New Regional Coordinator for Healthier Living Workshops and Tobacco Treatment Tapped

BENNINGTON, Vt. — Kathy Dockum has joined the Vermont Blueprint for Health team as the regional coordinator for self-management workshops and as a tobacco treatment specialist. Both positions are funded through a grant and cover Southern Vermont.

Vermont Blueprint for Health offers many helpful workshops for patients that are struggling with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, emphysema or COPD. There are also workshops for people coping with chronic pain and those interested in quitting tobacco. The workshops are based on research conducted at Stanford University and are designed on the most effective principles for helping people manage their conditions or quit smoking. Registration is ongoing.

Previously, Dockum worked for more than 20 years as an office manager and patient coordinator with Dr. Michael Algus at SVMC Pulmonology in Bennington. She also worked as a volunteer with Hospice and the Project Against Violent Encounters (PAVE) for more than 10 years. She is certified tobacco treatment specialist.

“I am excited to be in this position. I have always encouraged patients to be informed about their condition and taking charge to improve their health,” Dockum said. “I look forward to helping patients discover how they can use new and old skills to improve the quality of their life.”

To learn more about upcoming Healthier Living, Chronic Pain, and FreshStart Tobacco Cessation Workshops, contact Dockum at 802-440-4098 or ksd@phin.org. For more information about all Blueprint programs, visit blueprintforhealth.vermont.gov or myhealthyvt.org.

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