[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 93 (Thursday, May 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3878-S3879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO THERESA ALBERGHINI DIPALMA

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, there is no State in America more 
beautiful than Vermont, but along with its jaw-dropping beauty, Vermont 
is home to some of the finest, most active and engaged citizens who 
make it such a special place.
  Theresa Alberghini DiPalma is one of those people. Theresa recently 
let it be known that she will be leaving her senior position at the 
University of Vermont Health Network.
  I have known Theresa and her late parents for more than 30 years. 
Theresa's parents were both public school teachers. They raised five 
children in Burlington, including Theresa. Her father Roy saw Active 
Duty as a lead navigator on bombers in the European theater in World 
War II. Her mother Connie was also a pillar of the community. She 
taught Spanish, and she was an accomplished musician and extraordinary 
cook.
  Theresa grew up in Burlington, the youngest of those five kids and 
the only girl. After college, she started in my Washington office 
answering phones. She steadily climbed the professional ladder to be 
both my top healthcare adviser and then my legislative director.
  For as long as I have been in the Senate, I have talked about the 
challenge of keeping, maintaining, and attracting young Vermonters to 
our State. More than 20 years ago, Theresa did just that. In the mid-
nineties, Theresa returned to Vermont to be closer to family and to 
serve as Vermont's chief healthcare regulator.
  After leaving government service, Theresa joined the University of 
Vermont College of Medicine in 2000, serving as assistant dean for 
external relations. In 2002, she was called to serve--first on a 
temporary basis and then permanently--at then-Fletcher Allen Health 
Care during a time of great challenge.
  Theresa joined a dedicated team, led by Ed Colodny, which worked 
tirelessly to restore public trust in our State's academic medical 
center.
  Theresa is a now a senior vice president for external relations at 
the University of Vermont Health Network, where she and her colleagues 
support and lead an integrated healthcare delivery system in Vermont 
and New York, dedicated to ensuring that the more than 1 million people 
in the region have access to the care they need, close to home.
  Theresa's commitment to the well-being of our communities is 
boundless. She has served on several boards, including Mercy 
Connections, the United Way of Northwest Vermont, the Lake Champlain 
Chamber, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, VELCO, VGS, Vermont Business 
Roundtable, the

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Governor's Council of Economic Advisors, and Governor Scott's 
Government Modernization and Efficiency Team, among others.
  She is deeply committed to the professional advancement of women in 
our area and routinely mentors young professionals.
  She and her husband Robert reside in Burlington. Marcelle and I think 
of their home on Maple Street as our second home. While I know one 
incredible chapter is closing for Theresa, I also know that she hasn't 
lost her passion for making Vermont a better place. I so look forward 
to seeing what is ahead.

                          ____________________