Office of Primary Care and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program

Stephen Leffler, M.D., M.H.C.D.S., professor of emergency medicine and president and CEO of the UVM Medical Center (left), and Sunil “Sunny” Eappen, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the UVM Health Network

(FEBRUARY 23, 2023) Stephen Leffler, M.D., M.H.C.D.S., professor of emergency medicine and president and chief executive officer of the UVM Medical Center, and Sunil “Sunny” Eappen, M.D., M.B.A., president and chief executive officer of the UVM Health Network, spoke to The Other Paper about UVMMC’s request for state approval to build a new surgery facility at its current Tilley Drive complex in South Burlington.

“We already see that our patients face access challenges, and a growing and aging population only exacerbates those challenges,” Leffler said. “We will need more capacity to meet the health care needs of the people we serve.”

“UVM Medical Center is a cornerstone of our region’s health ecosystem and must invest in new, modern facilities to meet the needs of patients now and in the future,” said Eappen. “Proceeding with this project makes financial sense, both in the face of our most immediate financial challenges and our ability to provide the highest quality care for our population for the long term. This project will directly benefit patients throughout Vermont and northern New York.”