New Hampshire Magazine March/April 2026

DREAM RETIREMENT

What’s Inside YOUR

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New Hampshire

“Bringing the best of New England to life has special meaning as the nation’s 250th birthday approaches. Join us this season as we celebrate what makes our region— America’s birthplace —truly special.”

—Brook Holmberg Publisher, Yankee

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Thrilling Revolutionary War reenactments in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts

Horseback riding through Vermont’s fall foliage

Cooking with James Beard Award–winning Mashpee Wampanoag chef Sherry Pocknett

Setting sail in Maine’s Great Schooner Race

Autumn adventures at New Hampshire’s historic Omni Mount Washington Hotel

Foraging with Connecticut vegan chef and cookbook author Chrissy Tracey

Biking along the beautiful New Hampshire seacoast

The art of the New England clambake at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island

Learn more about our show and check local listings at WEEKENDSWITHYANKEE.COM

FIRST THINGS

8 Editor’s Note

8 Contributors

FEATURES

34 Saddle Up

UNH polo team and Kingston equestrian center gallop to success.

By Brion O'Connor, Photography by Ryan Moran

43 At Home in NH

Explore our new guide to elevated living in the Granite State, complete with design solutions that make sense.

68 Reader Photo Contest

Our reader-submitted photo contest features animals in Granite Staters' homes and in the wild.

Compiled by NH Magazine

80 2026 Top Doctors

The results of the annual Castle Connolly Top Doctors poll are in. See who made the list.

NAVIGATE

14 The Big Picture Waterfalls at Dixville Notch are the perfect illustration of spring.

Photo by Kim Nagy

16 Our Town

The home of the state's flagship university ebbs and flows with the student population.

By Paul Briand, Photos by Ryan Moran

22 Savor

Two iconic restaurants — Louie's and Loaf and Ladle — reopen on the Seacoast.

By Jill Armstrong

INFORM

28 Q&A

Meet environmentalist and author Duncan Watson.

By Emily Reily

32 What Do You Know?

Maxfield's Monument By Marshall Hudson

CONNECT

104 Living

A new generation of Granite State makers embraces fiber arts.

By Kara McGrath

114 Out and About Calendar of events

Compiled by Elisa Gonzales Verdi

116 Community

Blair Demers works to strengthen nonprofits and build healthier communities.

By Lynne Snierson

118 Healthwise

Find what you need on patient portals without getting lost.

By Krysten Godfrey Maddocks

120 Live Free

An Ode to Rock Skis

By Brion O'Connor

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

109 Ask the Experts

ON THE COVER: Make yourself at home, and enjoy our special report on how to elevate your living spaces.

Photo by Jared Kuzia

Bring it on ‘Home’

WHEN I RETURNED to New Hampshire from Colorado more than a decade ago, I moved into a condo barely half the space of the home I left behind.

While 950 square feet (plus a finished basement) seems small by U.S. standards, it’s really all the room two people need and exceeds the average size of a home in the UK — and much of the rest of the world.

After going big for decades, home sizes are starting to contract in the U.S., as the cost of property, material and labor have skyrocketed and inventory has plummeted.

Home sizes in the U.S. began expanding from 1,800 square feet in 1980 and peaked at nearly 2,500 square feet in 2015, according to Census data cited by the National Association of Realtors. Over the past few years, they’ve averaged about 2,200, still plenty big by global standards.

While high-end homes are often more than twice that big, smaller ranches and condos are in high demand by baby boomers ready to downsize and young couples looking for starter homes.

When space is at a premium, maximizing how you use it becomes essential. That’s the theme of the lead story in this month’s special Home & Garden Guide, a collaboration with our sister publication, New Hampshire Home Magazine (page 43).

In “Living Large in Small Spaces,” contributor Rob Duca shares tips from NH home professionals about how to save space with style. (Hint: It might involve decluttering.)

Whether you’re trying to upgrade your existing home or are building a new but smaller one, they can help you make smart choices — from design features to appliance picks — that cut those space challenges down to size.

Janice Rohlf, editor of New Hampshire Home, serves as your tour guide for this special section, which she directed.

Spaces and places

My first apartment was a modest two-bedroom in Durham, but even for a family of three, including an infant boy just learning to walk, it seemed colossal compared to the tiny dorm room I shared with a roommate at the University of New Hampshire.

We lived in Durham and marked the seasons not just with the changing weather but with the arrival and departure of college students, much like seaside residents do with summer tourists.

Durham resident Paul Briand, a regular contributor to NH Business Review (for which I also serve as editor), wrote this month’s “Our Town” about the university community (page 16). UNH senior Ryan Moran contributed photography.

Moran’s images also accompany Brion O’Connor’s feature on the upstart UNH polo team and the equestrian center in Kingston where members train (page 34).

O’Connor’s “Live Free” essay (page 120) introduced me to a concept that was new to this newbie skier: “rock skis.” These are the old but trusted pairs you pull out of the back of the garage for spring skiing, when the slopes start revealing patches of grass but you still want to get some turns in.

Top docs

March/April heralds our annual Top Docs feature, where you can find the best physicians in every practice area working in hospitals and medical centers across the Granite State (page 80). The 2026 Top Doctors Poll, conducted by national research firm Castle Connolly, includes more than 760 doctors, as nominated by their peers. Whatever your medical needs — cardiac care, dermatology, sports medicine — you can find the best of the best here.

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New Hampshire Magazine® is published by Yankee Publishing, Inc., 250 Commercial Street, Suite 4014, Manchester, NH 03101, 603-624-1442. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements/ opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, Yankee Publishing, Inc.: New Hampshire Magazine disclaims all responsibility for omissions and errors. New Hampshire Magazine is published monthly, with the exception of February and April.

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Send letters to Editor Mike Cote, New Hampshire Magazine, 250 Commercial St., Suite 4014, Manchester, NH 03101, or email him at mikecote@yankeepub.com.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast calls for continued publication

The Old Farmer’s Almanac touts an 80 percent accuracy rate for its weather forecasts, but it could not have predicted a sales surge for the 2026 edition.

After a competitor with a very similar name — Farmer’s Almanac — ceased publication in November, editors at The Old Farmer’s Almanac immediately took to social media and the web to clear up confusion about its future.

What they did not expect was a sellout. With the holiday season just beginning, stock was depleted, said Sherin Pierce, publisher of The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

“We went back on press and reprinted 137,000 copies,” said Pierce, noting the outpouring of support from readers — including some who posted comments online to correct media reports that got the story wrong.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, published by Yankee Publishing Inc., the parent company of New Hampshire Magazine, sells about 2.3 million copies annually.

— Mike Cote

Spot FOUR newts like the one here, hidden on ads in this issue, tell us where you found them and you might win a gift certificate for $50 to use at The Common Man Restaurants. Each month’s gift card will be different, which adds to the overall Newt fun. Let the hunt begin!

To enter our drawing for Spot the Newt, visit spotthenewt.com and fill out the online form. Or, send answers plus your name, email address and mailing address to:

Spot the Newt c/o New Hampshire Magazine 250 Commercial St., Suite 4014 Manchester, NH 03101

You can also email them to newt@nhmagazine.com.

Last month’s “Spot the Newt” winner is Deborah Brooks of Colebrook. January/February issue newts were on pages 17, 19, 31 and 93.

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Spring Waters

“Photography has taught me many valuable life lessons. I visited Dixville Notch one day for wildlife photography, and there was little activity. It was dark and gloomy. At first disappointed (I drove hours to get here!), I changed my mindset and realized that a dark and gloomy day is perfect for waterfalls. In nature, there’s always something going on. Photography, like life, is all about focus.”

PHOTO BY KIM NAGY

Old Durham Town

The home of the state’s flagship university ebbs and flows with the student population

BY PAUL BRIAND / PHOTOS BY RYAN MORAN / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER & ISLA NOONAN

To many people on the outside looking in, Durham is simply a “college town.”

Indeed, it is home to the University of New Hampshire, the state’s flagship fouryear public institution.

But it is so much more, says Todd Selig, Durham’s town administrator since 2001.

“We have what I would call the quintessential New England charm downtown,” Selig says. “It’s a beautiful downtown that’s on a very human scale, and it’s a pleasure to be there to walk around.”

Selig describes the town’s “tremendous ethos for land conservation” as its foundation for wooded and coastal areas that remain accessible to the public.

Durham is located at the mouth of the Oyster River, which snakes its way through town on its way to Great Bay. Its cooperative school system with the towns of Lee and Madbury is named for that river.

“We have huge tracts of the town that have been conserved over decades to create sort of natural, undisturbed areas where people can hike and walk and reflect,” Selig says. “People might be most familiar with a property like Wagon Hill Farm right on Route 4. But then you’ve got the Oyster River Forest, the Doe Farm, the College Woods — acres and acres of long horse trails of natural space.”

Wagon Hill Farm is exactly what the name implies — a farm wagon situated on top of a scenic hill on land that was privately owned starting in 1653 until it was acquired by the town in 1989.

Listed among the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places, the property, which abuts the Oyster River, encompasses some 139 acres for hiking, walking dogs and winter sledding.

Durham’s history traces back to the

earliest days of the American colonies. Originally known as Oyster River Plantation when settled in 1635, it was then part of Dover, the seventh-oldest settlement in the nascent American colonies.

It became Durham — named after Durham, England — with its incorporation in 1732.

Gunpowder, stolen by colonists from a Royal British fortification in New Castle and later used at the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill, was said to have been stored in various Durham locations.

UNH’s origins date back to 1893, when the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts moved from Hanover to Durham on land willed expressly for that purpose by Benjamin Thompson, a wealthy (and said to be eccentric) farmer.

It is now a university with undergraduate and graduate programs and about 11,400 undergraduates and 2,200 graduate students, many of whom live in Durham.

Unlike other college towns, where the school is an island unto itself, the UNH campus, residences, sorority and fraternity houses and facilities “meld into one another and create great opportunities for cross connection between residents and

students and faculty and staff,” Selig says.

The overall population of the town ebbs and flows with the student population. The resident population numbers about 10,500. The bulk of that population, according to census information, is employed in education services-related jobs, while the balance is spread among health care, accommodation/ food services, retail, scientific/technical and others.

Joe Friedman was a Durham outsider looking in, and is now an insider looking out.

Originally from Connecticut, he transferred from Union College in New York and was a UNH politics science major who graduated in 1977. He left for a while and returned to live in 2012.

He remembers the town, even in the ’70s, as being what he described as “environmentally sensitive.” Indeed, it was the town of Durham and its grassroots efforts that in 1974 effectively blocked Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis from constructing a then $600 million oil refinery, targeting 3,000 acres along Great Bay in Durham for the plant and tank farm.

As home to the state’s largest liberal arts college, Friedman also remembers the political activism, given New Hampshire’s place as home to the first presidential primary.

“It was a treat,” recalls Friedman, now chair of Durham’s Town Council. “All the candidates who come to New Hampshire, and invariably they come to Durham, so you got to see the national candidates.”

Dave Gerard arrived from Long Island, New York, as a UNH student and remained as a full-time resident after his 1985 graduation.

“I’m grateful, because I ended up here pretty organically,” says Gerard, who has worked full-time as a musician, solo singer/songwriter and frontman for the band Truffle.

His friends, bandmates and the people in town helped Gerard create a connection to the community that has stayed with him through the years. “I just fell in love with it. I loved being by the water for certain. I mean, everybody’s just so friendly around here,” he says.

He does his banking in town; he gets his haircut in town. The servers at his favorite cafe downtown know him. Wagon Hill is where he occasionally walks his dog, where his daughter slid down its snowy hill.

“It felt comfortable,” Gerard says. “It certainly has a much more laid-back feel than where I grew up, and I think I was really attracted to that.”

You will still find our hilltop hideaway at the end of the winding dirt road. Lighten your spirit as you step out of your world and into ours. Welcome to Pickity Place. Have a Pickity Day!

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Online auction begins March 24th at 8AM with hundreds of choices to bid on!

NAVIGATE | our town

Durham is a residential community, with small pockets of commercial/retail/industrial opportunities downtown and in a large manufacturing facility that once produced newspaper production-related equipment. And therein lies the challenge.

For the last few years, Selig has raised concerns that without more commercial/ retail/industrial development, more and more of the tax burden will fall on homeowners. In late 2025, homeowners received increased property tax levies because of higher residential property values and higher costs associated with the town and its cooperative school system.

One key area of expanded commercial development is the downtown, now a mix of small shops, restaurants, pizza parlors and bars. Business owners are often challenged, according to Selig, by a fluctuating population — busy when the students are in town, not so busy when they aren’t.

“If one looks around at the most thriving downtowns, they almost always have a few

stories of residential above, commercial and retail uses on the first floor,” he says. Durham is looking at a rezoning of the downtown that would allow multi-floored mixed commercial/residential development.

“It creates the opportunity for new construction that might be higher than we have

now, inhabited by a broader range of the population living above who could support the businesses,” he says.

Other areas of potential significant commercial development include the Mill Plaza (currently owned by Torrington Properties, which has been on a commercial development blitzkrieg throughout the Granite State) and the former Goss Manufacturing newspaper equipment building on Technology Drive, now owned by the R.J. Kelly Co..

Then there’s The Edge in the so-called West End part of town, an academic, research, business and residential project proposed by UNH in cooperation with the town.

“The Edge at West End is, from my perspective, a huge opportunity for the University of New Hampshire to bring in industry partners, and that can offer cutting-edge, real-life experience for students and job pipeline for students, and lease or ongoing additional revenue for UNH,” Selig says.

“Because much of what is being envisioned out there would be privately owned and be taxable, that would be a tremendous prospect for the broadening of the tax base,” he says.

Friedman is also excited about the potential for how The Edge could benefit the town as a whole.

“It’s certainly a foundation for continued growth on that side,” he says. “And I think that retail, with all the infrastructure that’s in place, could grow again, also in downtown. If we had more year-round residents, they could walk there within 5 or 10 minutes.”

Second Serving

Two iconic restaurants — Louie’s, and Loaf and Ladle — reopen on the Seacoast

BY JILL ARMSTRONG

The significance of neighborhood restaurants extends well beyond the food. These locales are gathering places where people find connection and make memories that last a lifetime, whether it’s sharing a midweek charcuterie board with a friend or relishing the wholesome comfort of soup and bread with the family on a cold winter afternoon.

For many on the Seacoast, the loss of two community staples several years ago — Louie’s of Portsmouth and Exeter’s Loaf and Ladle — was particularly devastating.

In 2017, the Pleasant Street building that housed Louie’s burned down. The irreparable damage forced owners James Woodhouse and RJ Joyce to close their doors and begin the search for a new location. Eight years later, and to the delight of many loyal patrons, Louie’s reopened in October on the port city’s West End.

“People are showing up,” said Woodhouse, seated at a dining room table, bright morning light flooding through the windows. “It’s a game-changer, and it’s helped us survive.”

About a year after the fire, Woodhouse and Joyce took over the Carriage House restaurant in Rye, another beloved Seacoast institution, while they worked on reopening Louie’s.

“It’s no exaggeration. Every single night that we opened the door at the Carriage House somebody would tell us that they miss Louie’s and asked when it would

PHOTO BY JILL

reopen,” Joyce said. “It was always super flattering. That support sustained us from the very start when the fire happened and we didn’t have a new home.”

Louie’s continues to serve rustic Italian cuisine. Returning customers will recognize the menu’s format: a section dedicated to pasta appetizers, such as cacio e pepe and pansotti; a selection of local and imported

cheese and charcuterie items; and several entrees, including whole roasted flounder and dry-aged duck, their accoutrements evolving with the seasons.

“Even at the Pleasant Street location, the menu evolved seasonally, so we didn’t think that going back to our last menu made a lot of sense because we are eight years evolved,” Woodhouse said. “We like to think that the

menu would have evolved along with that.”

Although the atmosphere of the new restaurant looks completely different — a refined, contemporary space in a brick building off Islington Street — longtime patrons will recognize the distinctive display of wooden shoe lasts tucked away in the dining room’s interior.

The lasts were part of a much larger

installation at the old location, which featured hundreds of these foot-shaped molds, all facing in the same direction. “Every night after we left, one of our staff would turn one backward. It would drive us insane. And no one ’fessed up,” Joyce said, laughing.

When asked about the origin of the restaurant’s name, the pair said they wanted Louie’s to capture the idea and feel of their brand. Ultimately, they wanted a name that was conceptually Italian enough, but that also felt familiar, like an iconic neighborhood joint.

“We’ve always wanted to make sure that we defined ourselves by our warmth,” Joyce said. “We’re not just an occasional kind of thing. When people join you midweek, you’re in the fabric of their life.”

BREAKING BREAD IN EXETER

Exeter’s Loaf and Ladle, which reopened in December after a 12-year hiatus, is another iconic establishment whose legacy in the community has endured. The new location of this family-run bakery, which serves up fresh bread and homemade soups, is run by Andrew and Aidan Ulery, the sons of Meredith Pease-Stolper Mygatt, who purchased the shop from Joan Harlow in 1986.

The new location is housed in what was formerly St. Anthony’s Bakery. An acquaintance of the Ulerys, owner Anthony Antosiewicz decided it was time to retire and sold the shop to them.

“It felt nice to be able to take over a spot that was already a spot,” Andrew said.

“It didn’t feel like we were stepping on someone’s toes.”

While the original restaurant sat 99 inside and 45 outside, the new Loaf and Ladle is much more intimate. Regardless, the Ulerys have done their best to preserve what guests remember most: the yellow and green colorway, the long, wooden tray railing at the counter, and the same recipes from Harlow’s 1983 “Loaf and Ladle Cookbook” — the Iberian chicken soup, for example, which has been a fan favorite early into the reopening.

Living only a block from the original location, and just young boys themselves when their mother purchased the restaurant, Andrew and Aidan grew up in the business. “A lot of the early cooks were our babysitters,” Andrew said. “And they always wanted to get

us in there, serving drinks and cookies — just being the cute kids behind the counter.”

As the brothers worked to reopen, friends lent a hand renovating the space. A former baker, who now owns a bike manufacturing company, has returned to make sandwiches on Saturdays during the winter months. And past employees have come in requesting the “Tommy B,” a staff nickname for the hearty tomato blue cheese soup that emerged from the kitchen years ago.

“Reopening has been sort of a fireball,” Andrew said. “There’s been a lot of hype, and things have been going really well.”

“Everyone’s said thank you for bringing it back,” Aidan added. “They appreciate all the things we’ve done to make it feel like the Loaf.”

Andrew and Aidan were flattered when a longtime patron came in to show off his new tattoo: a reproduction of the Loaf and Ladle logo, which features a slice of bread positioned between two curved soup ladles.

“He got it a month before we opened,” Aidan said. “He had the cookbook, and his family were big Loaf and Ladle people. He’d been coming here since he was a baby.”

Linda Clark, who started working at the Loaf and Ladle in the fall of 1986, visited on opening day, savoring two of her favorites: a cup of clam chowder and a slice of the lemon-carrot bread.

“That brought back all the memories of years past,” she said. She even made sure to bring a loaf of the signature anadama bread, a dark, rustic bread made with cornmeal and

molasses, back to her coworkers at the office.

Clark remembers the early days fondly: “We had a line out the door for several hours every day, and the energy was electric.”

“I learned so much at the Loaf and Ladle,” she said. “I think so many of us were shaped by our time there.”

