Meet My Mom, Pamela P.
Pamela Parsons
Executive Director
Northern Tier Center for Health
Pamela Parsons was hired as the Executive Director of NOTCH in 1999. Pam graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. Her diverse interests and talents result in a broad employment history, including work at Franklin County Home Health, in education, and as co-owner of a construction company. Through Pam’s leadership, NOTCH has thrived – providing good jobs in a region of the state that has a large population with family income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Pam is actively involved in her community and has served on several Boards of Directors including those of: OneCare VT, Bi-State Primary Care Association, Vermont Rural Ventures, Richford Economic Advancement Corporation, Richford Renaissance Corporation, and Pharmacy Network, LLC. Pam has committed herself to improving the health and welfare of area residents. Her involvement with multiple community partners epitomizes Pam’s collaborative and innovative approach for taking care of people.
What (else) were you doing in your life when you decided to write the granting documents for a community health center and therefore create a nonprofit?
Raising a family and being responsible for the accounting for Parsons Construction at the roofing company we owned.
How many years did you serve on the board of the nonprofit (NOTCH) before becoming the executive director?
Seven years on the Board.
What has motherhood instilled in and taught you?
Having a family opens up your heart in so many different ways. You also become a member of a greater community and your home becomes a place to share.
What's different about a community health center and going somewhere else?
Health Centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations. We have a community board that delivers comprehensive, culturally sensitive care that includes medical, dental, and behavioral health. NOTCH helps with transportation, housing and food when it is needed. Open to all.
If you could wave your magic wand and change one thing about health care, what would you change?
Health care needs to acknowledge that 80% of medical conditions are caused by social determinates of health. We need to do more with housing, healthy food, education, jobs. If people are secure with these needs, the health of the population will improve.
Fundamentally, your outlook on life is that not everyone can "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." Due to being born into poverty, life circumstances, or just how large and unforgiving something like a health care system is. Where did you acquire this fundamental belief that if you can help someone you should? You have an unwavering belief people are doing the best they can and folks don't deserve to suffer, IMHO. It feels like a lot of the fights we have as a country is about who deserves help and who doesn't, so it would be interesting to know, were you born with this belief, was it one of your parents, did something happen that this shifted how you see the world?
My father grew up as a quaker and his approach in life was to bring everyone along. We didn’t have much but we did have what was shared. It was expected that we give our time and to be careful about judging others. You haven’t walked in their shoes.
About Northern Tier Center for Health (NOTCH)
The mission of NOTCH is to guard, promote, preserve, and restore the health of persons residing in Franklin and Grand Isle counties. This will be accomplished by:
applying the healing arts to all with a focus on prevention;
educating and motivating persons regarding positive health activities;
identifying potential health hazards;
reaching out, seeking to serve, and making a difference in the lives of those served regardless of ability to pay;
providing facilities, staff, equipment, and supplies for the use of those we serve;
and establishing and maintaining the organization’s financial viability, thus ensuring its enduring service.