Rural Ally

was built on the site of an old prison, inspiring its grimacing mascot.) He helps keep student athletes safe and ready to play—from the girls’ volleyball team, to the men’s and women’s basketball and soccer teams, to cross country runners, golfers and swimmers.

Drawing from current research in his field, he creates his own customized protocols. He helps young athletes prep before a game, manage injuries and maintain proper form on the field—but doesn’t stop there. “I’m learning to be a personal trainer, a nutritionist, a physical therapist, or helping them play the mental game,” he says.

He gets a thrill watching his young athletes on the field, and this year, the men’s wrestling team was the state runner-up. Santos says, “Being a part of that is really rewarding.” ■ — Kimberly Olson

Drawing from current research in his field, he creates his own customized protocols. He helps young athletes prep before a game, manage injuries and maintain proper form on the field.

Darian Fagan, MS ’15, OTRL, moved to Rutland, Vermont, because she and her husband sought a slower-paced lifestyle with easy access to outdoor activities.

As an occupational therapist, her skills were in high demand. She visits medically homebound patients, often traveling back roads into the countryside. “Sometimes there’s no cell service,” says the Seton Hall University alumna. “Sometimes people don’t have home phones.”

Fagan, who works for the Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR), offers a friendly face and solutions based on each patient’s need. She’s currently helping a veteran, who suffered a fall, regain the use of his arms. She adapted a microwave oven for another patient, giving her more independence in the kitchen. She helps stroke survivors restore function.

Without Fagan’s visits, many wouldn’t get the care they need. “It’s easy for people in rural areas to be forgotten,” she says. “They can get isolated. We’re the bridge between the hospital, doctors and the

people who are not well enough.”

Research shows that rural residents are 78 percent less likely to receive home-based health care than their metropolitan peers. Delivering care to rural patients is pricier, so Medicare provided an add-on payment to offset the additional expense. But Congress chose to phase out the add-ons, forcing healthcare organizations to find ways to bridge the gap.

Meanwhile, Fagan continues providing needed therapy—even innovating. “I’m working on patenting a specialized bathing brush that I’ve been trying with some patients,” she says. “I’ve seen people having a hard time bathing themselves because of various deficits, and I saw the effect it had on their health, especially if they have wounds.” She was chosen as a cohort at OnRamp, an entrepreneurial development program in Rutland that will help her create the brush and potentially take it to market. It’s just another way Fagan plans to help change people’s lives. As she says, “Anytime I’ve facilitated someone achieving a goal so they can be more independent, that’s a success.” ■ — Kimberly Olson