The Loaf and Ladle experienced its fair share of hardships, Clark recalled, mostly in the form of flooding events. “But we always bounced back a stronger team,” she said, “ready to get back to what we were so good at.” NH

Louie’s, 909 Islington St., Portsmouth louiesnh.com

The Loaf and Ladle, 231 Water St., Exeter Facebook

INSIDER INSIGHTS:

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Co-Owner | Manchester Firing Line, 2540 Brown Ave., Manchester, NH | gunsnh.com

Q. What does the Iron Rose Women’s Shooting Club focus on?

Iron Rose was created to serve all women interested in firearm education, regardless of experience level. Women come into this space for many different reasons, and Iron Rose is designed to meet them where they are. Whether a woman is brand new to firearms, returning after time away or continuing to build skills and confidence, the focus is on education, safe handling and responsible ownership. Just as importantly, Iron Rose emphasizes belonging. The goal is to create an environment where learning feels accessible, respectful, and supportive at every stage.

Q. Iron Rose emphasizes a non-intimidating environment. What does that look like in practice?

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together, and when women support one another, everyone benefits.

Q. How did your own experience shape Iron Rose, and how do you hope it continues to grow?

I came into this industry feeling intimidated myself, and after more than a decade as a range owner and instructor, I have never forgotten what it feels like to be new. Iron Rose exists because I did not want women to feel like they were stepping into a space that was not built for them. Our motto is “Go Where You Grow,” because growth does not have to happen in one place. It simply needs to happen. As Iron Rose has grown, it has evolved into a national online community of women and female instructors supporting one another across state lines. That growth is reflected in the National Iron Rose Rise Together Weekend each October, which brings women together from across the country for education, connection and collaboration. When leaders collaborate instead of compete, we rise together.

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Good grief, Duncan Watson!

The Walpole environmentalist caps a career in waste management with a new book while embracing his childhood vocation as Charlie Brown

BY EMILY REILY

Duncan Watson of Walpole has spent more than 30 years being passionate about sustainable solid waste management.

Though it’s a highly technical topic, Watson believes saving the planet by reusing more and discarding less can be simplified with a change in thinking.

In Watson’s 2025 book, “Everybody’s Trash:

One Man Against 1.6 Billion Pounds,” the recently retired Keene assistant public works director uses eye-opening anecdotes from his own life to illustrate the importance of caring for the environment.

Watson has yet another notable accomplishment: voicing the indomitable “Peanuts” character Charlie Brown from 1975 to 1977 in TV specials like “Be My Valentine, Charlie

Brown” and “You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown,” and the feature-length film, “Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown.”

Besides greeting faithful Peanuts fans at comic-cons, Watson educates others around the state about new methods of recycling and waste disposal. And like Charlie Brown, Watson remains optimistic that things can change for the better.

New Hampshire Magazine: How did your interest in conservation begin?

Duncan Watson: In California in the earlyto mid-’70s, there was a pretty significant drought. Conserving water was something that we needed to do, and we took that all very seriously. To this day, I have trouble taking a shower that’s more than, like, a minute long, just because I’m thinking about water conservation.

NHM: How do you explain sustainability to others?

DW: I talk a lot about infrastructure. In July of 1969, I was at the ticker-tape parade in New York City to welcome home the astronauts from Apollo 11. It was literally a pipe dream just a few years earlier. Yet, we were still dragging suitcases to the airports, because wheels on suitcases did not appear in the patents until 1970. We’re basically at a point in our solid waste management program where we’re dragging our suitcase to the airport, and we need wheels.

NHM: What do you mean?

DW: The “wheels” is basically investment in infrastructure. The ability exists today to repurpose, have a higher and better use solution, from an energy standpoint, about 90 percent of our waste stream. Only 10 percent of that incoming waste stream would need to be landfilled.

This technology exists. In (Granada, Spain, and Oslo, Norway), they’re achieving very, very high diversion rates. One of these facilities that I’m talking about costs between $500 million and $700 million to build.

NHM: Will something better be implemented in the U.S.?

DW: (People will) basically say, ‘If we just build a new cell on the landfill, it’ll take care of this problem.’ That’s part of the challenge. People don’t understand that there is an alternative, and it’s far superior to what we’re doing right now. Unless we start talking about investments in infrastructure, this is just magical thinking, and nothing’s going to change.

NHM: Can this be accomplished in your lifetime?

DW: I sure hope so. Gosh. I’m 62 years old, and I see how things move at a glacial pace. But there’s no good reason not to do it. I hope that as more people become aware there is a better mouse trap out there, the public senti ment can get the attention of lawmakers.

And if we don’t get our collective act together with using this existing technology, then we’ve been sold out by the corporate interests.

NHM: You mentioned dumpster-diving in your book. Do you do that yourself, too?

DW: Oh, heck, yeah. It’s a professional curiosity. I’m always fascinated at what people will throw away. It’s a way of getting a snapshot of waste disposal behaviors when you get a chance to climb up on the side of the dumpster and peer over the side — even if there isn’t something that you might be able to snag out of it.

NHM: Given all that discussion, can one person still make a difference?

DW: Absolutely. I have always maintained that every individual action does, in fact, make a difference. I have a character on the front of my book named Recycling Sam, and his motto is, “Everyone makes a difference.”

NHM: Was it difficult to include your voice work in your book, because it might draw more attention to that when you want to focus on the environment?

DW: I’m getting a little more used to that part of my life coming to the forefront. The secret (is) sort of out now. It doesn’t define me, but it’s also a cool part of my resume. I’m very grateful and humbled that I got to participate in something like that. It’s also a little strange, being the voice of Charlie Brown. It’s a long, long time ago.

I’m clearly more interested in my legacy being what I did on the environmental front, but I’m also grateful. And I’m intrigued that there’s a huge fan base out there, and I get to meet some people that I never would have met under other circumstances. And I like doing that.

NHM: Are you ultimately glad for that opportunity?

DW: Yes. I didn’t know anything about this world. My association with Charlie Brown was extraordinary; but again, it was also 50 years ago. That people would still be interested in that work that I did all those years ago is sometimes a little head-scratching. Somehow, by some stroke of good fortune, I got to be associated with probably one of

“Somehow, by some stroke of good fortune, I got to be associated with probably one of the top five iconic cartoon characters in the world.”

Each day, every single person in the United States discards about 5 pounds of waste. Be it a bottle that gets placed in a recycling bin or a piece of paper crumpled and tossed into the waste bin, every bit of the daily 1.6 billion pounds cast off has a story. This book is full of those stories. It will wake you up and give you hope. As the author, Duncan Watson says, “More people in America recycle than vote. Recycling is more popular than democracy!”

Watson began his personal trash journey in his pre-teens as an attendant at a small municipal recycling center in Northern California. He has been helping run the city of Keene’s solid waste program for 33 years and has brought national attention to the program for solid waste disposal that Keene has built. Duncan spins a good yarn, and the rich characters who populate the “dump” in Keene provide endless entertainment and a lot of laughs. Always a storyteller, he continues to explore the possibility of transforming the dump culture to provide a vision of something bigger, something worthy.

“Everybody’s Trash: One Man Against 1.6 Billion Pounds” can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, NH Audubon and local book sellers.

the top five iconic cartoon characters in the world. I’m just really humbled and grateful that I got to be a part of that. It’s definitely a part of history. I just got really lucky being in the right place at the right time.

NHM: “Peanuts” TV specials are a big part of some families’ holiday entertainment; you must hear so many stories like that.

DW: That’s exactly what I’m talking about. I put it into a phrase of: ‘Is it really a holiday until you watch the “Peanuts” special?’

NHM: When did you realize being the voice of Charlie Brown was so important to people?

DW: Well, when you go to these comic-cons and you set up your table with various Charlie Brown or “Peanuts” scenes, and (fans) start telling you about how your voice was something that they would use as a lighthouse, for a safe harbor for themselves. When they needed some comfort or some safety and security, they would put on their “Peanuts” specials because they knew what was going to happen. They associated my voice with something that represented something comfortable to them.

And I love holding space for that and hearing what that meant to them. And I understand — It’s obviously not me. It’s something much, much bigger than me that I just happened to be associated with.

NHM: What is your favorite Charlie Brown episode that you worked on?

DW: “Be My Valentine” was my favorite one, because it was my first one. It’s very sad that Charlie Brown brings two briefcases to school for Valentine’s Day, thinking of all the Valentine’s he’s going to get. And then he ends up getting no Valentines whatsoever. His friends feel bad and bring him a used Valentine, and he’s so desperate to get the Valentine that he’ll accept the used one. These are pretty great gags.

I always think of Charlie Brown as the ultimate optimist. It never really does go the way that he thinks it’s going to. And he doesn’t give up. He picks himself up, dusts himself off and tries again. I’ve had many, many Charlie Brown type of incidents in my life. And I think we can all relate to these things, but we don’t give up. We realign and try again. NH

Maxfield’s Monument

A poor farmer who scrimped on his own needs left a surprise in his will to his beneficiaries

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARSHALL HUDSON

I’m poking around in an old cellar hole on a forgotten farm in the corner of the world where the towns of Canterbury, Loudon and Concord all come together. The cellar hole is atop a rocky knoll, and somewhat like a castle moat, is surrounded by wide, stagnant marsh.

Old maps indicate that a road once provided access to this house, but historical records reveal the house was dismantled about 100 years ago, and maintenance of the road ceased. Encroaching forests and zealous beavers have plugged the swamp outlets and flooded the access road. I hoofed it in here following abandoned roads and crossing the frozen marsh on the ice.

Maps of this area are contradictory, with some showing the entire area being a part of

the town of Loudon, but the town line corner markers indicate the old farm straddled the town line. While the house was in Canterbury, the adjacent barn was in Loudon. Both structures are now long gone. The remaining cellar holes, stone walls and outbuilding foundations suggest this farm was once an active place.

The family burying ground, across the dooryard from the barn, is small and contains a handful of headstones. Probably not intentionally, but some of the graves are in Canterbury and some in Loudon.

An important-looking monument in the center of the cemetery announces the name, “Maxfield.” Collectively, the dates on the headstones suggest the family resided here for generations, up until the early

1900s. Puzzled by why such a prominent monument would exist at this remote hardscrabble farm, I found the answer in an old newspaper clipping.

The last Maxfield to own the property was William Maxfield, a farmer who grew apples on this hill in the late 1800s and then sold them door-to-door from a broken-down horse-drawn wagon. The road into his farm from Canterbury Center was rough and unpassable at times, so Maxfield preferred to travel the longer route into Loudon Village, where he sold his apples and other produce. Village residents described him as frugal and poor: “He was short and chubby and had a full beard and wore a rusty looking coat. He looked like he didn’t have the things he needed.” Maxfield appeared to be teetering on poverty, and housewives sometimes took pity and purchased his produce whether they needed it or not.

Maxfield lived all 76 years of his life as a bachelor on the farm, and died alone in 1905 of what is described as “cardiac dropsy and valvular disease of the heart.” His handwritten last will and testament left a small amount of cash to be shared by nieces and

nephews, along with a donation to the Canterbury Free Will Baptist Church. He also left money for his burial expenses, requesting to be laid to rest beside his parents, in the family graveyard.

The will further stated that the remainder of his property and assets were to be left to the town of Loudon. His farm consisted of 119 acres, which included the rundown house on 10 acres in Canterbury, 2 acres in Concord and the remainder in Loudon. Except for some small orchards, most of the land was rocky, steep or wetland.

Maxfield’s will stipulated that Loudon could never sell the farm, and that the town must maintain the family cemetery located on it. Because the farm couldn’t be sold, it had little cash value. It was presumed that other than the farm, there were few additional assets in his estate. To everyone’s surprise, Maxfield had cash and savings worth some $16,692. He also had a life insurance policy valued at $20,000, a significant amount of money in 1905. An inventory of his estate also discovered Maxfield owned rental properties in Penacook and Loudon.

Maxfield’s will bequeathed nine relatives a combined gift totaling $1,800. When the will and inventory of his estate were placed on public record at probate court, the nine relatives, along with five other relatives, protested and filed a lawsuit contesting the legality of the handwritten will, charging that the deceased Maxfield was not of sound mind, and that the will hadn’t been properly witnessed.

The NH Superior Court upheld the terms of the will and dismissed the charges brought by the disgruntled relatives.

Residents of Loudon must have been surprised to discover that the frugal and poor Maxfield had generously left his farm, worldly possessions and bulk of his estate to the town. Loudon residents voted to accept the donations, along with the stipulations specified in Maxfield’s will. Further, they voted to use this money to construct a Maxfield Public Library named in his honor. The new library would

be built at the crossroads in the village where he had once sold apples door-to-door. Construction of the new library was completed in 1909 and remains in operation today, although expansion projects have increased its size.

Maxfield’s farmhouse, a deteriorating, dark, center chimney cape on an open hilltop in Canterbury, was leased out for a few years by the town of Loudon. But about 30 years after his death, Loudon voters lacking funds for the continual maintenance and repairs had it torn down. Workmen dismantling the building found books and old magazines stuffed beneath the floorboards acting as crude insulation to keep the winter wind and cold out. The barn lasted a few more years and then it, too, was taken down.

This story explains the cellar holes I’m now exploring, and also the unusual Maxfield monument in the woods at this remote site. Perhaps it also explains why maps of this area sometimes indicate Loudon bulging across the town line into Canterbury. What it doesn’t explain is why an apple farmer went without the things he needed, only to leave significant funds to the town. But I think Maxfield would be pleased to know his lifetime of scrimping and saving resulted in a public library, monument and curious tale.

You never know what you’ll find poking around in old cellar holes. NH

UNH Wildcats and Kingswood New England Polo & Equestrian gallop to success

ederico “Fede” Wulff had a dream. This past fall, as his piercing blue eyes gazed across his Kingswood of New England Polo & Equestrian facility in East Kingston, watching princely horses trot through the bucolic setting, the 40-year-old native of Argentina realized his dream was now a reality.

“The concept of our business is to follow our passion,” Wulff says. “I know for sure that we and the entire Kingswood family are doing this for the right reasons.”

The serene setting, though, was soon replaced by controlled mayhem, as the women’s polo teams from the University of New Hampshire and Skidmore College squared off at Kingswood’s cavernous indoor arena. For Wulff, that dichotomy is the very nature of polo.

“For me, polo is the most difficult sport in the world,” he says. “It combines a unique connection with the horses, endless strategies, teamwork and lots of work and training behind the scenes.”

While Kingswood may be the culmination of Wulff’s vision, there’s little question that he and this impressive facility have launched many more dreams — reviving a moribund horse farm, establishing a first-class equestrian and polo facility, and enabling UNH to launch a successful women’s polo program in 2024, while also absorbing the polo programs at Babson College.

“Fede is instrumental in both Kingswood’s and UNH polo team’s success,” says Ariadne “Ari” Dogani, captain of the UNH polo team and a senior in the Animal Science: Equine Industry and Management program within UNH’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA). “Without his management of horses and people, his personality, his knowhow, his horsemanship, and his exceptional ability as player and coach, our UNH polo team would not have been able to rise to prominence in such a short time.”

Wulff has coached the Babson teams since 2022 and recently took over the reins of the UNH team from Kingswood assistant manager Ernesto “Rulo” Trotz. Like Wulff, Trotz hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He first came to the United States with his father, a professional polo player, and then relocated more permanently eight years ago to pursue his own polo career. He has played with Wulff and was impressed with his countryman’s devotion to his profession.

“When Fede created Kingswood, I told him, ‘Don't leave me out of this. I want to be a part of this,’ ” Trotz says. “I saw the potential that the place had. Federico has a lot of imagination, a lot of plans and a lot of projects. I wanted to work in a place like that.”

Wulff arrived here in 2002 to play polo professionally (he is a three-goal-rated professional; five goals indoors) and work as a trainer. The Kingswood location in East Kingston, he says, is ideal, “close enough to

the city of Boston. But, the number of schools and universities is also great for upcoming polo players.”

The 180-acre operation is an equestrian utopia, offering boarding options and riding instruction for all ages. During the winter, Kingswood houses between 40 and 60 horses, and that number increases to more than 100 during the warmer months. Similarly, Wulff’s staff of five during the winter expands to 10 in the summer. The property, by equestrian standards, is immaculate.

“The Kingswood facility is state of the art,” says Claira Seely, assistant professor with

UNH’s Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems, and faculty advisor to the UNH polo team. “I can safely say it is one of the nicest horse barns I have ever been in.”

As the farm’s name suggests, Kingswood’s priority is polo, embodying Wulff’s vision of establishing a world-class program in New England. But Kingswood needed more than a vision; it required a serious financial investment and plenty of elbow grease. Work began immediately after Wulff purchased the dilapidated property in June 2022, with a full renovation of the existing stables and barn, barn bathroom and temperature-controlled

tack rooms, the addition of 18 stalls in a second barn, 14 outdoor paddocks and 30 outdoor stalls, plus a new outdoor polo field and outdoor practice area.

The center stage at Kingswood is the facility’s indoor polo arena. Insulated and illuminated with LED lighting, the arena features an elevated, heated viewing deck with linen-covered tables for spectators, two new bathrooms, dressing rooms and a players’ lounge that showcases the trophies won by Kingswood-affiliated teams. Spectators — typically family members and friends — set up tables of food and other refreshments,

giving the deck a true tailgating feel.

“The atmosphere we’re trying to create is that you can spend the whole day here,” Wulff says.

But creating an inviting space, and drawing new polo fans, meant dispelling misconceptions about the game.

“Many people do not try the sport because they think it is too exclusive,” Wulff says. “We try to attract as many new people as possible and guide them through it, showing them that there’s always a way.

“There is much more to the sport — the love of the animals, the lifestyle, how

healthy it is for families to be involved in such an amazing environment,” he says.

Wulff established an interscholastic program for young players ages 12 to 18, an intercollegiate program that currently hosts UNH and Babson, a club polo program for Kingswood members and a coaching league program for beginners. During the summer, Kingswood offers similar programs outdoors, and Wulff plans to host tournaments every Saturday to increase exposure.

“We want to make a difference by making sure people know that this place is for everybody,” Wulff says. “The gates are always open.”

The lure is the expertise that Wulff, Trotz and other staff members bring to the Kingswood programs, and the quality of the amenities.

“We have the facilities, and we’re waiting for more players to get involved, new people that are not from the sport and want to see what it’s about,” Trotz says. “And I guarantee that everybody, every person that comes, they get hooked.”

Wildcats with mallets

Shortly after purchasing Kingswood, Wulff welcomed the Babson College men’s and women’s polo teams. His plan for hosting collegiate programs was elegant and affordable. Kingswood provides the ponies, including their care and boarding, the facilities where the teams can practice and play, and any necessary coaching. The schools produce the players and a portion of the required finances.

“We offer a premium service for riders,” Wulff says. “Colleges usually have a hard time figuring out ways to afford their polo program. There are too many expenses and responsibilities, so eventually their efforts wear off and their level of horses gets weaker.

“We’re a third-party provider, and (the schools) don’t have to think of anything,” he says. “Kingswood offers sustainability. You only succeed by growing the program. You have to keep growing.”

The seamless integration of the Babson teams paved the way to establishing the women’s polo program at UNH. Driven in large part by Dogani and her parents, Wulff offered Kingswood as the team’s home base, but the idea still took several years to reach fruition.

“Polo isn’t just another college or club

sport,” says Dogani, 21, of Brookline, Massachusetts. “Besides the players, it requires a college recognition as a college sport, a faculty sponsor, team formation documents, a regulation polo arena, strings of trained polo horses, a polo coach and funding for a budget to maintain all of the above. With the support and persistence of the leadership of COLSA, the UNH Foundation, and the United States Polo Association, we found a way to combine our team’s enthusiasm, Kingswood’s expert coaching and polo resources, and launched the team for the 2024-25 season.”

“There is much more to the sport — the love of the animals, the lifestyle, how healthy it is for families to be involved in such an amazing environment."

— FEDERICO “FEDE” WULFF

According to Wulff, the ongoing support and financial investment of the Dogani family “has been essential with everything at Kingswood.”

