North Star Health is excited to welcome Windham County Dental Center into its organization, a change that will support the sustainability and expansion of the center’s services. The dental center will remain a safety-net provider, serving patients who are uninsured, have Medicaid, or have private insurance. Patients will continue to see the same smiling faces they know when they come in for a visit.
The partnership builds on Windham County Dental Center’s history of responding to the health needs of Brattleboro and surrounding towns. “Joining North Star Health represents an exciting new chapter for our community. By broadening our resources and strengthening our partnerships, we can expand the services and opportunities available to our patients. This partnership provides greater sustainability for our dental center while allowing us to continue focusing on what matters most – improving the health and well-being of our community,” said Karen Wilber, Executive Director of Windham County Dental Center
North Star Health Board Chair Bob Flint said, “We’re pleased to be bringing Windham County Dental into the North Star family. We look forward to working together to continue to increase access to dental services in the Brattleboro area.”
Windham County Dental Center was established through a partnership between United Way of Windham County and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in response to the 2017 community needs assessment. The assessment identified a significant gap in dental care for people covered by Medicaid. The center opened 2019 and moved to its current location at 53 Fairview Street in 2023 and became part of North Star Health on October 1, 2026.
David Sanville, Interim CEO of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, shared, “The success of the Windham County Dental Center demonstrates what can be achieved when community organizations unite around a shared goal. The partnership between BMH and United Way created a lasting solution that continues to expand access to dental care for those who need it most.”
The United Way plans to continue their involvement by supporting expanded services for school-aged children in the region. “We see the Dental Center’s move to North Star Health as a real opportunity to deepen our partnership and support North Star’s growing presence in Windham County. We hope to explore ways to connect North Star’s health services with local schools so school-aged children and their families can access primary care more easily,” said Rebecca Baruzzi, Executive Director of United Way of Windham County.
The move will also partly support Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s sustainability through rental income that was not previously collected.
Joshua R. Dufresne MBA, CEO of North Star Health, said, “This is part of our ongoing effort to expand and serve the underserved population in Brattleboro. Bringing Windham County Dental Center into the fold will provide greater administrative support in areas such as Human Resources, Information Technology, and Communications, allowing employees to focus more fully on caring for patients.”
“I have long supported bringing a Federally Qualified Health Center into Windham County, the only county in Vermont without a community health center. I am very pleased that North Star Health is taking over operations of Windham County Dental Center. Federally Qualified Health Centers are one bright spot in our otherwise broken healthcare system. They serve anyone who walks through the door, regardless of whether they have insurance or not. They provide comprehensive, community-based care and help reduce health disparities, particularly in rural areas where access to providers can be limited. I look forward to continuing to support North Star as they expand into the region,” commented US Senator Bernie Sanders.
