In the 1990s, newly certified pediatric nurse Frank Lamson worked in a school clinic in Massachusetts. The experience convinced him that similar programs could benefit rural communities.
He shared the idea with his friend, pediatrician Becky Foulk, who had just opened a private practice in South Royalton, Vermont.
With support from Foulk, local school nurses, and other partners, the two co-founded HealthHUB in 1995—the state’s first school-based clinic.
The nonprofit clinic was initially funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with funds distributed by the Vermont Agency of Human Services.
In partnership with the South Royalton Health Center, HealthHUB provides school-based medical services, mental health counseling, and, since 2009, mobile dental services.
The program initially served students in South Royalton, Sharon, Tunbridge, and Stratford, and later expanded to children and families in more than a dozen Upper Valley communities, from Brookfield to Stockbridge. Today, demand continues to grow. Leaders point out that many services, particularly mental health care, face waiting lists.
However, the mobile dental program remains one of its most notable successes. Last school year alone, the dental clinic served approximately 400 patients, highlighting the critical role that mobile medical and professional dental equipment plays in improving access to healthcare for rural families.