“They believe in my dream and vision, and from there, the journey began,” Wulff says. “We say to each other: This is two families sharing a dream, and we need to make sure this concept is what other people see so we can make the polo family bigger.

“The Doganis thought how important it would be to add another equestrian sport to UNH,” he says. “The rest is history.”

The UNH team immediately established themselves as a force, reaching the finals of the U.S. Polo Association Women’s Division II National Intercollegiate Championship last spring before losing a heartbreaker to Cornell University in overtime. The Wildcat crew benefited from the veteran leadership of Dogani and Brynn Roberts, a senior nursing major who was a member of Dogani’s high school polo squad.

However, teammates Catherine Ling and Rebecca LaFrance were new to the game. Though both are skilled equestrians —

they compete for UNH’s Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association team — Ling and LaFrance soon realized that polo, and adapting to polo ponies, was a very different proposition.

“My initial attraction to the sport after playing a few times was the speed. I loved when there was a breakaway in a game or practice, and I could just explode after the ball or the other horses,” says Ling, 22, of Wolfeboro. “I was also so impressed with the horses and their training. They are so unlike the horses that I am used to riding, you’d think they are a completely different species.”

One of the time-honored beliefs among polo players is that the ponies are the true athletes on the pitch. Riding techniques, Ling says, “are completely different on the polo ponies, which was a bit of a learning curve.”

“But once I started to understand, there was almost no limit to what you could ask them to do,” she says. “They can rock back on their hind end and pivot on a dime with just a light shift in your seat and guiding motion with your hand.”

LaFrance, a 22-year-old from Berwick, Maine, fortuitously met Dogani her freshman year. By her junior year, she was on the team.

“The adrenaline from playing and the combination of riding horses, which I had already had a deep love for, and playing a team sport made me love the game,” says LaFrance, a senior studying psychology.

Trotz, who coached the UNH team last year, says a key ingredient is matching ponies with players based on ability.

One significant hurdle for the UNH newcomers “was to actually grab the mallet properly and be able to hit the ball properly,” Trotz says. “That was the biggest challenge, because all the riding skills that they already have makes it much easier to learn. They already have the foundation; that is the riding.”

This year, the team welcomed two new players — sophomore Jamie Sherman of Brimfield, Massachusetts, and freshman Heidi Goodwin-Wienges of Hope, Maine — both of whom have years of riding experience but no polo background.

“I came into the sport never having played a day in my life, and was a nervous wreck,” Goodwin-Wienges says. “Federico has always been so supportive and patient and has been the best coach I could ask for. Polo can be very intimidating, but I know I’m being taught by the best.”

The ponies at Kingswood, she adds, “are absolute beasts, and are the most athletic and powerful horses I’ve ever sat on.’

“I’ve never ridden horses who enjoy their jobs so much,” says Goodwin-Wienges. “They are treated with so much respect by everyone at Kingswood.”

Dogani says those ponies are “the essence” of the Kingswood programs.

“Without them, nothing would be possible,” she says. “Fede, like all dedicated polo players and horsemen, defines himself by the quality and condition of the horses. After all, horses account for more than 70 percent of the success of every player.

“Horses are the ones that allow a good player to shine,” Dogani says. “The fact that we use top quality horses allows all our players to perform better, learn easier and progress quicker. Not all programs are as lucky. Most college programs must make do with donated older horses or retired horses, and that makes it harder on both the players and the horses to perform their best.”

The players, however, also acknowledge that the overall success of the program depends on more than ponies, quality coaching,

Members of the UNH and Skidmore College polo teams celebrate a spirited match. From left: Ariadne “Ari” Dogani, Nora Jackson, Heidi Goodwin-Wienges, Charlotte Wilkes, Rebecca “Becca” LaFrance, Eleanor King, Jamie Sherman, Val Chervinskaya and Catherine Ling.

and the facilities. In addition to praising Seely in her role as faculty advisor, Dogani credits Sue McDonough from the UNH Foundation as being “a force behind the scenes getting UNH to support us.”

“She was one of the first people at UNH that recognized the benefit of having a polo team,” Dogani says. “Polo is a lifelong sport, and college polo creates a great opportunity for alumni to stay engaged with the school.”

Seely, conversely, says the lion’s share of the recognition belongs with the players.

“The dedication by the team members and unwavering support of one another is incredibly valuable,” Seely says. “In their first season, only two of the girls had played polo before, but that didn’t stop them from playing collaboratively and doing incredibly well.”

At the beginning of 2026, the UNH women had already qualified for the Northeastern Regional Championship, which will be held at Kingswood in mid-March. Home turf. Just the scenario to inspire new dreams. NH

For details on programs offered at Kingswood of New England Polo & Equestrian, visit kingswoodpolo.com.

Hockey on Horseback

As an equine pursuit, polo is an agility-oriented, adrenaline-fueled discipline that combines “the highly technical, careful, and structured showjumping routines with free-flowing and improvisational riding that must be adapted to every play,” says Ariadne “Ari” Dogani, captain of the UNH polo team.

“I started, like most people who have no family or background in polo, by playing arena polo,” she says. “Arena polo teaches you the basics without requiring significant investment in horses and is particularly accessible to prospective players in the Northeast, especially during the winter.”

Polo is often referred to as “hockey on horseback,” and indoor, or arena, polo takes that comparison to the next level. The game is played in a venue that looks like a hockey rink, without ice.

At Kingswood of New England Polo & Equestrian facility in East Kingston, the arena measures roughly 300 feet by 100 feet, enclosed by boards to keep the ball in play. There’s even a Zamboni-like groomer that levels the sand-covered pitch at halftime (outdoor polo, meanwhile, is played on grass, which led to the wonderful tradition of spectators “stomping divots” at halftime).

The indoor game has obvious similarities with outdoor polo. Both versions feature polo ponies and mallet-wielding players. The object is still to put a small ball into the goal, and to do that more often than your opponent. But there are distinct differences.

The outdoor goal is typically 8 yards wide, while the indoor goal is between 10 feet and 12 feet wide. The outdoor field is enormous — the size of nine football fields. The much smaller arena means each team has three pairs of ponies and players instead of four, and the game itself is shorter, consisting of four chukkers of seven minutes each (rather than six to eight chukkers outdoors).

Those variations mean the players require fewer ponies — two to four for indoor polo compared to six to 10 or more for outdoors. That allows Kingswood to provide ponies for visiting teams (the teams switch ponies during the match to ensure fairness).

The indoor ball is also different. Unlike the hard, solid plastic ball designed for long passes and shots, the arena polo ball, while the same size, resembles a mini-soccer ball, softer with a bladder, to prevent injuries (while also creating rebounds off the boards, changing tactics).

While outdoor polo is defined by speed, more spacing with long passes, elegance and endurance, arena polo is better known for its rough-and-tumble nature, a physicality that demands quick reflexes and tactical rebounds.

Picture-perfect mountain views from large, high-performance windows complement the restrained interior design. Artistic lighting, colorful chairs and solidwood furniture come together for a modern aesthetic. This energyefficient home in Carroll County was designed and built by BEAM Construction Associates, Inc., for outdoors-loving homeowners.

AT

HOME IN NH

Design Solutions That Make Sense

A GUIDE TO ELEVATED LIVING IN THE GRANITE STATE

STEP INTO DESIGN

As I write this, most of New England is digging out from the biggest winter storm in years. It’s not so bad, though, as we’re also gloating over the Patriots’ win over the Broncos. By now, maybe Drake Maye and team have become Super Bowl LX champs!

Besides snow and football, this time of year is also a prime moment to think about giving your home a glow-up. Whether it’s adding a pop of color to a neutral palette or knocking down a wall to combine two small rooms, a step in a new direction is sure to boost your spirits and help keep cabin fever at bay.

Greeting spring with a fresh take on your everyday environment comes highly recommended for both aesthetic and functional reasons. For specific steps you may want to follow, we’ve invited experts in several areas of professional home and landscape design to share their knowledge in this special Home & Garden issue of New Hampshire Magazine.

Many of these industry leaders are familiar to me as editor of this magazine’s sister publication, New Hampshire Home. Six times a year, we feature brand-new houses, whole-home makeovers — large and small — beautiful landscapes and gardens, interviews with design/build authorities, talented artists and much more. It is a privilege to share this wealth of home and garden expertise with readers of New Hampshire.

In these pages, you’ll find plenty of suggestions for beautifying your home as well as tips on topics like downsizing, energy efficiency, smart home technology, minimizing maintenance and even putting your home on the market.

So, as the days get longer and we inch closer to spring, think about giving a single room or your entire house a completely new look. You won’t regret it!

Janice Randall Rohlf Editor, New Hampshire Home Magazine

BY ROB DUCA

As an architect, Tracy Kozak has the training and expertise to maximize every inch in a house with a modest footprint. But when it comes to living large in a small space, she has another advantage: She has lived it.

For 27 years, Kozak raised a family of four in a 200-year-old former fisherman’s house in Portsmouth with less than 900 square feet of living space.

“We had a view across Portsmouth Harbor all the way to Kittery, Maine, and that was more important to us than a large living

area. It was all about location, location, location,” says Kozak, of ARCove Architects in Portsmouth.

The location was ideal, but the footprint wasn’t, and that required plenty of flexibility and ingenuity. Kozak created space by cleverly turning a dining room into what she calls “our everything room.” Convertible furniture choices included a table that expanded for dining and folded into a desk-sized box, a piano that was used as a sideboard when the top was closed, kitchen countertops that folded up when cooking and down when not

needed, ceiling racks over the sink to hang glasses, and sliding drawers under all the living room furniture for storage.

“We had cubbies under the stairs and little nooks and crannies everywhere,” she says. “There is a ton of wasted space in a typical house. Closets, cabinets, stairs, plumbing fixtures — none of them are designed to maximize space. Built-in storage is essential.”

There are many such ways to create the illusion of space. The use of vertical space, with floor-to-ceiling shelves, frees up floor space. Closet organizers and over-the-door

storage capitalize on every inch. Hidden spots, such as under the bed, behind doors and in awkward corners, can house storage bins or shelves. Beds with drawers, ottomans with storage and tables that fold down are also wise choices, as is furniture with simple lines and exposed legs that make a room feel less crowded. But when it comes to that plush, oversized sofa? Forget it.

“That takes up a lot of space,” says Shannon Alther, principal architect at TMS Architects & Interiors of Portsmouth. “Maybe go for something a little more modern or chic, in terms of its bulkiness, and that might allow you to put a cabinet behind the sofa, which could store books, or even dining ware, so that it becomes like a pantry that will consolidate space.”

One of the first things Kozak advises homeowners is to declutter. “Get rid of the things you don’t use,” she says. “It takes a lot

of self-discipline, and it’s hard, because we’re all frugal Yankees, and it’s not easy to let go of things that are still useful or sentimental, but you have to do it to live in a small space.”

A useful design trick she recommends is strategically placing frameless mirrors high on a wall. “The mirror will reflect off the ceiling and make it look like it’s pulling you into another room,” she says.

Jeff Feuer and his wife, Leslie Feldman, who purchased a 340-square-foot seaside cottage eight years ago, turned to Alther to design a welcoming home that never feels claustrophobic, “even though we have 1,500 square feet of stuff crammed into 300 square feet of space,” Feldman says.

One reason is a 12-foot-long La Cantina folding door that replaced nearly the entire back wall of the cottage and provides unobstructed ocean views, while turning the wraparound porch into an extension of the

living space. Another is the removal of the attic, which was replaced by a cathedral ceiling, with two skylights that now flood the interior with natural light.

Now, Feuer says, “The feel of the place is like you’re staying in a really, really nice hotel room that’s overlooking the water, so whenever we go there, we feel like we’re on vacation.”

Among Alther’s tips when working with a

modest footprint is to avoid full-size kitchen appliances. “Maybe you look at a 2-foot-wide refrigerator instead of 2.6, which is standard,” he says. “Six inches doesn’t sound like a lot, but with that space you could have tray storage and a couple of shelves for silverware. Every 6 inches in a kitchen is important.”

He also suggests installing a convection oven that also serves as a microwave and downsizing to a two-burner stove. As for

that desired dream dining room that will host family dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas, Alther says bluntly, “Don’t design your house for two days of the year.”

Instead, he offers, design a slightly larger living room that is open to the kitchen, and bring in a table that expands and contracts. In the Feuer-Feldman house, the dining room table expands to seat 12 but also converts to a small coffee table.

“We’ve rolled that table onto the deck, turned it horizontally and had parties,” Feuer says.

Rooms should adapt and do double duty. For example, a mudroom or entryway could have a bench seat where the top lifts up for storage and there are cubbies below to place shoes. “Think about using spaces twice, not only vertically, but horizontally,”

Pier and Emily Pennoyer's 1,000-squarefoot home is clean and modern, with a pop of red in the steel beam and supports. Stacked, oversized windows bring in light and make the interiors of the home feel more spacious.

Alther says. “That minimizes the amount of floor space you are using, while balancing the open feeling of space.”

For Pier Pennoyer and his wife, Emily, the use of glass was a major factor when designing their 1,000-square-foot home. Two

rows of 6-foot-high windows, stacked on top of each other, provide endless views from the main living areas.

“The windows let in so much daylight that you feel like you have this wide, expansive space,” Emily says. “When you’re sitting at the kitchen table, your eyes are drawn past the walls of the house outside to the trees and beyond.”

Pier’s dad, Sheldon Pennoyer, an architect, made some creative design choices. For example, a hallway that runs along the eastwest access of the house is wider than usual, and kitchen countertops are more than 4 feet wide. “We could have added an extra square foot or two in each bedroom instead, but we made the decision to put that into what would traditionally be smaller spaces, and I think that contributes to the feeling of having more room,” Emily says.

A loft tucked along the pitched roof’s highest side serves as both an office and a guest bedroom, and off the kitchen is a laundry room, which includes shelves and a ski locker for cleaning supplies and winter gear.

“Between the laundry room, the crawl space up in the loft, and with the pitched shed roof and the lower angle of the ceiling that’s not usable space for walking around, there’s plenty of room for storing things that we don’t need access to every day,” Emily says.

Finally, a sliding glass door provides access to a patio, which in summer becomes an extension of the house, where the couple host dinners around a firepit. “That gives us another 200 square feet of living space,” Pier says.

With resourcefulness, a few wise choices and a design trick or two, the goal of living large in a small space is not unrealistic.

“Just think high ceilings, lots of windows, flexible-use spaces and rooms that can adapt,” Kozak says. NH

residential commercial interior design

Backyard Beauty Can Be Yours

Ideas for yards of all sizes and types

BY CRYSTAL WARD KENT

Yards come in all shapes and sizes, but whatever their dimensions, they function best when fully integrated with the home.

“If you are embarking on a new build, have your architect and landscape architect work together,” says Daniel Bruzga, owner of db Landscaping LLC in New London. “How your outdoor spaces relate to your home can influence everything from window placement

to elevations and driveway location. Getting your vision for your home and your outdoor areas in sync from the beginning can save time and money.”

Bruzga notes your outdoor spaces are not just the patio.

“You see outdoor areas from inside and in all seasons. They should be appealing wherever you look. By adding features, such as four-season color, a water feature and trees

with interesting shapes, you can create a year-round environment that is peaceful and lovely.”

Given New England’s long winters, Bruzga creates “winter-scapes” using trees with interesting characteristics, such as the colorful, peeling bark of birches or paper bark maples, pops of color from red twig dogwood and winterberry holly, or the varied shapes of different yews and spruces.

“Ornamental grasses, if left uncut, also provide color and movement,” he adds. As an added bonus, many of these plantings support wildlife.

Revamping the landscape of an existing home can seem daunting, Bruzga admits. “If your home is surrounded by overgrown evergreens, it can be more efficient to remove them and plant fresh than try to trim them into shape. Trimming can work, but

some homeowners don’t want to go through the ‘ugly’ phase after the trees are cut back and before they grow into their new shapes. Your landscaper can advise you as to the best move.”

If your yard butts up to an overgrown woodlot, Bruzga advises hiring a pro with a brush cutter on an excavator to cut some “windows” into your woods: “Opening up the woods not only allows access, but lets you see into the woodlands, creating new vistas.”

Whether your home is new or not, taking a moment to walk through and consider what you see outside can improve your yard. “Adding flowering trees or shrubs, selective plantings or stonework can soften the land-

scape with color and shapes,” he says. Even a water feature need not be a big expense. Bruzga suggests buying a premade element that you simply fill up and plug in to get the soothing sound of flowing water.

While larger estates may enjoy a number of garden “rooms” serving various functions, even small spaces can create areas for dining, cooking and relaxing through judicious use of plantings and screens. “Open plan is fine, but if you want separation, use latticework and climbing plants to create walls of greenery for privacy, or add a row of planters to create a boundary. Even changes in the hardscape, from pavers to crushed stone, can delineate areas,” Bruzga says.

Bruzga primarily works with native plants as these are bred to withstand the regional climate, are hardier when it comes to disease and are more economical. “A plant or shrub that is meant to be here is more likely to last longer than one that is not,” he says.

Whatever your outdoor vision, a professional can help you make it a reality and advise on choices that accommodate your budget. “There are so many options out there,” Bruzga says. “Transformation is always possible with the right planning and expertise. Anyone can see beauty out their window.” NH

For more information, visit dblandscaping.net.

Solutions with Style

Pro tips on design challenges

BY CRYSTAL WARD KENT

Style or practicality? This seems to be the eternal question when it comes to interior design. Can a home have the look you crave but also be practical?

Fred Puksta, product designer with Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont, says the answer is yes.

“Everyone’s project is different, but there are general strategies to help rooms achieve the aesthetic you want while saving

money,” he says. “In an existing home, a good starting point is paring back what’s in the room. Design can get cluttered over time, and streamlining lets you really see a room and plan better.”

Consider removing wallpaper, chair rails and millwork as these can also distract, he says.

“I recommend making cardboard mockups of new elements before you make

a change. They can help you arrange gallery walls before you insert nails and even aid in kitchen cabinet placement. Arrange your cardboard cabinets so you see the look and test the flow. If it’s not working, you haven’t committed.”

Puksta notes that easy, cost-effective room refreshes can be done with new coats of paint — easy to test beforehand with samples — replacing cabinet fronts or adding new hardware. For a bigger remodel, consider updating your kitchen with an “unfitted look.”

“An unfitted look forsakes traditional cabinets and islands for furniture pieces, such as tables with storage, vintage dressers, buffets or hutches,” he says. “These pieces make statements and can be more personal.”

Puksta also recommends using only base cabinets, thus freeing up more wall space for windows or shelving, which opens up a kitchen, changing the look completely:

“Many homeowners are also returning to the traditional pantry; this is a room adjacent to the kitchen where supplies and appliances are stored, leaving the kitchen itself free for cooking and entertaining.”

Storage is the challenge for many homeowners, but Puksta says your home may have more storage than you think.

“Unexpected places can provide tasteful storage, such as under stairs. You may also be able to perforate walls to gain space. If a closet is on the other side of the wall, you could perforate that wall to allow your fridge to expand into that space. This allows the

Soulfully Transformed

BY NANCY A. RUHLING /

fridge to now sit flush to the cabinetry and gives you more kitchen space. A perforated wall can also give you deeper drawers, which creates more space in kitchens, bedrooms, anywhere.”

Another fix is not installing baseboard heat, which takes up space, but instead having radiant floor heating, which provides warmth but is hidden from view.

Whether you are planning a new home or seeking to revamp an existing home, Puksta urges homeowners to consult with professionals for proven ways to blend functionality with their vision.

“The internet can have great ideas, but the professionals have the experience and understand the technology needed to bring these ideas to life,” Puksta says. NH

For more information on Crown Point Cabinetry, visit crown-point.com.

