Averte – Covid 19 Update April 13th, 2020

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Hello all,

Sorry for the lack of updates, luckily, we had a very good week. Governor Scott extended the Vermont stay at home order to May 15th, so we will be continuing all efforts that have kept our community safe until at least that point.  Averte continues the intense sanitizing, minimal activity into the programs, and wearing masks.  Averte has instituted a contact trace log for all staff to help with minimal isolation needs if a positive Covid were to occur.  This log tracks all staff interaction within 6 feet of an individual for more than 5 minutes.  Averte expects this log to be infrequently used as we are following the mitigation recommendations that limit this type of contact.

Although we have suspended all group activities, which includes group therapy, our clinical department has added additional tele-health appointments as well as texting and phone calls between sessions when necessary.

One important change to share is our Psychiatry.  Dr. Keller has been re-absorbed by the inpatient team at DHMC in this time of need.  Beginning last week,  Dr. Gillian Sowden will be our psychiatrist moving forward.  Also a Dartmouth psychiatrist, Dr. Sowden has ample contact with Dr.Keller as needed.   Some may remember that Dr. Sowden covered for Dr. Keller when he was deployed by the Army a couple of years ago for approximately six months.  Averte has a long history with Dr. Sowden and has great confidence in her pharmacological abilities as well as her ability to connect with our Clients.   A little more about Dr. Sowden below.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if further information is desired.

 

 

 

Gillian Sowden, MD, is a licensed psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.  Dr. Sowden’s clinical interests include adult psychopharmacology for mood, anxiety, personality, eating and trauma related disorders, substance abuse and women’s mental health.  She also has expertise in providing psychodynamic therapy.

Dr. Sowden has special interest in medical student education and previously taught medical students at Harvard Medical School.  Currently she is supervising and teaching psychiatry residents at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Research interests have included collaborative care for patients with depression and heart disease, and simulation training for psychiatry residents.

Dr. Sowden graduated from Williams College, summa cum laude, with a BA in Biology & Biochemistry.  She graduated magna cum laude from the Harvard Medical School and did her residency in Adult Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School affiliate.