MIDDLEBURY — Dr. Karen Fromhold has been appointed as the new medical director of Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, and will assume this role on Jan. 1. She will be replacing Dr. Carrie Wulfman, who recently was appointed chief medical officer for Porter Medical Center. 
Fromhold, who is a family practice physician at Little City Family Practice in Vergennes, will serve on a full-time basis as medical director to provide both administrative and clinical services for Helen Porter, as well as supporting Porter Medical Center in establishing a new platform for palliative care and chaplaincy services. Porter has been recruiting for a new full-time chaplain in recent weeks and expects to announce an appointment to this key position very soon.
“While I am excited about this new opportunity, it was a difficult decision because I will miss my patients and colleagues at Little City Family Practice, but this is a wonderful opportunity to serve this community in a new and important role, and I look forward to it,” Fromhold said.
Fromhold completed medical school at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and came to Porter in 2012 after completing her family medicine residency at UVM Medical Center with a special interest in hospice, palliative care and geriatrics.
Prior to medical school, Fromhold worked as the manager for the Vermont Respite House, served as a diversity consultant for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and volunteered in the Peace Corps to design and deliver educational programs in Honduras.
“I am gratified to be able to remain a part of this medical community and to build upon the work and accomplishments of Dr. Carrie Wulfman, who has served in this capacity for the past three years,” Fromhold said.