Timeless traditions and solutions that make sense

In New Hampshire, home design choices need to stand up to seasons of use

In New Hampshire, homes are shaped by seasons, tradition and routine. They warm snowy boots by the door, let in the sun spilling over the mountains and provide a space to shower off the sand after a day at the beach. New Hampshire Magazine asked experts from a range of home construction and landscape design specialties to share how they are helping clients make thoughtful choices in creating spaces that work better, last longer and look beautiful.

We asked: What is the most compelling trend in your segment of the home industry,

and how can homeowners take advantage of it?

Rather than chasing the latest fad, the insights you’ll see here reflect a deeper shift toward intention. Today’s most compelling ideas focus on how a home feels, functions and supports the people who live there. Trends inspire elements, but don’t take the spotlight. Spaces are designed around real life with materials chosen for durability, comfort and craft.

Across every perspective, our experts shared a common thread: personalization.

In building, renovating, selling or even a minor refresh, homeowners are encouraged to ask better questions on how they live and what matters most to them. The answers lead to a home that is grounded, welcoming and built with the future in mind.

These conversations offer practical guidance rooted in local experience and shaped by the realities of life in New Hampshire. It’s not about reinventing your home overnight, but making thoughtful, lasting decisions that create spaces you’re glad to return to season after season.

Jason Bailey, AIA, Managing Partner and Principal Architect at TMS Architects

In high-end shingle-style architecture, one of the most meaningful design advances is often the least visible. While the language of the style remains rooted in tradition, natural materials, carefully proportioned massing and a strong relationship to landscape, its evolution is increasingly defined by the home’s performance. Sustainable, energy-efficient design has become a natural extension of the shingle-style ethos, reinforcing its emphasis on longevity, comfort and craftsmanship.

Rather than announcing itself through overt technology, sustainability in these homes is embedded within the architecture. High-performance building envelopes, discreetly detailed insulation, and carefully scaled window openings improve comfort while preserving the warmth and restraint that define the style. Mechanical systems are right-sized and quietly integrated, supporting the architecture rather than competing with it.

For homeowners, the benefits are immediate. Energy demands are reduced, interior environments are more stable and serene, and materials are selected for durability as much as beauty. Over time, these homes prove resilient, aging gracefully as codes, climates and expectations evolve.

In this way, sustainable design does not alter the character of shingle-style architecture. It deepens it, outlasting trends and ensuring that houses rooted in tradition continue to perform intelligently for generations to come.

Stephanie Wentworth, NCIDQ, ASID, CKBD, President, Decorative Interiors

For me, the most compelling trend in the home industry is lighting, and it starts with planning. Lighting was never overlooked, but it has truly moved to the front seat of the design process. Today, it’s about more than fixtures; it’s about how light shapes the way a home feels and functions throughout the day.

Ambient lighting can now be intelligently controlled, with color temperature adjusting as daylight changes. This creates a natural rhythm in the home, supporting energy, focus and calm as exterior conditions shift. Even window shades now contribute to lighting design — gently waking you in the morning, extending daylight into the evening, and welcoming you home from work or school.

Decorative lighting has also evolved beyond function. It can be a true work of art that is sculptural, expressive and deeply personal. These pieces anchor a space visually, create moments of impact and help tell the story of the home.

When lighting is planned early and layered thoughtfully, it elevates every other design decision. It’s not just about seeing a space — it’s about experiencing it.

Cicely Beston, Cicely Beston Interior Design

I am not a big believer in trends. Rather, I focus my process on timeless, classic designs.

However, I do find all the energy-efficient tools and materials available for construction exciting. And I love the return to handmade craftsmanship.

As for artificial intelligence (AI), while I think it has an application in our industry for organizing meeting notes and project data, I do not believe it is a good tool for design. I design homes and spaces for people to live in, and I always want the human touch to be part of my process.

Brie Stephens, Broker & Owner, Lake Life Realty

One of the most compelling trends in today’s real estate market is the strategic use of “private exclusives” and “coming soon” marketing prior to a public launch. Rather than relying on a single MLS debut, homeowners are increasingly working with agents who capitalize on these early phases to create opportunity-driven results.

Through private exclusives, properties can be quietly introduced to a network of qualified agents and buyers, allowing sellers to gauge interest, receive early feedback and maintain privacy, often resulting in strong offers before public exposure. The "coming soon" phase then builds momentum by generating anticipation, visibility and buzz through targeted digital marketing, professional visuals and storytelling, all before the home officially hits the market.

Together, these phases help reduce days on market, encourage competitive interest, fine-tune pricing and protect a home’s long-term market perception. Homeowners can take advantage of this trend by partnering with an agent who understands how to thoughtfully deploy these tools —using timing, data and marketing strategy to position a property for its strongest possible outcome before the public launch ever begins.

Tressa Kosowicz, Little River Oriental Rugs

Our vegetable-dyed wool Oriental rugs are hand-knotted with a construction that prioritizes craftsmanship, durability and quality; they are long-term investments, not seasonal fads. Rugs are the anchor of a room. They shape the tone and mood of a home, adding depth, dimension and texture.

We curate patterns and colorations that are timeless to create a space that is both welcoming and personal. Fine rugs are not a trend-driven category in home furnishings; however, we do get to see consumer interests with what they are selecting for colorations and style. From a style standpoint, we are seeing tremendous response to our designs that are fresh takes on traditional patterns, which is achieved by removing the thick borders that typically act as a “frame.”

These new designs take a classic, like a Bidjar or Heriz design, and give a less detailed patterned border that may only be two inches wide, versus other styles that have borders closer to nine inches. Sometimes, even a patterned border isn’t used; we have a solid color for the border, with the rug field going nearly to the edge. This thin border style has become a modernized hybrid of nostalgia and today’s more casual living.

Katherine Norwood, Crown Point Cabinetry & Crown Select

The most compelling trend we are finding in the cabinetry industry today is the shift toward personalized design. The homeowners we work with have moved away from one-size-fitsall solutions and are instead investing in spaces tailored to how they live, work and entertain.

At Crown Point Cabinetry, this isn't a new trend for us because it's how we've always worked. Every single project of ours is fully custom and built to order. Rather than chasing a single look or finish, the focus is on function, longevity and craftsmanship. Cabinetry designed to fit the space, not the other way around.

By choosing to work with Crown Point Cabinetry, clients work directly with our inhouse designers. With their expertise, each space is thoughtfully planned to reflect how you live. This collaborative approach allows homeowners to fully embrace personalized design, resulting in handcrafted cabinetry that is intentional and timeless.

At Crown Point Cabinetry, we're seeing homeowners prioritize lasting quality and thoughtful selection while investing in their homes with intention. Within the cabinetry industry, another compelling trend is the shift toward expertly designed solutions that feel custom, perform beautifully and stand the test of time.

Crown Select was created to deliver exactly that. This line of cabinetry offers a streamlined path to custom-quality cabinetry, while still providing homeowners with the same exceptional fit, finish and craftsmanship as our Crown Point line. Rather than navigating endless choices, Crown Select helps homeowners focus on their investment where it matters most. The collection is intentionally designed to simplify the decision-making process and deliver a polished result with confidence. It's an ideal option for homeowners who value exceptional craftsmanship and quality while appreciating a more efficient, value-driven approach to custom design.

Shannon Robinson-Beland, Owner/Vice-President of Wood & Clay, Inc.

Homes built by Wood & Clay are typically second and third homes for the majority of our clients. With seasonal or occasional use in areas where the weather can be extreme, minimizing maintenance is almost always a priority. For years, we have recommended composite siding and trim when it aligns with a client’s aesthetic and maintenance goals and have had great results with recycled PVC products such as Azek.

More recently, we have seen an uptick in the use of natural wood products that have been modified in a variety of ways to yield both stunning results and lasting durability. One such product is Accoya. Through a process called acetylation (simply explained, Radiata pine is submerged in a strong vinegar bath), the wood is transformed into a highly-stable, water- and rot-resistant material that is well suited for decking and trim. Shou sugi ban, or Japanese charred wood, is another natural product that has seen a recent rise in popularity on our projects, typically for siding. Both are natural alternatives to PVC products that still promise to minimize maintenance while appealing to those looking for sustainability in a real wood product.

Kimberly Young, CEO, The Home Beautiful

Design inspiration is everywhere; TikTok, HGTV shows, and home magazines all play a big role in getting homeowners excited about their spaces. While those trends influence what people ask for, here in New England, our customers still lean toward classic, timeless design rather than anything too trendy.

What we’re seeing most is a strong demand for wider plank wood floors with a matte finish. They feel warm, clean, and updated without going out of style. In the Lakes Region especially, durability really matters. Many homes are seasonal, see a lot of foot traffic, and need materials that can handle real life: water, sand, pets, and guests coming and going.

Because of that, water-resistant flooring like luxury vinyl plank, has become extremely popular for summer homes, while pet-friendly options are a must for a lot of our customers. Homeowners want floors that look great but don’t require constant worry or maintenance.

The best way to take advantage of this trend is to use inspiration as a starting point, then choose products that make sense for how you actually live. When you balance style with durability, you end up with a home that works just as good as it looks.

Lynne Wardlaw, Deck Dock

The most compelling trend we’ve seen for the past several seasons is a shift away from traditional wood and cast metal toward recycled materials that are maintenance-free and can be recycled at the end of a long life of carefree comfort.

Recycled HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) frames, combined with Sunbrella cushions, offer tremendous year-round comfort and durability.

Our best-selling poly line is Seaside Casual of Rhode Island. Their designs transcend the clunky utilitarian design of most poly products with hidden hardware and modern style, and are manufactured in the USA.

Lea Kelsey, President, 3W Design

As we move into 2026, the most compelling shift we’re seeing in kitchens and baths is toward spaces that feel more personal, functional and layered. In recent years, many homeowners felt pressure to follow a familiar formula: an all-white kitchen, spa-inspired baths or completely open layouts. What’s exciting now is that people are permitting themselves to design for how they actually live.

In kitchens, this shows up through warmer materials, deeper colors, thoughtful storage, and layouts that support gathering as much as cooking, while still allowing for moments of privacy for work or study. In bathrooms, the focus has shifted to comfort and longevity: walk-in showers, better lighting, smart niches and storage, and materials that feel calming but not clinical.

The opportunity for homeowners isn’t to chase a trend, but to ask better questions: What isn’t working in my space? How do I want this room to feel? What colors and materials genuinely appeal to me, regardless of what’s trending? And what will still make sense five or ten years from now?

Compelling design today is less about making a statement and more about creating rooms that feel intuitive, comfortable, and unique to the homeowner. When those priorities guide the process, the result almost always feels current — without ever feeling trendy.

Ann Henderson, Ann Henderson Interiors

This will be an exciting year for interior design with intentional swings away from neutrals, minimalism and restraint. Driving this present-day shift is our requisite desire to feel wrapped in a natural cocoon of emotional comfort, selfexpression, warmth, luxury and biophilia.

Revival of the greats — Tony Duquette, Sister Parish and Albert Hadley — will invite clients and designers to a less curated, layered and colorful look. Look for color drenching (one color on all surfaces and textiles) in warm analogous bygone hues of aubergine, yellow, burgundy and persimmon. Eclectic combinations of patterns and styles will create a personal, vintage sensibility. Imagine the resurgence of bold, colorful wall coverings, trimmings, fabrics and furnishings. Unexpected cultural and stylistic combinations will infuse interiors with artistic sophistication.

Preserved or reimagined wood paneling, warmly stained or painted in dramatic, reflective hues, will suggest traditional craftsmanship. There will be references to wood and stone both in natural and man-made materials. Oversized art, performance fabrics, curves in upholstery and case goods, fantastic lighting inspired by nature and cordless LED lamps are beautiful emerging trends greatly influenced by modern technology. This renaissance of self-expression and love of home will surely bring gratitude and enjoyment to our surroundings. NH

Fabulous Finds: A selection of products available locally to share design trends with our readers.

Shop Talk: A look into NH’s brickand-mortar destinations specializing in home decor and design.

Things I Love: An interior designer or architect and some of their favorite things to incorporate into the homes they design.

Living Small: Highlighting thoughtful but smaller homes and spaces that are big on design and innovation.

Before & After: Big or small, changes add a “wow” to these project makeovers.

Home Away: A design focus on venues other than a personal residence, such as a hotel, B&B or glamping site.

Create: Spotlighting New Hampshire artisans and makers.

Garden Space: Featuring area gardens and landscape design.

NH photographers share favorite images of animals domestic and wild

AFTER A MONTH of accepting submissions, followed by careful deliberation by our judging panel, we are finally ready to announce the winners of our Pets & Wildlife Photo Contest.

While we love the scenery that our beautiful state has to offer, the great outdoors wouldn’t be the same without the animals who call it home — including the animals who live in our homes.

From birds that soar above the tree lines to dogs who know their angles, the winning photographs have captured it all.

Photographers Jenn Bakos, Joe Klementovich and Jared Charney reviewed more than 100 submissions. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Along with being featured in print, our winners received a cash prize (1st place: $500; 2nd place: $300; 3rd place: $200), and all winners and honorable mentions received a one-year subscription to New Hampshire Magazine.

“Our pup Tilly is our rescue Labrador, and she has gone from being a scared little pup to such a happy country dog. I love capturing her beauty whenever she’s out running in our fields with our kids, rolling in puddles, frolicking in the snow, or just enjoying the wind in her face (as seen here)."

WILDLIFE, 2ND PLACE WINNER ↑

Jared Plante from Rochester, NH | Taken in Rochester | jaredplantephotography.com | @jjplante12

"I've been looking in this tree hole over the past year, waiting for an owl to make it a home. As I passed by on Sunday morning, I looked up as I always do, and I saw a large body nestled away keeping warm. Thinking it was an owl, I ran home to grab my camera to take a closer look. When I arrived back, I could see a tiny face in the back and instantly recognized it was not an owl at all, it was a raccoon. As I prepped my camera, I could tell that little face was curious of my presence. Peeking through the viewfinder, I could see in its tired eyes that we both were watching each other. Lo and behold, a second head turned and peeked out the bottom of the hole. What a surprise, twins resting and keeping warm."

PETS, 2ND PLACE WINNER →

Fawn Langerman

From North Conway, NH

Shot with: iPhone 15 Pro Max

Taken on Stinson Mountain in Rumney @ Bikecamphikegirl

“This photo was taken on the summit of Stinson Mountain, in Rumney, NH. Stinson is one of the '52 With A View' hikes and we had a really nice day for this hike. Echo is a 2+ year old rescue dog — she is a cattle dog and Australian shepherd mix. She is a great hiker and we have been enjoying many of the White Mountains hikes since she came to live with me in September 2024."

WILDLIFE, 3RD PLACE WINNER ← Stephen DeFelice

@ stevie_defelice

"On an early morning outing, I was capturing some of the last remaining songbirds that were finishing off the sunflowers before migrating. I followed this female goldfinch for about an hour before the conditions aligned to capture this shot."

WILDLIFE, HONORABLE MENTION ←

Arthur Coy from Webster, NH Shot with: Sony A7III Taken in Boscawen @arthurcoy.jpg

“I started taking my camera to work with me in case I saw any animals, and my first trip with the camera, I saw these young bucks grazing.”

PETS, HONORABLE MENTION ↑

Valerie Reifke from Loudon NH | Shot with: Canon Rebel DSLR model T6S and Canon 70-200 mm lens | Taken in Loudon flickr.com/photos/203083716@N02 | @ hesakeepersmom

"This dark and handsome animal saw me from across the snowy field photographing another. He came charging over like he was trying to tell me this was his pasture.”

, HONORABLE MENTION ↑

PETS, HONORABLE MENTION → Carol Stone from Canterbury, NH Shot with: Pixel 8 Taken in Canterbury

"This is 4-month-old brothers Remington and Kirby looking well-adjusted after being transported from a shelter in Miami.”

WILDLIFE, HONORABLE MENTION ↑

Michael Hubley from Londonderry, NH | Shot with: Nikon D500, 200-500 mm lens @ 5.6, ISO-2500, shutter 1/400 | Taken at Odiorne Point State Park, Rye | MichaelHubley.com

“I was exploring Odiorne Point S.P. one afternoon. I reached the end of a path and saw a marsh with bluebirds across the road. After watching them fly from branch to branch, this photo was my favorite of the day with the perfect pose and background.”

WILDLIFE, HONORABLE MENTION ↑

William Holmes from Littleton, NH | Shot with: Canon 77D with a Sigma 18-300 mm lens Taken in Littleton | wmholmesphoto

“We have a few crocuses in our garden, and when they bloomed, a few dozen honey bees descended, with several bees vying for the opportunity to visit each bloom."

ABOUT OUR JUDGES

Jenn Bakos is a Portsmouth-based photographer whose work often appears in the pages of New Hampshire Magazine. She loves to document and capture the special moments in life, and specializes in food, product, lifestyle and brand photography. Check out more of her work at jennbakosphoto.com and Instagram.com/jennbakos-

Jared Charney is a north-of-Boston photographer specializing in editorial and portrait photography. He can often be found drinking coffee wherever there's a good pour. His work can be viewed at jaredcharney.com

Joe Klementovich is a freelance North Conway-based photographer who specializes in environmental photography. Find more of his work at klementovichphoto.com

Top Docs 2026

Congratulations to our 291 doctors who were recognized in New Hampshire Magazine’s 2026 Top Doctors list. Whatever the specialty, all of our providers rede ne what’s possible to bring you world-class care, right here. To learn more visit go.d-h.org/topdocs

Dear Reader,

EACH YEAR, New Hampshire Magazine undertakes the work of compiling our Top Docs lists.

A Healthy Disregard for the Impossible™

More than 40 hospitals and clinics across the region. One world-class health system. In partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine.

It is not an easy project. It requires rigor, care and deep respect for the medical professionals who serve our communities every day, often under extraordinary pressure.

But it is an important one.

For our readers, it offers a trusted guide. For families, it provides a starting point for some of life’s most important decisions. And for the physicians and health care providers featured here, it’s a recognition of excellence earned through lifetimes of dedication.

Fonts & Images

Over the years, we’ve come to know many of these doctors personally, and we are truly proud each year to highlight their work and their commitment to you.

Logos/Print/Ai/DH_Logo_FullColor_CMYK.ai)

Prepared by DiMassimo Goldstein

What is equally important to recognize is that a project of this scope is only possible through partnership.

We could not produce Top Docs without the support of the hospitals, health care organizations, and community partners who step forward each year to underwrite this issue. Their investment reflects not only confidence in our work, but a forward-looking commitment to the health and well-being of the communities they serve.

That commitment deserves recognition.

So as you explore this year’s Top Docs section, I invite you to take note of the sponsors who made it possible. Their support sustains this project and helps ensure that this resource remains available to readers across New Hampshire.

To all of our sponsors: Thank you. Your partnership matters, and we are deeply grateful for it.

Welcome to our Top Docs section.

2026 Top Doctors!

The dedication of our doctors brings the mission of the Elliot life by inspiring wellness and healing our patients while serving We thank them for setting the highest standards of healthcare unwavering commitment to patients, colleagues, and the community.

Together, we are building healthier communities and advancing to be your first choice to give and receive care.

> View the Entire List at ElliotHospital.org/2026TopDocs

Top Docs

Who made the list in this year’s Top Docs?

For the 2026 Top Doctors Poll, we selected national research firm Castle Connolly to conduct the survey process. Included are more than 750 doctors in their chosen specialties, as nominated by their peers, who cover a wide range of medical needs from pediatrics to surgical care.

