MIDDLEBURY — Porter Hospital will be formally announcing and celebrating their recent affiliation with University of Vermont Health Network this month. Although the affiliation became effective in April following a vote at the PMC annual meeting in March, a community launch celebration is planned for May 11 during National Hospital Week.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the event will include remarks by administrative leaders from both Porter and the University of Vermont Health Network and the unveiling of the new monument signs that will stand at the entrance to the medical center campus.
 “We are excited and confident that this affiliation will lead to even greater collaboration between Porter and UVM Health Network and will improve access to health care and specialized services, as well as allow Porter to continue to fulfill our mission and improve the overall health of our community” Porter CEO, Dr. Fred Kniffin, said. “We encourage both members of our Porter family and our local friends and supporters to join us for this event,” he added.
During various community presentations over the past year, Kniffin emphasized that Porter and the UVM Health Network agreed early on that maintaining the current array of clinical services that Porter now offers is essential, as is a mutual desire to bring more specialized medical care to the community and allow Porter to work collaboratively to secure closer clinical integration with the academic medical center.
“We are excited, we are enthusiastic, and we are ready to begin this new chapter in the history of Porter Medical Center to build upon a strong foundation of care and to enhance those services for the current and next generation of our patients and residents”, he added.
In addition to the formal ceremony in the morning, there will be a cook-out, live music and other festivities occurring on campus for both employees and community friends.  For more information, members of the community may call 388-4744.