish the medical practice to Dr. Francis Cook, one of the center’s initial staff members, and operate the nonprofit MRVHC and the medical practice as separate entities. The Mad River Valley Health Center, Inc. remained the owner and operator of the building and leased the space to Dr. Cook for nearly 20 years. The mission of the MRVHC, which was shared by Dr. Cook, was to serve as a primary care family practice providing health care to the Mad River community, neighboring towns and visitors. During this period, in addition to providing direct care, Dr. Cook oversaw the entire practice, coordinating the care and referring patients when indicated.
The original structure housing the MRVHC, while adequate for many years, was never ideal and the number of patients served grew. In response to this need, the board of the MRVHC, Inc. dedicated itself to constructing a new building on the existing site. This building was designed to fit into the streetscape of the historic Waitsfield Village area where it is currently located.
In 2003, the board of directors embarked upon a major capital campaign to raise the necessary funds required to build a new Mad River Valley Health Center facility. The goal was to raise sufficient funds to begin construction during 2004.
The capital campaign initiated by the MRVHC looked to all elements of the communities served by the medical practice to support this important project. Major contributions were sought from individuals able to make significant leadership gifts and large donations were requested from area corporations and businesses. Grants were sought from local and national foundations. All users of the health center were asked to contribute whatever they could to the project. This capital campaign was very successful, and the end result was the construction of the current building on Old County Road.
Dr. Cook continued to operate his practice in the new facility until his retirement in 2016. Shortly prior to his retirement, Dr. Cook sold his practice to Central Vermont Medical Center but continued to practice as an employee of CVMC. CVMC became the primary tenant of the MRVHC in July 2016 and continues to operate its family practice in the health center. In addition to the family practice run by CVMC, the MRVHC is home to three other providers: Hannah’s House, Three Moons Wellness and Dr. Richard Davis.
In the spirit of the original health center charter, in late 2021, Polly Bednash, a well-qualified member of the health center board, undertook a quest to bring COVID testing and vaccinations to the Mad River Valley. Working closely with the state health department, the Waterbury and Waitsfield Ambulance Services and Waitsfield United Church of Christ, in less than three weeks, a testing and vaccination site was activated in Waitsfield. The Valley Reporter has been an invaluable resource to communicate these services. Thank you to Mark Podgwaite of the Waterbury Ambulance Service, Rev. Mark Wilson and Lisa Loomis for being valuable partners in the effort.
The MRVHC continues to be managed by a volunteer board of directors. In 2020, taxpayer support was wound down. Rent payments are the principle source of revenue. Expenses are significant and, as the building ages, repairs to ensure an attractive facility will become a bigger part of the budget.
The board of directors relies on a number of local companies to manage and maintain the building and perform administrative tasks. We are grateful for the support provided by Mad River Property Management, Hall and Holden, P.C., Maintenance by Murphy, New England Air Systems, LLC, Paige & Campbell, Inc. and Jamieson Insurance Agency, Inc.
To learn more about the Mad River Valley Health Center go to: mrvhealthcenter.org.
Hawker is chair of the board of MRVHC.