Kathleen H. Chaimberg, MD

ADDICTION MEDICINE

Mitchell G. Cohen, MD

St. Joseph Hospital

ADDICTION PSYCHIATRY

Luke J. Archibald, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Bryan G. Hybki, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

ADOLESCENT MEDICINE

Keith J. Loud, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY

Amitha Harish, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

John N. Kalliel, MD

Manchester Allergy Elliot Hospital

Amit Kumar, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Kevin Roelofs, MD

Allergy Associates of New Hampshire

Sarah A. Taylor-Black, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord

ANESTHESIOLOGY

Carrie D. Ayers, MD

Amoskeag Anesthesia Elliot Hospital

Myles D. Boone, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Corinne E. Cambio, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics

Manchester, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Laura M. Chiang, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Dean Galatis, MD

Concord Hospital

Kiran Guthikonda, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Kylene E. Halloran, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Samuel C. Hembree, MD Amoskeag Anesthesia

Elliot Hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Simon Hillier, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Robert J. Laflam, MD

Concord Hospital

Linzi B. Moss, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Brian C. Spence, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

BARIATRIC SURGERY

Robert A. Catania, MD

Southern New Hampshire Weight Management and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

David Chang, MD

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England

Catholic Medical Center, Parkland Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital

Jinu J. John, MD

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England

Catholic Medical Center, Speare Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, Parkland Medical Center

Jamie H. Kim, MD

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England

Catholic Medical Center, Parkland Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital

Jeanney Lew, MD

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England

Catholic Medical Center, Parkland Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital

Michael Mazzini, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Steven P. Beaudette, MD

St. Joseph Hospital

Michelle A. Bejarano, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New London Hospital

William G. Berndt, MD

Exeter Hospital

Wendi Cardeiro, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center

Adam Chodosh, MD

Concord Hospital, Concord Hospital – Laconia

Peter Dourdoufis, DO

Portsmouth Cardiology Associate

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Carl M. Fier, MD

Elliot Cardiovascular Consultants

Elliot Hospital

Kalyan Ghanta, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

Gregory M. Goodkin, MD

Exeter Hospital

Stephen Hanlon, MD

Elliot Cardiovascular Consultants

Elliot Hospital

Kevin F. Kwaku, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

Michael E. Metzger, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Ayesha Nazeer, MD

Concord Hospital, Concord Hospital – Laconia

Ernest J. Podrasky Jr, MD

Exeter Hospital

Sachin Saksena, MD

Wentworth Health Partners

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Steven L. Schwartz, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center

Peter W. Shaw, MD

Elliot Cardiovascular Consultants

Elliot Hospital

Robert Spencer, MD

Monadnock Cardiology Associates

Monadnock Community Hospital

Jessica A. Sutherland, MD

Elliot Cardiovascular Consultants

Elliot Hospital

Vikas Veeranna, MD

Elliot Cardiovascular Consultants

Elliot Hospital

Tong Zhu, MD

Elliot Cardiovascular Consultants

Elliot Hospital

CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY

Craig L. Donnelly, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

Jennifer L. McLaren, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

Katherine M. Shea, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

CHILD NEUROLOGY

Deborah Rukin Gold, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon, Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester

Priyanka Shekhawat, MD

Wentworth Health Partners

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

COLON & RECTAL SURGERY

John V. Flannery Jr, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Jeffrey R. Harnsberger, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Elliot Hospital

Sara W. Mayo, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Medical Center, Alice Peck

Day Memorial Hospital

Lauren R. Wilson, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New London Hospital

Matthew Z. Wilson, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck

Day Memorial Hospital

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

Lorenzo Klein, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

DERMATOLOGY

Denise M. Aaron, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road

Rana K. Abdat, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

Anthony J. Aversa, MD

Northeast Dermatology Associates

Brienne D. Cressey, MD

Optima Dermatology

James G. Dinulos, MD

Seacoast Dermatology

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Kent S. Handfield, MD

Adult & Pediatric Dermatology

Mollie A. MacCormack, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Gary W. Mendese, MD

Dermatology & Skin Health

Stephen D. Moyer, DO

Dermatology & Skin Health

Jose Emilio Peraza, MD

Peraza Dermatology Group

Molly Plovanich, MD

Dermatology & Skin Health

Robert B. Posnick, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Gregory P. Seymour, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Brian J. Simmons, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road

Joan S. Sisto, MD

Optima Dermatology

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Cheryl B. Waldman, MD

Waldman Plastic Surgery & Dermatology

St. Joseph Hospital

Andrew E. Werchniak, MD

Seacoast Dermatology

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

DEVELOPMENTALBEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS

Nina Sand-Loud, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Lebanon

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Elizabeth Angelakis, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital

Gregory A. Bonci, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

Constantine P. Brocoum, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

Jocelyn D. Chertoff, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Elizabeth F. Clemente, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

Matthew J. Daily, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Concord, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

Arash Delshad, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital

Matthew H. DiMasi, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

Anthony M. Dinizio, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

Adam Elias, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital, Monadnock

Community Hospital, Speare Memorial Hospital

David W. Fontaine, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital, Monadnock

Community Hospital, Speare Memorial Hospital

Stephen L. Foster, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Scott Greenwald, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital

David D. Hou, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

John J. Januario, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital, Monadnock

Community Hospital, Speare Memorial Hospital

Steven E. Kammann, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics

Manchester, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

Healing Cardiac Patients’ Hearts — and Psyches

NH programs address cardiac patients’ emotional as well as physical challenges

BY KAREN A. JAMROG

Ahni Malachi’s first heart attack happened under the most mundane of circumstances. She was standing in line at the bank, waiting for a document to be notarized, when she felt pain in her chest and back. She became lightheaded, nauseous and short of breath. Having read about heart attack symptoms, she knew she needed to get to a hospital.

That was in July 2024, when Malachi, a Concord resident, was 57 years old. Upon her doctor’s recommendation, she joined a cardiac rehabilitation class at Concord Hospital, one of several such programs offered at hospitals throughout the state.

Concord Hospital’s program provides supervised physical rehab for cardiac patients, plus classroom education and candid discussion about fears and feelings. The discussion part is important because cardiac emergencies can stir up a psychological tsunami of anxiety, depression, and other problems that can interfere with patients’ healing and affect their quality of life.

For example, many cardiac patients become hyper-aware of sensations in their body, says Hilary Dooley, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation manager at Concord Hospital. “They now notice a twinge in their shoulder or pain in their jaw, even if that pain had been there” long before they had a cardiac emergency, she says. “They panic, thinking, ‘Is this another heart attack?’ ” Rehab and support programs, such as Concord’s, teach patients which body signals to pay attention to.

continued on page 84

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Perhaps not surprisingly, cardiac patients often feel unsure of what’s to come and have a new and profound sense of their vulnerability.

“It changes your perception of your health, and your life,” Dooley says. An overarching goal of Concord’s program is to restore patients’ confidence and emotional well-being while teaching them how to safely work toward physical recovery.

“We want people to be able to move forward and be well,” Dooley says. “We help them recognize they’re going to be OK, they can move, they have people in their corner.”

“We want people to be able to move forward and be well. We help them recognize they’re going to be OK, they can move, they have people in their corner.”

Patients gain reassurance not just from Dooley and other group leaders, but also from their fellow participants.

Malachi says she feels “very safe” going through her rehab exercises as Dooley and other class leaders supervise, encourage and help her and other participants understand and accept what their body has gone through. She tries to practice self-compassion, allows herself to rest and takes time to simply have fun, which she did not do before that fateful day at the bank.

“I was an executive, a single mom, pushing myself nonstop,” she says.

Her priorities are different now.

“I’ve had this horrible thing happen to me that I don’t ever want to happen again,” Malachi says. “(Cardiac rehab classes) have helped me feel like, I’m going to be OK, I know what to do to continue to be OK, and I have people who are going to support me in any way that I need. They’re going to help me get to wherever it is I need to be.” NH

Heart Conditions in Children

Making your way through life as an adult after a heart attack or other cardiac emergency is hard enough. Imagine being the parent of a newborn or young child who has been diagnosed with a heart problem. How you would feel when that child wants to run and skip, and maybe play sports as their friends do?

Such a scenario can be overwhelming for parents and create “constant worry about their child’s future,” says Dartmouth Health Children’s pediatric cardiology nurse Bridget Boss. Exhaustion, financial strain and feelings of guilt are also common, she says, as the parents wonder if they’re somehow responsible for their child’s condition or if they’re doing enough for their child.

Children in these circumstances experience their own set of challenges, of course, as they sense that they are different from their peers, live with the knowledge of their health risks and struggle with their physical limitations.

Professional support for children and their parents can provide guidance and help alleviate anxiety. Dartmouth Health Children’s, for example, offers an array of services in inpatient and outpatient settings, and even holds a weekend camp for kids with congenital heart disease. Therapy dogs Maverick and Winnie are also on hand for Dartmouth’s pediatric patients, offering unconditional cuddling and irresistible reassurance. NH

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord

Petra J. Lewis, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Bryce Lowrey, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Speare Memorial Hospital, Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital

David M. Naeger, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Todd A. Noce, DO

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics

Manchester, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

Victor Nwokocha, DO

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Marianne R. Petruccelli, MD Concord Imaging Center Concord Hospital

John G. Pierce, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital, Monadnock Community Hospital, Speare Memorial Hospital

Kevin Y. Rivera-Colon, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

David S. Sargent, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, New London Hospital

Anne M. Silas, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Jesse B. Smith, MD

Concord Imaging Center Concord Hospital

Robert R. Sprague, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital

Joseph R. Stein, DO

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

Michael H. Stella, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

Alexander Stetsyuk, MD

X-Ray Professional Association

Concord Hospital

Peter van der Meer, MD

Southern New Hampshire

Radiology Consultants

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Joseph G. Venus, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

D. Tyler Zapton, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Patricia R. Atchinson, DO

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Matthew R. Babineau, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Jessica L. Brooks, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Sarah C. Crockett, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

John A. Curtis Jr, MD

Cheshire Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Kevin M. Curtis, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

E. Paul DeKoning, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Linda Hatch, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Alison Payne Reid Kapadia, MD Cheshire Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Patricia L. Lanter, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Kendra L. Larkin, MD Cheshire Medical Center

The dedication of our doctors brings the mission of the Elliot Health System to life by inspiring wellness and healing our patients while serving with compassion. We thank them for setting the highest standards of healthcare and for their unwavering commitment to patients, colleagues, and the community.

Together, we are building healthier communities and advancing our vision to be your first choice to give and receive care.

> View the Entire List at ElliotHospital.org/2026TopDocs

Joseph Leahy, DO

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Shankar S. LeVine, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Christina G. Loporcaro, MD Concord Hospital

Michael T. Lynch, MD Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Evadne G. Marcolini, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Alison G. Marshall, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

John T. Moeller, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Todd D. Morrell, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Colin O’Brien, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Jennifer V. Pope, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Kevin Rankins, MD Elliot Hospital

Kristine M. Reid, MD Elliot Hospital

Robert D. Rix, MD Concord Hospital

Scott W. Rodi, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Matthew A. Roginski, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Andrew W. Seefeld, MD

Speare Memorial Hospital

Harneet S. Sethi, MD

Cheshire Medical Center

James C. Suozzi, DO

Cheshire Medical Center

Brett Sweeney, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Ian R. Symons, MD Cheshire Medical Center

Thomas W. Trimarco, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Susan B. Varga, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Jason K. Veith, DO Cheshire Medical Center, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

Andrew H. Watt, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Melanie R. Watts, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Nicholas E. Weinberg, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIABETES & METABOLISM

Sadia Ashraf, MD Elliot Hospital

Sushela S. Chaidarun, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Ellie Chuang, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Andrew R. Crawford, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Pallavi Guddeti, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua, Catholic Medical Center

Nneka Iroka, MD Elliot Hospital

Matthew F. Kamil, MD

Concord Endocrinology

Concord Hospital

Nicola Kreglinger, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Paul T. Labinson, DO

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Mini Mahata, MD Exeter Hospital

Mikhail Signalov, DO

St. Joseph Hospital

Sue A. Taylor, MD

Wentworth Health Partners

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY/ OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Benoit J. Gosselin, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

FAMILY MEDICINE

Christopher E. Allen, MD

Concord Hospital

Hilary K. Alvarez, MD

Concord Family Medicine

Concord Hospital

Paul S. Austin, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Milford

Jennifer Badger, DO

DMC Primary Care

J. Bryan Bannister, MD

DMC Primary Care

Kyle T. Baron, MD

Concord Hospital Primary Care Meredith

Concord Hospital

Anne Barry, DO

DMC Primary Care

Ellen Bernard, MD

Core Physicians

Exeter Hospital

Maria Boylan, DO

Elliot Hospital

Teri L. Brehio, MD

Concord Hospital

Annika M. Brown, MD

Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Joann Buonomano, MD

Goodwin Community Health

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Portsmouth

Regional Hospital

Timothy E. Burdick, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road

Maureen E. Cashman, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Mayumi Chatani-Hinze, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

Carolyn S. Crosby, MD

Concord Hospital Primary

Care Meredith

Concord Hospital

John P. Daley, MD

DMC Primary Care

Valerie J. Danielson, MD

Elliot Hospital

Kevin M. Donovan, DO

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Robert G. Dorf, DO DMC Primary Care

Robert R. Dow, DO

Elliot Hospital

Douglas R. Dreffer, MD DMC Primary Care

Peter H. Eckberg, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord

Cristi M. Egenolf, MD

DMC Primary Care

Sharon E. Ferguson, DO

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

David V. Ferris, DO

Ammonoosuc Community Health Services

James F. Fitzgerald, MD DMC Primary Care

John Edward Ford, MD

Weeks Medical Center

Patrick Fox, MD DMC Primary Care

Rachel Franchi-Winters, DO

Concord Family Medicine

Concord Hospital

William E. Hassett, MD Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital

Scott C. Jaynes, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road

Michael F. Kasschau, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Timothy G. Keenan, MD

Seacoast Direct Primary Care Exeter Hospital

Rebecca E. Krasnof, MD

DMC Primary Care

Karolyn Lee, MD

Elliot Hospital

Matthew B. Mackwood, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road

Michelle S. Mancherje, MD

Wentworth-Douglass

Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital

Debra E. Margolis, DO DMC Primary Care

Amy L. Martel, MD

Concord Family Medicine

Concord Hospital

Leah G. Matthew, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road

Mary F. Merkel, DO

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Merrimack

Sarah E. Murai, MD DMC Primary Care

Richard J. O’Brien Jr, MD

Concord Hospital

Louie Olive, MD

Elliot Hospital

Steven T. Olive, MD

Martin’s Point Health Care

Michael A. Pangan, MD Exeter Hospital

Kristina I. Parisien, MD

Elliot Hospital

Douglas Phelan, DO, MPH, FAAFP

DMC Primary Care

Leslie T. Pitts, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

David Reall, MD

Alton Family Medicine Huggins Hospital

Mark Reeder, MD

Core Physicians Exeter Hospital

Daniel Rosenbaum, MD DMC Primary Care

Tamara L. Shilling, DO Concord Hospital

Alena K. Shoemaker, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road

Rebecca R. Small, MD

Elliot Hospital

Alexia Strzalka, MD DMC Primary Care

Michael F. Thompson, MD

Goodwin Community Health

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Andrew G. Tremblay, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Michael B. Watto, DO

HealthFirst - Franklin Office

Speare Memorial Hospital

Katharine L. Wetherbee, DO DMC Primary Care

John H. Wheeler, DO DMC Primary Care

Michael C. Wu, MD

Exeter Hospital

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Jeffrey M. Adler, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Vincent Aguirre, MD Elliot Hospital

Jack T. Bueno, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Clinics Nashua, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, St. Joseph Hospital

Christopher N. Dainiak, MD

Bedford Gastroenterology

Aristotle J. Damianos, MD

Atlantic Digestive Specialists

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, York Hospital, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Frisbie Memorial Hospital

Roger M. Epstein, MD

Atlantic Digestive Specialists

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, York Hospital, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Frisbie Memorial Hospital

Timothy B. Gardner, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Leyla J. Ghazi, MD Concord Hospital

Michael J. Gilbert, MD

Monadnock Community Hospital

Stuart R. Gordon, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Andrew C. Gorske, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Brian Hyett, MD

Atlantic Digestive Specialists

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, York Hospital, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Frisbie Memorial Hospital

Michael R. Kaczanowski, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Dmitriy Kedrin, MD

Elliot Hospital

Arathi R. Komarla, MD Elliot Hospital

L. Campbell Levy, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Jennifer M. Lewis, MD

Atlantic Digestive Specialists

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, York Hospital

Sean P. Lynch, MD

Atlantic Digestive Specialists

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Frisbie Memorial Hospital

William E. Maher, MD

Atlantic Digestive Specialists

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Leon P. Mclean, MD, PhD, MPH, AGAF

Granite State Gastroenterology Parkland Medical Center

Trinh B. Meyer, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics

Manchester, Elliot Hospital

Srikrishna Nagri, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua, St. Joseph Hospital

Scott Oosterveen, MD

Concord Hospital, Elliot Hospital

Matthew J. Rockacy, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Robert A. Ruben, MD

Atlantic Digestive Specialists

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Frisbie Memorial Hospital

Timothy D. Scherer, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Elliot Hospital

Corey A. Siegel, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Mark J. Silversmith, MD

Catholic Medical Center

Robert D. Thomson, MD

Concord Hospital

Arifa Toor, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck

Day Memorial Hospital

Michael W. Winter, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Medical Center, Alice Peck

Day Memorial Hospital

GERIATRIC MEDICINE

Masooma Athar, MD

Senior Health Primary Care

Elliot Hospital

Samuel J. Goldman, DO

Senior Health Primary Care

Elliot Hospital

Sung E. Jang, MD

Elliot Hospital

GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY

Dax C. Volle, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY

Ilana E. Cass, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon

Ivy Wilkinson-Ryan, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center

Lebanon, Dartmouth Cancer Center Manchester

HAND SURGERY

Roderick Bruno, MD

Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics

Exeter Hospital

Robert J. Heaps, MD

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Nicholas J. Horangic, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua, Elliot Hospital

Anthony V. Mollano, MD

Concord Orthopaedics

Concord Hospital

H. Matthew Quitkin, MD

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, York Hospital

Jinsong Wang, MD/PhD

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

HEMATOLOGY

Kenneth R. Meehan, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon

HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE MEDICINE

Mary K. Eckert, MD

Capital Region Palliative Care

Concord Hospital

Nathan E. Goldstein, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Linda Kornfeld, MD

Elliot Hospital

Lisa A. Leinau, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Sarah J. Macduffie, DO

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Charles S. Mills, MD

Elliot Hospital

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Gabriela M. Andujar Vazquez, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Nida Arif, MD

Appledore Medical Group

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Michael S. Calderwood, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Roma L. Cruz-King, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Alexander Granok, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Colleen M. Kershaw, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Bedford, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

James T. Noble, MD

Concord Hospital

Geetika Sharma, MD

Southern New Hampshire Health

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

INTERNAL MEDICINE

Jeffrey T. Calegari, DO

Delphi Enhanced Primary Care

Elliot Hospital

Anne G. Chehade, MD

Concord Hospital Internal Medicine

Concord Hospital

Gus G. Emmick, MD Elliot Hospital

Sarah H. Finn, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

Jennifer Fishbein, MD

Delphi Enhanced Primary Care

Timothy S. French, MD Elliot Hospital

Andrea H. Greenfeld, MD Elliot Hospital

Virginia Hassett, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Marcio Jablonka, MD

Southern New Hampshire

Internal Medicine Associates

Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Hospital

Heather L. Marks, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

Todd Mellish, DO

Southern New Hampshire Health

Patricia L. Min, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Jennifer P. Packard, MD

Bedford Center Internal Medicine and Pediatrics

Catholic Medical Center

Lisa C. Pastel, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Kevin Y. Pho, MD St. Joseph Hospital

Ryan C. Ratts, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Donald E. Reape, MD St. Joseph Hospital

Rebekah L. Reeves, MD Littleton Regional Healthcare

Andrew R. Rosen, MD Elliot Hospital

Pamela R. Schultze, MD Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Kevin A. Silva, MD

Littleton Regional Healthcare

Lijun Song, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

CONCORD (603) 226-2600

NASHUA (603) 889-9952

GREATER BOSTON (603) 226-2600

MANCHESTER (603) 226-2600

MONTPELIER (802) 552-4037

RATHLAW.COM

Top Doctors, Big Hearts —

At Bedford Commons

OBGYN, We’re Family!

DANIELLE ALBUSHIES, MD

“The most meaningful part of my job is delivering babies. Being present for such an emotional and important part of a couple’s life is such a privilege.”

KRISTEN BANNISTER, MD

“Over time, if you get to know people, they start to trust you and want to share their lives with you. The fact that we are given the opportunity to earn that trust is very special.”

COLLEEN BARBER, MD

“I choose OB-GYN because I love the variety of patient care experiences it offers — from developing long-standing relationships with women in the office setting to sharing in a family’s birth story, to guiding a patient through surgery and post operative recovery.”

MONICA CHUN, MD

“Being an OB is an amazing experience, seeing a baby being born is experiencing a miracle every time. Being able to support moms through this journey is such an honor.”

EMILY DEIBERT, MD

“It’s a privilege to care for women during the most significant turning points in their lives. I enjoy educating and empowering women to be informed decision makers while seeking to understand and support what is most important to them. Delivering babies never gets old!”

LARA HANLON, MD

“Developing long-term relationships is the most important part of what I do. I am honored in so many ways to be able to provide care to the women of our community.”

KRISTINE HENNEBERRY, DO

“One of the most rewarding parts of being an OB-GYN is the ability to care for women at every stage of their lives. Delivering care and building relationships as their health needs change over time is very important to me.”

ELIZABETH MAXWELL, MD

“The most meaningful part of my job is building relationships with my patients and caring for them through each stage of life. I aim to empower my patients through education and help guide them in making decisions that best meet their individual needs. It is truly an honor to provide care to our community!”

LISBETH MURPHY, MD

“The best part of my job is the deliveries. It’s a chance for me to be part of a birthday party, a day in someone’s life that they will always remember.”

SAMANTHA PAWLOWSKI, MD

“Being an OB-GYN means that I get to be on a team that helps deliver babies. A team that not only consists of fabulous doctors, but the ability to partner with all of our patients who are excited to welcome a new baby into their lives.”

DANIELLE SAUCIER, MD

“I enjoy educating my patients on the variety of treatment options and helping them choose the treatment that best aligns with their goals.”

ADILI SHAY, MD

“My goal is to provide compassionate care that is tailored to an individual’s need. I love building a relationship with patients and listening to their concerns.”

KATLYN VIGLIANCO, MD

“Patient relationships mean everything to me. It is a joy to get to know a patient and care for her throughout her lifetime. Every stage of a woman’s life is unique and I love being there through the journey.”

JENNIFER WEIDNER, MD

“I think the thing that I love the most is when you can see that you have made a positive difference in someone’s life. As a practice, I think we do that in so many different ways.”

FLETCHER WILSON, MD

“I really focus on each patient as an individual, taking into account their personal beliefs and concerns, while addressing their needs in the most effective way possible.”

WE LOVE BIRTH-DAYS!

Starting your family is one of life’s most beautiful journeys, and we’ve been honored to be part of over 25,000 of them. From our first visit to the big day, we’re here with expert care, support, and a team that’s as excited about your BIRTH-day as you are!

SUPPORTING WOMEN, ALWAYS.

We understand that every woman’s experience is different, and that’s why our team is here to listen, guide, and offer solutions that help you feel like your best self — inside and out.

EMPOWERING YOUR MENOPAUSE JOURNEY.

Menopause is a big change — but you don’t have to navigate it alone. We provide personalized menopause support, education, and hormone therapy designed just for you. Let us help you embrace this new chapter with confidence, comfort, and vitality!

We believe a healthy life is a happy life — at any age.

Whether you’re juggling life, staying active, or navigating new chapters like menopause, we’re here to make sure your health is as strong as your spirit.

With years of experience and a team that’s truly passionate about women’s health, we provide everything from wellness exams to specialized care — always with a smile and a sense of humor.

Vijaya Upadrasta, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

Salvatore J. Vella Jr, DO

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Craig P. Widness, MD

Elliot Hospital

Yvonne F. Wilson, MD

Mass General Brigham Integrated Care

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY

Jeffrey F. Bleakley, MD

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England Catholic Medical Center, Speare Memorial Hospital

Paul Boffetti, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Jonathan Bridges, MD

York Hospital Cardiovascular Care of New Hampshire York Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Jeffrey Colnes, MD

York Hospital Cardiovascular Care of New Hampshire York Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

James T. DeVries, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Cheshire Medical Center

James M. Flynn, MD

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England Catholic Medical Center, Speare Memorial Hospital

Fahad S. Gilani, MD

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England Catholic Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, Parkland Medical Center

Stephan Heo, MD

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England Catholic Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital

Aaron V. Kaplan, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Johny Kuttab, MD

Elliot Cardiovascular Consultants

Elliot Hospital

Aaqib H. Malik, MD

Catholic Medical Center

Shahab Moossavi, MD

Concord Hospital, Concord Hospital – Laconia, Concord Hospital – Franklin

Michelle L. Ouellette, MD

Catholic Medical Center, Parkland Medical Center

Christopher T. Pyne, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center

Xiaoyu Yang-Giuliano, MD

Cardiovascular Specialists of New England Catholic Medical Center, Speare Memorial Hospital, Monadnock Community Hospital

Michael N. Young, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

MATERNAL & FETAL MEDICINE

Emily R. Baker, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Bedford, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord

E. Rebecca Pschirrer, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Bedford, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

Michelle A. Russell, MD Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY

Cherif Abdelmalek, MD Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital

Elizabeth M. Bengtson, MD Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon, Dartmouth Cancer Center St. Johnsbury

Michael S. Buff, MD New Hampshire Oncology-Hematology

Concord Hospital, Elliot Hospital

Peter H. Crow, MD New Hampshire Oncology-Hematology

Concord Hospital, Elliot Hospital

Gina M. DiVenuti, MD

New Hampshire Oncology-Hematology

Concord Hospital, Elliot Hospital

Konstantin H. Dragnev, MD Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon

Kathryn C. Hourdequin, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon

Gautami S. Rao, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital

Meredith J. Selleck, MD New Hampshire Oncology-Hematology

Concord Hospital, Elliot Hospital

Keisuke Shirai, MD Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon

Zachary S. Spigelman, MD Parkland Center for Oncology and Hematology Parkland Medical Center

Jeanna Walsh, MD New Hampshire Oncology-Hematology

Concord Hospital, Elliot Hospital

NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE

James E. Gray, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Lauren M. Priolo, MD Elliot Hospital

Steven A. Ringer, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

NEPHROLOGY

Kulli M. Barrett, MD

Seacoast Kidney & Hypertension Specialists

Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Michael Casimir Danielski, MD

Seacoast Kidney & Hypertension Specialists

Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Sean W. Fitzpatrick, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital

David S. Friedenberg, DO

Nephrology Associates

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center, Concord Hospital

Charles W. Hopley, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Sucharit Joshi, MD

Seacoast Kidney & Hypertension Specialists

Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Shiv Kumar, MD

Seacoast Kidney & Hypertension Specialists

Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Naresh Matta, MD

Seacoast Kidney & Hypertension Specialists

Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Kevin B. Meyer, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics

Manchester, Catholic Medical Center, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Krupa S. Rajur, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital

Ana Stankovic, MD

Center for Kidney and Metabolic Disorders

Parkland Medical Center

NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

Katharine M. Cronk, MD/PhD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Gareth M. Davies, MD Appledore Medical Group

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Alexander J. Gamble, DO

New Hampshire

NeuroSpine Institute

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center, Concord Hospital

Neal Luther, MD

New Hampshire

NeuroSpine Institute

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Hulda B. Magnadottir, MD

Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Tung T. Nguyen, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Henry F. Pallatroni III, MD

Appledore Medical Group

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Harold J. Pikus, MD

Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Nathan E. Simmons, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Paul P. Wang, MD

New Hampshire

NeuroSpine Institute

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

NEUROLOGY

Murali K. Bogavalli, MD

Concord Hospital Neurology Concord Hospital

Krzysztof A. Bujarski, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Bedford, Catholic Medical Center

Ann C. Cabot, DO

Elliot Neurological Specialties

Elliot Hospital

Khosro Farhad, MD

Wentworth-Douglass

Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital

Jason Fleming, MD

Elliot Hospital

Valerie E. Gendron, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Maureen C. Hughes, MD

Concord Hospital Neurology

Concord Hospital, Elliot Hospital

Barbara C. Jobst, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Ana G. Lizama, MD Elliot Hospital

Keith J. McAvoy, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Bedford

Aleksandra C. Stark, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Geoffrey Starr, MD

Appledore Medical Group

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Leslie Suranyi Jr, MD

Concord Hospital

Vijay M. Thadani, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Top Doctors, Top Care

Thank you for helping to create healthier communities, one person at a time.

Addison Gilbert Hospital

Anna Jaques Hospital

BayRidge Hospital

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Milton

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Needham

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Plymouth

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Beth Israel Lahey Health At Home

Beth Israel Lahey Health Behavioral Services

Beth Israel Lahey Health Primary Care

Beth Israel Lahey Health Specialty Care

Beverly Hospital

Core Physicians

Exeter Hospital

Joslin Diabetes Center

Lahey Hospital & Medical Center

Lahey Medical Center, Peabody

Mount Auburn Hospital

New England Baptist Hospital

Winchester Hospital

Rebecca J. Thompson, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Gopalan Umashankar, MD

Concord Hospital Neurology

Concord Hospital

Gary D. Usher, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Roya Vakili, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Bedford

NEURORADIOLOGY

Clifford J. Eskey, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Stephen J. Guerin, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Rihan Khan, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

David A. Pastel, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Corey N. Sides, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

NUCLEAR MEDICINE

Jeffrey B. Mendel, MD

Parkland Medical Center, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Danielle Albushies, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN

Elliot Hospital

Jenny G. Backman, MD

Manchester Ob/Gyn Associates

Elliot Hospital

Rebecca Banaski, DO

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Kristen L. Bannister, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN

Elliot Hospital

Colleen M. Barber, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN

Elliot Hospital

Valerie A. Bell, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Julie A. Braga, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Valley Regional Hospital

Monica J. Chun, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN Elliot Hospital

Mark A. Conway, MD St. Joseph Hospital

Jennifer M. Donofrio, MD

Manchester Ob/Gyn Associates Elliot Hospital

Jillian K. Dulac, MD

Manchester Ob/Gyn Associates Elliot Hospital

Rebecca H. Evans, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Heather L. Feltmate, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Mary Ellen Fiske, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord Concord Hospital

Heidi Hallonquist, MD

Concord Hospital

Lara C. Hanlon, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN

Elliot Hospital

Kristine Henneberry, DO

Bedford Commons OB-GYN Elliot Hospital

Courtney B. Jones, MD Concord Hospital

Janine Keever, MD

Amherst Obstetrics and Gynecology

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Kelly M. MacMillan, MD St. Joseph Hospital

Karen K. Maynard, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Heidi Meinz, MD

Manchester Ob/Gyn Associates

Elliot Hospital

Deborah A. Mueller, MD Huggins Hospital

Lisbeth A. Murphy, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN

Elliot Hospital

Joshua M. Nathan, MD

Manchester Ob/Gyn Associates

Elliot Hospital

Sonja Nelson, MD

Harbour Women’s Health

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Samantha R. Pawlowski, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN

Elliot Hospital

Timothy Pinard, MD

Huggins Hospital

Adili L. Shay, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN

Elliot Hospital

Brenna Corbett Stapp, DO

Manchester Ob/Gyn Associates

Elliot Hospital

Sylvia Tufano, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Jennifer Weidner, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN

Elliot Hospital

Fletcher R. Wilson, MD

Bedford Commons OB-GYN

Elliot Hospital

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE

Phillip B. Collins, MD

Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Heather Bartels, MD

The Medical Eye Center

Monadnock Community Hospital

Claudia Bartolini, MD

Eyesight Ophthalmic Services

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Exeter Hospital

Kinley Beck, MD

Eyesight Ophthalmic Services

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, WentworthDouglass Hospital

Timothy D. Blake, MD

Nashua Eye Associates

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St.

Joseph Hospital

Nancy E. Bonachea, MD

New Hampshire Eye Associates

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Anthony J. Correnti, MD

New Hampshire Eye Associates

Elliot Hospital

Sonalee M. Desai-Bartoli, MD

Nashua Eye Associates

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St.

Joseph Hospital

Janine R. Eagle, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Lebanon

Maxwell D. Elia, MD

The Medical Eye Center

Elliot Hospital

Ahad A. Fazelat, MD

The Medical Eye Center

Elliot Hospital

Erin S. Fogel, MD

Concord Eye Center

Eliot D. Foley, MD

The Medical Eye Center

Warren Goldblatt, MD

Eyesight Ophthalmic Services

Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Jason A Hall, MD

The Medical Eye Center

Elliot Hospital

Amy L. Hennessy, MD

The Medical Eye Center

Elliot Hospital

Marsha Kavanagh, MD

Eyesight Ophthalmic Services

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, WentworthDouglass Hospital

Richard J. Lasonde, MD

Excellent Vision

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

David P. Lawlor, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Vasilios P. Lazos, DO

New Hampshire Eye Associates

Elliot Hospital

Kimberly Licciardi, MD

New Hampshire Eye Associates

Elliot Hospital

Donald M. Miller, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Christiana E. Munroe, MD

New Hampshire Eye Associates

Elliot Hospital

Paul S. Musco, MD

Speare Memorial Hospital

Purak Parikh, MD

Nashua Eye Associates

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St.

Joseph Hospital

Newton T. Peters, MD

Eyesight Ophthalmic Services

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Patrick Joseph Riddle, MD

Nashua Eye Associates

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St.

Joseph Hospital

Erin M. Salcone, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Lebanon

Douglas R. Scott, MD

Laconia Eye & Laser Center

Concord Hospital – Laconia

Dane H. Slentz, MD

The Medical Eye Center

Elliot Hospital

Timothy Sullivan, MD

Eyesight Ophthalmic Services

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, WentworthDouglass Hospital

Lucian Szmyd Jr, MD

Eyesight Ophthalmic Services

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

David A. Weinberg, MD

Concord Eye Center

Concord Hospital

Melissa M. Wong, MD

New Hampshire Eye Associates

Elliot Hospital

Sarah C. Xu, MD

The Medical Eye Center

Elliot Hospital

Michael E. Zegans, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Uri Michael Ahn, MD

New Hampshire

NeuroSpine Institute

Elliot Hospital

James B. Ames, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Eric Arvidson, MD

Mobility Bone & Joint Institute

Parkland Medical Center

John-Erik Bell, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Eric R. Benson, MD

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

HCA Healthcare in New Hampshire proudly celebrates our outstanding physicians, recognized by their peers for excellence in care. These physicians embody our mission: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.

Need help finding a doctor or health information? Call Consult-A-Nurse® at 844-706-8773

From left to right:

John Daley, MD, Derry

Sarah Murai, MD, Derry

J.Bryan Bannister, MD, Bedford

Douglas Phelan, DO, FAAFP, Windham

Alexia Strzalka, MD, Bedford

Daniel Rosenbaum, MD, Bedford

Cristi Egenolf, MD, Derry

Patrick Fox, MD, Concord

Katharine Wetherbee, DO, Londonderry

James Fitzgerald, MD, Bedford

John Wheeler, DO, Derry

Rebecca Krasnof, MD, Windham

Robert Dorf, DO, Londonderry

Anne Barry, DO, Windham

Jennifer Badger, DO, Derry

Douglas Dreffer, MD, Concord

Adam Androlia, DO, Derry

Debra Margolis, DO, Bedford (Not Pictured)

Top Docs 2026

Daniel P. Bouvier, MD

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

St. Joseph Hospital, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Parkland Medical Center

Patrick Casey, MD

Concord Orthopaedics

Concord Hospital

Avnish N. Clerk, MD

Exeter Hospital

Jeffrey Clingman, MD

Advanced Orthopaedics

Frisbie Memorial Hospital

Marcus P. Coe, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New London Hospital

Mark C. Cullen, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital

Alexander D. Davis, MD

Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Robert F. Davis, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Neil T. Dion, MD

Concord Orthopaedics

Concord Hospital

Tahsin Ergin, MD

Mobility Bone & Joint Institute

Parkland Medical Center

Frances D. Faro, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New London Hospital

Andrew T. Garber, MD

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

St. Joseph Hospital, Parkland Medical Center, Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Mark J. Geppert, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital

Ida Leah Gitajn, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Ricardo A. Gonzales, MD

Elliot Hospital

Douglas M. Goumas, MD

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

Catholic Medical Center, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Eric R. Henderson, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Medical Center, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord

Jeffrey I. Kauffman, MD Littleton Regional Healthcare

Heather C. Killie, MD

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

Catholic Medical Center, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Bryan Lawless, MD Elliot Hospital

Gregory P. Leather, MD Cheshire Medical Center

Glenn S. Lieberman, MD

Concord Hospital Orthopaedics

Concord Hospital

Timothy J. Lin, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Thomas F. McGovern, MD Exeter Hospital

Kevin J. McGuire, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Marc J. Michaud, MD

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Wayne E. Moschetti, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Mayo Noerdlinger, MD

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, York Hospital

Jason A. Oliviero, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics

Manchester, Elliot Hospital

Alexander R. Orem, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Gifford Medical Center

Robert C. Parisien, MD Elliot Hospital

Ira M. Parsons, MD

The Knee, Hip & Shoulder Center

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Adam M. Pearson, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Anthony H. Presutti, MD

Cheshire Medical Center

Akhilesh Sastry, MD

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Paul Scibetta Jr, DO

Elliot Hospital

Joshua A. Siegel, MD

Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Edward A. Sirlin III, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Gregory W. Soghikian, MD

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Michael B. Sparks, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Adrian J. Thomas, MD

New Hampshire NeuroSpine Institute

Elliot Hospital

Benjamin M. Thompson, MD

Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Frisbie Memorial Hospital

David C. Thut, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital

Lance G. Warhold, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Gavin R. Webb, MD

Wentworth Health Partners

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital

Tyler P. Welch, MD

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, York Hospital

Jeffrey W. Wiley, MD

Concord Orthopaedics

Concord Hospital

OTOLARYNGOLOGY

James P. Bartels, MD

Bartels Facial Rejuvenation

Eunice Y. Chen, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Colin R. Edwards, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Clinics Manchester

Elliot Hospital

Peter Soon Ihm, MD

Exeter Hospital

Keith Jorgensen, MD

Parkland Medical Center

Joseph A. Paydarfar, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

James E. Saunders, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Sarah S. Seo, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Mark C. Smith, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Andrew R. Spector, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

Elliot Hospital

Jeffrey M. Zimmerman, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

Elliot Hospital

PAIN MEDICINE

Musa M. Aner, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Christopher J. Curatolo, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Jason M. Donnelly, MD

Amoskeag Anesthesia

Elliot Hospital

Alex M. Dressler, MD

New Hampshire NeuroSpine Institute

Elliot Hospital

Mark A. Horton, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

James A. Mirazita, MD

Pain Solutions

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Concord Hospital – Laconia

Syed A. Razvi, MD

Amoskeag Anesthesia

Elliot Hospital

Praveen Suchdev, MD

Pain Solutions

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Kimberly M. Youngren, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

PATHOLOGY

Michael L. Baker, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

John P. Bissonnette, MD

Elliot Hospital

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Elliot Hospital

Candice C. Black, DO

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Anil K. Dewan, MD

Elliot Hospital

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Elliot Hospital

Nancy M. Dunbar, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Jorge L. Gonzalez, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Edward J. Gutmann, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Prabhjot Kaur, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New London Hospital

Darcy A. Kerr, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Robert E. LeBlanc, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Mikhail Lisovsky, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Xiaoying Liu, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Jonathan D. Marotti, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Isabella W. Martin, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Shabnam Momtahen, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Jason R. Pettus, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Top Docs 2026

Congratulations to our Top

Christopher E. Allen, MD FAMILY MEDICINE

Hilary K. Alvarez, MD FAMILY MEDICINE

Kyle T. Baron, MD FAMILY MEDICINE

Murali K. Bogavalli, MD NEUROLOGY

Gregory A. Bonci, MD

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Teri L. Brehio, MD FAMILY MEDICINE

Constantine P. Brocoum, MD

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Michael S. Buff, MD ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY

Patrick J. Casey, MD ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Anne G. Chehade, MD INTERNAL MEDICINE

Adam Chodosh, MD CARDIOLOGY

Elizabeth F. Clemente, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Carolyn S. Crosby, MD FAMILY MEDICINE

Peter H. Crow, MD ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY

Matthew H. DiMasi, MD

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Anthony M. Dinizio, MD

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Neil T. Dion, MD ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Doctors for being recognized by your peers.

Gina M. DiVenuti, MD ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY

Mary K. Eckert, MD HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE MEDICINE

Scott J. Fabozzi, MD UROLOGY

Mary Ellen Fiske, MD OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Rachel Franchi-Winters, DO FAMILY MEDICINE

David Friedenberg, DO NEPHROLOGY

Dean J. Galatis, MD ANESTHESIOLOGY

Alexander Gamble, DO NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

Leyla J. Ghazi, MD GASTROENTEROLOGY

Steffen Haider, MD VASCULAR & INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Heidi Hallonquist, MD OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Melissa Hoyt, MD GENERAL SURGERY

Maureen C. Hughes, MD NEUROLOGY

Courtney B. Jones, MD OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Matthew F. Kamil, MD ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIABETES & METABOLISM

Amichai D. Kilchevsky, MD UROLOGY

Robert J. Laflam, MD ANESTHESIOLOGY

Yan Li, MD RHEUMATOLOGY

Glenn S. Lieberman, MD ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Christina G. Loporcaro, MD EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Amy L. Martel, MD FAMILY MEDICINE

Su K. Metcalfe, MD RADIATION ONCOLOGY

James Mirazita, MD PAIN MEDICINE

Robert E. Mitchell, MD UROLOGY

Anthony V. Mollano, MD ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Shahab Moossavi, MD INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY

Ayesha Nazeer, MD CARDIOLOGY

James T. Noble, MD INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Richard J. O’Brien Jr., MD FAMILY MEDICINE

Scott Oosterveen, MD GASTROENTEROLOGY

Marianne R. Petruccelli, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Robert D. Rix, MD EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Bryan P. Rowe, MD RADIATION ONCOLOGY

Ari I. Salis, MD INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

William Farber Santis, MD UROLOGY

Douglas R. Scott, MD OPHTHALMOLOGY

Meredith J. Selleck, MD ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY

Tamara L. Shilling, DO FAMILY MEDICINE

Hoke H. Shirley, MD RHEUMATOLOGY

Jesse B. Smith, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Michael H. Stella, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Alexander Stetsyuk, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Leslie Suranyi Jr., MD NEUROLOGY

Robert D. Thomson, MD GASTROENTEROLOGY

Veronica Triaca, MD UROGYNECOLOGY

Gopalan Umashankar, MD NEUROLOGY

Joseph G. Venus, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Jeanna Walsh, MD ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY

David A. Weinberg, MD OPHTHALMOLOGY

Christopher M. Weinmann, MD GENERAL SURGERY

Jeffrey W. Wiley, MD ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

D. Tyler Zapton, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO MEDICAL EXCELLENCE.

Patients who have a choice, choose us to keep them, their families, and their communities healthy.

Top Docs 2026

Weldon W. Sanford, MD

Catholic Medical Center, Monadnock Community Hospital, Huggins Hospital

James Samuel Smoot, MD

Elliot Hospital, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Arief A. Suriawinata, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Zbigniew M. Szczepiorkowski, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Karen N. Wu, MD

Optima Dermatology - Laboratory

Shaofeng Yan, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

George J. Zanazzi, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY

Robert W. Hickey, MD

Allergy Associates of New Hampshire

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

Christopher J. Clarke, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester

David I. Crowley, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester

Jenifer A. Glatz, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester, Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

Kimberly M. Molina, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon, Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester

Julie A. Vincent, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon, Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester

PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

Kelly L. Corbett, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY

Julianne A. Mann, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s

Lebanon, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road

Jillian F. Rork, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester

PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Maia S. Rutman, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

Emily A. Zajano, MD Elliot Hospital

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY

Robert C. Gensure, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester, Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY

Amer Al-Nimr, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

Julie L. Sanville, DO

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGYONCOLOGY

Julie Kim, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon, Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

Angela M. Ricci, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon, Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

Nadine P. SantaCruz, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon, Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY

Matthew M. Hand, DO

Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester, Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

William J. McKinnon Jr, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY

Brian P. O’Sullivan, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester, Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

PEDIATRIC SURGERY

Daniel P. Croitoru, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon, Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester

Eileen M. Duggan, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon, Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester

Meghna V. Misra, MD

Elliot Hospital

Elizabeth S. Soukup, MD

Elliot Hospital

PEDIATRICS

Thomas M. Albushies, MD

Concord Pediatrics

Cheryl E. Anderson, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

Alexandra D. Bonesho, MD

Core Physicians

Exeter Hospital

Joel M. Bradley, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Lebanon

Candice L. Camacho, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Charles T. Cappetta, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Nashua

Leslie S. Dick, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Concord

Keith R. Dominick, MD

Pediatric Associates of Hampton & Portsmouth

Danielle L. Dunetz, DO

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Eileen Forrest, MD

Exeter Hospital

Mitchell Frumkin, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Nashua

Matthew J. Hajduk, MD

Elliot Hospital

Marc A. Hofley, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester

John R. Hollister, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Manchester

Samantha A. House, DO

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Lebanon

Nancy S. Husarik, MD

Elliot Hospital

Jessica P. Jacobs, MD

Weeks Medical Center

Kristen C. Johnson, MD

Core Physicians

Exeter Hospital

Ryan C. Johnson, MD

Dover Pediatrics

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Jennifer L. Jones, MD

Core Physicians

Exeter Hospital

Gregory Kaupp, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

John Klunk, MD

Elliot Hospital, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Tessa J. Lafortune-Greenberg, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Concord

Steven P. Loh, MD Exeter Hospital

Michele D. Mandel, MD

Elliot Hospital

Heather A. Mane, MD Elliot Hospital

Lila H. Monahan, MD

Pediatric Healthy Weight and Wellness

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Rebecca H. Murphy, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Manchester

Mark D. Myers, MD

Elliot Hospital

Theresa M. Oliveira, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Concord

Andrea Palumbo, MD

Elliot Hospital

Jessica S. Payton, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Mitchell N. Pivor, MD

Goodwin Community Health

Todd M. Poret, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Concord

Christopher M. Riccio, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Geraldine Rubin, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Donald E. Salvatore, MD

Elliot Hospital

Andrew J. Schuman, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Nashua

Erik M. Shessler, MD

Dartmouth Health Children’s Manchester, Dartmouth

Health Children’s Bedford

Catherine D. Shubkin, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Lebanon

Marni A. Silverstein, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Alyssa R. Smith, MD

Puddle Dock Pediatrics

Sandra F. Truebe, MD Elliot Hospital

Pamela S. Udomprasert, MD

Goodwin Community Health

Linda A. Williams, MD

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Hilary A. Yehling, MD

Elliot Hospital, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Denise E. Youssef, MD

Dartmouth Health

Children’s Nashua

Top Docs 2026

PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION

John A. Ditri, MD

Frisbie Memorial Hospital

Thomas M. Frates, MD

New Hampshire

NeuroSpine Institute

Elliot Hospital

Aron M. Jeffrey, DO

New Hampshire NeuroSpine Institute

Elliot Hospital

Bruce Myers, MD

Seacoast Physiatry

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Daniel S. Zipin, DO

Exeter Hospital

PLASTIC SURGERY

Cecil W. Bean, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Frisbie Memorial Hospital

Steven L. Brown, MD

Catholic Medical Center

Todd E. Burdette, MD

Elliot Hospital

Gary L. Freed Jr, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Michael K. Matthew, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Jeremy Waldman, MD

Waldman Plastic Surgery & Dermatology

St. Joseph Hospital

PSYCHIATRY

Paul F. Belliveau, MD

Innovative Psychiatry Center

Eduardo Andres Calagua

Bedoya, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Matthew S. Duncan, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Julia R. Frew, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Samantha Gnanasegaram, MD

Hope Counseling Services

Patrick A. Ho, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Andrew Kaplan, DO LifeStance Health

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Sreenivas Katragadda, MD LifeStance Health

H. S. Landsman, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Gillian L. Sowden, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Devendra S. Thakur, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Cheshire Medical Center

PULMONARY DISEASE

Haitham Al Ashry, MD

Elliot Hospital

Graham T. Atkins, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Copley Hospital

John P. Brennan, MD Exeter Hospital

James L. Carroll Jr, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Christopher C. Daigle, MD

St. Joseph Hospital

Sunil Dhunna, MD Elliot Hospital

Joseph C. Hou, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Catholic Medical Center

Amit Joglekar, MD Exeter Hospital

Brian L. Jones, MD/PhD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Harold L. Manning, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Vinia Madonna C. Mendoza, MD

Seacoast Pulmonary Medicine

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Muhammad Mirza, MD

Elliot Hospital

Richard N. Read, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester

RADIATION ONCOLOGY

Jeffrey V. Brower, MD/PhD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Elliot Hospital

Nirav S. Kapadia, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon

Brian R. Knab, MD

Elliot Hospital

Jeffrey Lemons, MD

Wentworth-Douglass

Hospital, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center

Su K. Metcalfe, MD

Concord Hospital, Elliot Hospital

Bryan P. Rowe, MD

Concord Hospital, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Himanshu Singh, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Bassem I. Zaki, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon, Dartmouth Cancer Center Manchester

REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY/ INFERTILITY

Joseph A. Hill III, MD Fertility Centers of New England

Kristen Wright, MD

Boston IVF

Elliot Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center-Boston

RHEUMATOLOGY

Daniel A. Albert, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Christopher M. Burns, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Todd F. Dombrowski, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Kalyani Govindaraju, MD

Nashua Rheumatology

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Lyudmila Kirillova, MD

Nashua Rheumatology

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center

Daniel Kunz, DO

Exeter Hospital

Yan Li, MD

Concord Hospital

Douglas F. Marks Jr, MD

Elliot Hospital

Brian McKinley, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Naureen Mirza, MD

Elliot Hospital

Aparna Raju Padmaraju, MD

Elliot Hospital

Hoke H. Shirley III, MD

Concord Orthopaedics

Concord Hospital

Robert W. Simms, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

SLEEP MEDICINE

Brooke G. Judd, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road

Michele G. Rush, MD

Speare Memorial Hospital

SPORTS MEDICINE

Adam Androlia, DO

DMC Primary Care

Christopher J. Couture, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital

Peter M. Loescher, MD

Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Jonathan Mack, MD

Elliot Hospital

John Andrew McMahon, DO

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, York Hospital

Erika Sadeghi, MD

Elliot Hospital

SURGERY

Stacey A. Abbis, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Nashua

Alexandra Briggs, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

H.E. Guy Burman, MD Cheshire Medical Center

David J. Coppola, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

David A. Gould, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester, Elliot Hospital

Rajan Gupta, MD

Elliot Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Elliot Hospital

Melissa Hoyt, MD

Concord Surgical Associates

Concord Hospital

Daiying Lu, MD

Elliot Hospital

Christopher Lundquist, MD

Catholic Medical Center

Patrick Mahon, MD

Catholic Medical Center

Sabine Manoli, MD St. Joseph Hospital

Eric D. Martin, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Kurt K. Rhynhart, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Alice Rocke, MD

Speare Memorial Hospital

Meredith J. Sorensen, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Jay W. Swett, MD

Exeter Hospital

Richard Joseph Tomolonis, MD

Catholic Medical Center

Thadeus (Ted) L. Trus, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Christopher M. Weinmann, MD

Concord Hospital General Surgery

Concord Hospital – Laconia, Concord Hospital, Concord Hospital – Franklin

Andrew Wu, MD

Catholic Medical Center

SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Richard J. Barth Jr, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon

Kari M. Rosenkranz, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon

Jessica L. Ryan, MD

Catholic Medical Center

THORACIC & CARDIAC SURGERY

Gerald L. Sardella, MD

Elliot Hospital

Benjamin M. Westbrook, MD

Catholic Medical Center

For more than 170 years, health care providers and employers have turned to the skilled team at Sulloway & Hollis to provide innovative solutions to legal issues.

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Top

THORACIC SURGERY

David J. Finley, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center

Lebanon, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Joseph D. Phillips, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center Lebanon

Curtis C. Quinn, MD

Elliot Hospital

UROGYNECOLOGY/ FEMALE PELVIC MEDICINE & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

Elizabeth C. Chase, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Deeptha Sastry, MD

Harbour Women’s Health

Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Kris Strohbehn, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Bedford

Veronica Triaca, MD

Concord Hospital, Concord Hospital – Laconia

UROLOGY

Hernan Altamar, MD

Manchester Urology Associates

Portsmouth Regional Hospital, WentworthDouglass Hospital

Christian Bartels, MD

Manchester Urology Associates

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Lawrence M. Dagrosa, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Scott J. Fabozzi, MD

Concord Hospital

Christopher R. Girasole, MD

Manchester Urology Associates

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Elizabeth Ann Gormley, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Michael T. Grant, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New London Hospital

Martin S. Gross, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Medical Center, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire, New London Hospital

Cullen M. Jumper, MD

Exeter Hospital

Amichai D. Kilchevsky, MD

Concord Hospital, Springfield Hospital - Springfield, Vt.

Shilpa Lamba, MD

Elliot Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Sarah J. McAleer, MD

Manchester Urology Associates

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Robert E. Mitchell, MD

Concord Hospital

John J. Munoz, MD

Manchester Urology Associates

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Cyrus B. Noble, MD

Manchester Urology Associates

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Cormac E. O’Neill, MD

Elliot Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

Vernon M. Pais Jr, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Eric Raffin, MD

Elliot Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

William Farber Santis, MD

Concord Hospital

William A. Selleck, MD

Manchester Urology Associates

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Samuel T. Snipes, MD

Manchester Urology Associates

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St.

Joseph Hospital

VASCULAR & INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Thomas Alberico, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Karina Bosman, MD

Southern New Hampshire

Radiology Consultants

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Jeffrey P. Chapdelaine, MD

St. Joseph Hospital

John M. Gemery, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center

Lebanon, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Medical Center

Steffen Haider, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

Eric K. Hoffer, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center

Lebanon, Dartmouth

Hitchcock Medical Center

Nancy J. McNulty, MD

Dartmouth Cancer Center

Lebanon, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Javier Perez-Rodriguez, MD

Southern New Hampshire

Radiology Consultants

Catholic Medical Center,

Elliot Hospital

Ari I. Salis, MD

Concord Imaging Center

Concord Hospital

Daniel Sheibley, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

Vibhor Wadhwa, MD

Southern New Hampshire Radiology Consultants

Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center

VASCULAR SURGERY

Jocelyn M. Beach, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

CASTLE

James M. Estes, MD

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Patricia C. Furey, MD

Catholic Medical Center

Philip P. Goodney, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck

Day Memorial Hospital

Chelsey N. Lewis, MD

Elliot Hospital

Richard J. Powell, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital

Rebecca E. Scully, MD

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire

Laurence P. Young, MD St. Joseph Hospital

CONNOLLY TOP DOCTORS is a health care research company and the official source for Top Doctors for the past 26 years. Castle Connolly's established nomination survey, research, screening and selection process, under the direction of an M.D., involves many hundreds of thousands of physicians, as well as academic medical centers, specialty hospitals and regional and community hospitals all across the nation.

The online nominations process — located at castleconnolly.com/nominations — is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physicians is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. Once nominated, Castle Connolly's physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels.

Careful screening of doctors' educational and professional experience is essential before final selection is made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers. The result: We identify the top doctors in America and provide you, the consumer, with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise in our paperback guides, national and regional magazine “Top Doctors” features and online directories.

Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected and profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors.

Physicians selected for inclusion in this magazine’s “Top Doctors” feature also appear online at castleconnolly.com, or in conjunction with other Castle Connolly Top Doctors databases online and/or in print.

Castle Connolly was acquired by Everyday Health Group (EHG), one of the world’s most prominent digital health care companies, in late 2018. EHG, a recognized leader in patient and provider education, attracts an engaged audience of over 53 million health consumers and over 780,000 U.S. practicing physicians and clinicians to its premier health and wellness websites. EHG combines social listening data and analytics expertise to deliver highly personalized health care consumer content and effective patient engagement solutions.

EHG’s vision is to drive better clinical and health outcomes through decision-making informed by highly relevant data and analytics. Health care professionals and consumers are empowered with trusted content and services through the Everyday Health Group’s flagship brands including Everyday Health, What to Expect, MedPage Today, Health eCareers, PRIME Education and our exclusive partnership with MayoClinic.org and The Mayo Clinic Diet.

Everyday Health Group is a division of J2 Global Inc. (NASDAQ: JCOM), and is headquartered in New York City.

Thank You to Our Top Doctors

For nearly 120 years, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been defined by exceptional physicians.

Serving our communities since 1906, our doctors uphold a legacy of compassionate care, innovation, and clinical excellence.

We are grateful for your unwavering dedication to professional excellence and exceptional patient care — across the Seacoast and beyond.

Proudly part of the Mass General Brigham family.

Experts

You have spent most of your adult life creating wealth and assets for you and your family. If you are like most people, you probably believe that your final wishes will be carried out without much difficulty. Those who fail to manage their estates and create rock solid wills are leaving themselves wide open to a plethora of troubles that will make it very difficult for your loved ones and others to receive what you intended. We reached out to some of New Hampshire’s most prestigious law and financial planning firms to learn more about wills and estate planning and why they are critical to protecting your assets.

ASK THE MEET THE EXPERTS:

Sheehan Phinney

QHow can I determine whether I need a will, a trust, or both as part of my estate plan, what key documents should every adult have in place, how often should an estate plan be reviewed or updated, and how can proper estate planning help minimize taxes, fees, and delays for my heirs?

AEstate planning begins with understanding your goals, assets, and family situation. Whether you need a will, a trust, or both depends on factors such as the size and complexity of your estate, whether you own real estate in multiple states, your privacy concerns, and whether you want to avoid probate. A will directs how assets are distributed and names guardians for minor children, while a trust can manage assets during your lifetime, provide continuity if you become incapacitated, and help avoid probate delays.

Every adult should have several core documents in place. These typically include a will, a durable power of attorney for financial matters, a health care power of attorney, and an advance directive or living will.

Depending on your circumstances, a revocable or irrevocable trust may also be appropriate.

Estate plans should be reviewed every three to five years or whenever a major life event occurs. Events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a significant change in assets, relocation, or changes in tax law should trigger a review.

Proper estate planning can reduce taxes, administrative costs, and court involvement. By structuring assets thoughtfully and clearly documenting your wishes, you help ensure a smoother, more efficient transfer of wealth to your heirs.

Mark Bartram is a member of Sheehan Phinney’s Estate Planning Group, focusing his legal practice on trusts and estates with extensive experience in estate planning, trust and fiduciary administration, and probate matters. For more information please contact Mark at mbartram@sheehan.com or (603) 627-8326.

2026 FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGERS

Milestone Financial Planning, LLC

QSecond marriages: How do I protect my spouse without disinheriting my kids?

AA great way to protect your spouse without disinheriting your kids is to title your home and your non-qualified investments in a revocable trust with what is known as a “qualified terminable interest property” (QTIP) provision. This trust allows the income and principal of the trust to be used for your surviving spouse’s needs, as defined in the trust (commonly, for “health, education, maintenance and support”), which covers most normal expenses.

At their death, the trust calls for the remaining assets to pass to your children or other beneficiaries.

Your spouse will receive a step-up in basis in the assets to

Qfair market value at your death, and there will be a second step-up at your spouse’s death, minimizing any income taxes from the sale of the assets.

If you own property in a state that is not New Hampshire (including Massachusetts or Maine), you will want to consider state estate tax considerations.

Trusts do come with costs, so are best established when assets exceed $500,000.

There are other considerations for other types of assets (including retirement accounts); you can read our full article on this topic.

— Jennifer L. Climo, CPA, CFP®, MSFP

How do you ensure that your estate executor, financial power-of-attorney and other appointees in your estate plan know how to find the documents they need to properly execute their roles?

AIt used to be that when a loved one died, the executor of the estate was able to piece together a person’s financial affairs by looking for documents in a desk drawer, safe or filing cabinets. They could use the information they found to settle the affairs of the person that passed. Now, most things are stored electronically on personal computers, hard drives, cloud drives, etc. Electronic records are a great storage solution for someone while they are living but what happens when you’re gone if no one knows how to gain access to the records or even where they are stored? At any age, you owe it to the people you appoint to give them clear directions on where your important financial documents are stored and how they can gain access. Otherwise, you’re setting them up for failure. There are a handful of online digital

Qlegacy planning tools available to help with this process. I personally use a combination of Trustworthy and a spreadsheet. I also have a set of instructions that clearly give a step-by-step action plan for how to access my important documents and where the list of my financial accounts is. I’ve also set up digital legacy permissions for my phone, personal computer, cloud storage, password manager and personal email. Finally, I include guidance on a number of soft things like where all of my photos are stored, what I want for burial/funeral arrangements and what do with my personal effects. Doing all of this can be time-consuming but the alternative is that you leave a mess for your appointed fiduciaries to deal with.

— Jonathan C. Harrington, CFP®, MSFP, MST

What are some effective ways to integrate charitable giving into your estate plan?

AIntegrating charitable giving into your estate planning allows you to make a final gift to causes you care about and serves as lasting demonstration of your values. Doing so need not be complicated and does not require large sums or disinheriting other heirs. A few strategies you might consider include:

• Naming a charity as a beneficiary of a pre-tax IRA account. This is simple to set up, and can reduce the taxes due on your estate.

• Making a bequest in your revocable trust document. If you have a trust speak to your attorney to create a simple amendment designating a portion of the trust’s funds to

be donated to charity. If you don’t have a trust creating a provision like this can be easily added to the trust at inception.

• Making a bequest in your will. If your estate plans do not include a trust you can name a charity directly in your will. Keep in mind that your will becomes public record during the probate process, you may want to use another method if you want to keep your plans private.

A qualified advisor or attorney can help you explore these and other strategies further.

— Daniel Koppel, CFP®, MSFS

Upton & Hatfield

QHow can blended families, subsequent marriages, or complex family dynamics benefit from a more customized estate plan?

AEstate planning for blended families and subsequent marriages can be complicated and proper planning is important. There might be concerns about the potential for unequal treatment of children, stepchildren, and current spouses. It is important to determine your goals and create an estate plan that outlines how assets will be divided to avoid conflicts later. Communication with your new spouse or partner about finances and estate planning is essential to ensure that your goals regarding your children and your spouse or partner are met. If you are married and have a Prenuptial Agreement, this will clarify how assets will be distributed upon death, but even with a Prenuptial Agreement, you might choose to provide for a current spouse and stepchildren in your estate plan.

An effective tool for managing the complexities associated with blended families is a trust. A joint revocable trust can be used, but there are pitfalls, including the possibility that, unless specified to the contrary, a surviving spouse can amend it after your death. An alternative might be to create a joint trust to hold marital assets and then separate individual trusts to hold separate property.

There are also a variety of irrevocable trusts that can be used depending on the intricacies of your family and financial situation. Some allow the surviving spouse to choose beneficiaries and others can provide for the deceased spouses’ children from a prior relationship.

Other methods of providing for beneficiaries include designating who the beneficiaries will be on retirement accounts, annuities, and life insurance policies. Certain bank accounts also allow you to indicate who will receive the funds upon your death, frequently known as a Payable on Death or Transfer on Death Designations.

Navigating the intricacies that come with estate planning for blended families can be complicated. With the guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney, you can create a thoughtful plan that protects your loved ones.

— Laura M. Dudziak, Associate Attorney

Estate Planning, Probate and Family Law, Upton & Hatfield

Wadleigh, Starr & Peters, P.L.L.C. provides:

Estate Planning: Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and personalized plans to protect those who matter most and your assets.

Probate Administration: Compassionate guidance through the probate process, ensuring your wishes are honored and estates are managed efficiently.

Our experienced team proudly serves all individuals, couples, and families, and we make the process clear, caring, and confident.

Russman & Phinney

RUSSMANLAW.COM

QW hy would your children need an estate plan once they turn 18 and head to college?

AGoing off to college or beginning a new career is an exciting and significant step into adulthood for many young individuals. As parents, we prepare them with dorm gear or equipment, new clothes, all the electronics and safeguards we can put in place for them to fly the coop. One essential safeguard that is often overlooked is estate planning.

Once a person turns 18 and has entered adulthood, it is easy to forget that their legal responsibility begins immediately. Once your child has turned 18, the automatic authority that a parent has to make financial and medical decisions on your child’s behalf, ends swiftly and abruptly. An estate plan can protect them when your parental rights can no longer reach key decisions relative to their wellbeing.

Financially, your child may have earned money from jobs, now have savings and checking accounts with graduation money invested or scholarships. Should the unexpected happen, an estate plan would protect these assets, and a properly named power of attorney will delegate a trusted person to handle these finances on their behalf should they be unable to do so themselves.

The idea of your student having a medical emergency or becoming sick while away is tough on all parents, but reality tells us that no one is immune from accidents or illness. Preparation of a living will for your young adult will permit you or another delegated party to make those decisions for your student if they are unable to speak for themselves.

HIPPA Authorizations are also included in estate planning and will allow parents or a designated person to access your student’s medical records and have open communication with health care providers.

As parents, we want our children’s first steps into adulthood and independence to be safe and full of adventure. Giving the gift of the protection of a proper and legal estate plan exemplifies your desire to protect them now and into their futures.

— Laura Purslow, Russman & Phinney

QW hat are the key documents every adult should have in place to protect themselves and their family?

A“I really have to get to that . . .” or “I had planned to get that done but keep putting it off . . .” We have all heard it and probably said it regarding estate planning. It is a topic that comes up and we realize the importance of having these safeguards and plans in place, and yet, it is pushed to the back burner time and time again.

Estate planning is not only for those in their senior years or for the wealthy, but estate planning is also essential for every adult. Having the appropriate legal paperwork in place to protect your loved ones, your personal wishes for your property and your independence is a tool that transcends all ages groups and situations. At its core, a proper estate plan will help document your wishes should you become incapacitated and avoid intestacy, which is dying without a will. Intestacy will lead to court involvement and more times than not, increase family tensions or conflict. The key documents are as follows: Last Will and Testament; Durable Power of Attorney; Designation of Health Care Agent; The Living Will and the Revocable Living Trust. Now is the time to prioritize your estate planning.

— Emily LeClerc, Russman & Phinney

Connected by Craft

A new generation of Granite State makers embraces fiber arts

BY KARA MCGRATH

The coolest person you know is spending their Saturdays knitting … or crocheting or cross-stitching or sewing or needle felting, or participating in one of the many varieties of fiber arts that have recently gained popularity among millennials and Gen Z.

While this phenomenon is undoubtedly global, New Hampshire has a storied relationship with craft and fiber arts. Before any Europeans arrived, the Abenaki and Penacook tribes were creating baskets, clothing, art and other household items out of textiles made from local plant materials.

Londonderry became famous for its linen (rumored to have been worn by at least two founding fathers) in the mid-1700s. “The Great Sheep Boom” of the 1800s brought merino wool to the area. According to the 1840 census, New Hampshire was home to more

than 600,000 sheep (more than twice as many humans were recorded for the same year), a phenomenon largely credited to William Jarvis, the U.S. consul to Portugal, who was able to import merino sheep to his farm near Claremont. Around the same time, Shakers in New Hampshire invented a new way to make socks that combined machine- and hand-knitting.

Today in 2025, a younger group of crafters is rediscovering practices that have been passed down through the generations. David Broughton, the program manager at MAXT Makerspace in Peterborough, says he’s seeing an increase in younger members and class attendees.

“(They’re wanting to) step back a little bit from technology, step back a little bit from consumerism, and really focus on things that are handmade,” he says, noting the Sewing 101 class that MAXT offers fills up so quickly, he often has to create a waiting list.

“We’re seeing a lot of younger people in that class who want to create handmade garments, learn some sewing skills, and maybe get a little away from fast fashion.”

Kelly Bridges, the owner of Elegant Ewe yarn shop in Concord, has seen a similar trend.

“Lately, I’ve been noticing a want for classes for kids who are in their early teens,”

Bridges says, noting crochet is particularly popular among that demographic.

For many younger folks, finding an analog hobby has felt imperative in an age when every other aspect of our days involves at least one digital screen.

“The idea of connecting more authentically with real stuff of the earth, especially coming from the New York City tech world, felt exciting to me,” says Amanda Kievet, a 34-year-old former web developer and current co-owner of Junction Fiber Mill in White River Junction, Vermont.

“Knitting is a pretty accessible way for people to do that.”

Making your own clothes and home decor is certainly a big draw (there’s no better feeling than responding, “Oh, I made it!” when someone asks where your top is from), but a lot of people who have picked up these hobbies are seeking community more than a new sweater.

When Meg Locker, 29, would Google, “How do you make friends as an adult?”, the first result was always the same: Find a group of people doing the things you like to do, then show up consistently.

“I was like, ‘OK, but there is no group doing what I want to do,’ ” Locker says, recalling the many hiking and running and board game groups she found that seemed nice but weren’t what she was looking for. So she started NH Craft Club for crafty Granite Staters.

Locker hosts several events a month at locations all over New Hampshire. “There’s someone at every event who echoes the same sentiment: ‘I’m so glad we now have a space where we can meet and do stuff like this,’ ” Locker says. The events span a wide range of crafts: Grapevine wreaths, stamped tea towels, vision boards, ornaments and doormats are just a few offerings.

Louise Snodgrass, a well-followed knitter known as @lou.dangit online, is part of several knitting and fiber arts groups in their real-life community.

“Fiber arts build connectivity. It is all about collectivism and community building,” Snodgrass says. “We’re building on and sharing and reveling in knowledge and technique and patterns that have been passed down to us from other folks. It’s more about sharing and collectivism and passing along knowledge as opposed to the competitive nature of our current society.”

These days, those techniques are often being shared through the glow of a phone screen rather than around the fire. Everyone interviewed for this story agreed that younger generations are seeking out fiber arts to disconnect from the digital sphere, and that they are picking up the hobby quickly, in part because of resources available online.

“I don’t do a lot of social media, but I do do KnitTok,” says Liz Piantedosi, a millennial fiber artist and founder of the Knitter’s

Guild of NH, referring to the massive community of TikTok knitters.

That community includes Snodgrass, Kievet and her business partner, Peggy Allen (who, at 67, provides positive online representation for the baby boomer/Generation Jones set). Junction Fiber Mill is perhaps the most famous New England-based yarn producer among Internet-savvy fiber artists.

“I think we’re one of the very, very, very few small mills that have completely locked in on the social media front,” Allen says.

The pair gained traction via their podcast, then pivoted to vertical short form video about a year ago. They jumped from 11,000 Instagram followers in August 2024 to more than 76,000 in November 2025. “It’s a lot easier to break into knitting than ever before,” Allen says, noting you can find YouTube tutorials for many techniques.

This online virality is often leading to more in-person encounters. Junction Fiber Mill regularly has some of the longest lines at their booths at fiber arts festivals around the country. Locker’s craft club is an analog meetup, but it found its members thanks to viral TikTok videos. The first video she posted — an informal, “Hey, would anyone else want to join a craft club?” clip — gained about 100,000 views over two days. Once she launched the website, she had 400 people sign up in 12 hours.

“Knitting can give you a connection to other people, as well as yourself,” Bridges

says. “I hope people … are falling in love with it because of the connection it gives you to something other than technology.”

While this art might be increasing in popularity among younger folks, it’s for all ages. Meeting attendees always span a wide range of ages, crafters say.

“It brings groups of people together that probably wouldn’t rub shoulders otherwise on a typical day,” Piantedosi says of Knitter’s Guild meetings. “It’s very cool to see … that the level of engagement and enthusiasm is the same, whether you are 22 or 92.”

“It’s very cool to see ... that the level of engagement and enthusiasm is the same, whether you are 22 or 92.”

—LIZ PIANTEDOSI

All this is good for your brain, too. Finding community is proven to have crucial mental health benefits, that might be boosted when you throw crafting — which has been credited with reducing stress and anxiety, improving self-esteem and even slowing cognitive decline — into the mix.

“(Crafting) keeps your mind flowing,” Locker says. “It’s similar to doing Sudoku or crossword puzzles — it’s good for your brain health.”

When asked for beginner tips for those ready to start their crafting or fiber arts journey, the general consensus was simple: Just start … and then don’t be afraid to ask questions.

“Everyone can make something, even if you don’t think you can,” Broughton says. “It’s not magical. You’re not born with the skills to create art pieces. It’s all practice and learning from other people … it’s about community.” NH

So You Want to Be a Fiber Artist: Tips for the Total Beginner

• Sign Up for Ravelry: The must-have website for fiber artists, this is “the” place to keep track of your projects, discover new patterns, and get inspired by other creators.

• Browse YouTube, TikTok and Instagram: The virtual fiber arts community has blessed the web with countless “patterns for beginners” video roundups, along with short tutorials on every technique you could possibly encounter.

• Find a Fiber Arts Circle: These are everywhere are typically attended by people with a wide range of skill sets who are eager to share knowledge. Local yarn stores and libraries are good first places to look.

• Pick a Project You’re Interested In: Yes, scarves and blankets might be simple, but they can also be repetitive and boring. A beginner-friendly sweater or hat will keep you engaged enough to keep going.

• Bring Your Projects in Public: Snodgrass says that, without fail, people approach them when they’re knitting in public — it’s how they got invited to one of their current fiber arts groups. “If you knit or crochet or weave in public, people will want to share and be in (the) community with you,” they say.

• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help: There’s nothing fiber artists like more than teaching other people their craft. “Don’t be shy,” Piantedosi says. “This community is so supportive and loving and kind and patient and just wants to share their love of this with others.”

Events Around the State

MARCH 15

2026 Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship

The Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship, presented by the Elliot Perry Foundation, will bring together police officers, firefighters and first responders on the ice at the SNHU Arena to celebrate 18 years of hockey and philanthropy, in support of Dartmouth Health Children’s and the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD). The annual Battle of Good vs. Good is a fun, competitive event that raises money for critical programs and services that children and families rely on every day at Dartmouth Health Children’s and CHaD. Funds from the Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship support the Child Life Program, Pediatric Mental Health Access Initiative, Child Advocacy and Prevention Program, family resource centers, and the CHaD Social Work Team, among others. Plus, the Kids Zone is back this year with painting, games, and more. New this year is the Ultimate Badges Fan Ticket offered via Ticketmaster, which includes front-row reserved seating, a $10 food voucher, and a 10 percent discount on any one game day merch item, all for $45 (+fees) per person. Seats are limited. Annually, Dartmouth Health Children’s and CHaD sees more than 90,000 unique patients, many of whom benefit from funds raised through community fundraising activities such as the Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship. $16. 1 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester; snhuarena.com

MARCH

6-27

Beginner Tai Chi with Russell Jones from Sachem Health

This four-week Tai Chi basics course will focus on balance, strength, flexibility and leg strength in one-hour sessions. No sign-up is required, and participants should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing suitable for movement and plan to attend all four classes. 1 to 2 p.m., Laconia Rotary Hall, 695 N. Main St., Laconia; laconianh.gov

MARCH 7-8

New England Colonial Trade Fair

See New England’s finest artisans and traders who are keeping early American history alive. $5. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dover Lodge of Elks #184, 282 Durham Road, Dover; ellisriverknifeworks.com

MARCH 12-15

Bloom- A Floral Palette

In the inaugural season of Bloom, the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs has partnered with the Currier to create 18 Currierinspired custom arrangements that have been crafted by Garden Club members. Visitors will discover floral arrangements in a fresh experience for all ages. Ticket prices and times vary. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester; currier.org

MARCH 14-15

NH State Home Show

Produced by the professionals at the New Hampshire Home Builders Association, this is the one show of the year to attend and interact with builders, remodelers, decorators, landscapers and all types of home solutions providers. The latest in home-related products and services will be showcased — everything from air quality to mortgages, hot tubs to custom home builders, and custom closets to fabulous kitchens and baths. With more than 200 vendors and exhibitors covering all aspects of the home building/remodeling industry, plus items in the “Made in New England” and “Beer & Wine Garden” areas, this is a home event that you won’t want to miss. $10. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Doubletree by Hilton, 700 Elm St., Manchester; nhstatehomeshow.com

APRIL 9-MAY 9

25th Putnam County Spelling Bee

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion. At least the losers get a juice box. Ticket prices and times vary. Seacoast Repertory Theatre, 125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org

APRIL 11

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare presents: Hamlet

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Is it the murder of a king? A hasty incestuous marriage? A prince bent on revenge? Or maybe just a gassy Polonius full of beer. Shakespeare’s greatest work gets the full boozy treatment as the Claremont Opera House proudly presents Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: Hamlet. This timeless examination of the nature of humanity is performed in under two hours, so “To be or not to be” gets answered and you shan’t need a nap! Grab a cocktail and enjoy as we prove that though this be madness, yet there is method in ‘t- helped with a bit of wine. Be advised, anyone younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Parental discretion is advised. $40, 7:30 p.m., Claremont Opera House, 58 Opera House Square, Claremont; cohnh.org

APRIL 11

Don Quixote

Experience the classic tale of Don Quixote, presented by Safe Haven Ballet. Expect an unforgettable journey filled with passion, humor, and breathtaking choreography. From dazzling leaps to vibrant Spanish flair, this timeless story will sweep you off your feet. Ticket prices vary. 4:30 p.m., Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord; safehavenballet.org/events

APRIL 17-19

Made in NH Expo

The Made in NH “Try It & Buy It” expo is the only expo that showcases the wide variety of quality products made right here in the Granite State. Now in its 29th year, the expo offers exhibitors a great opportunity to meet thousands of buyers, and shoppers the chance to discover all of the unique products available right here in NH. $8. Friday, 1 to 7 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,

Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm St., Manchester; buisnessnhmagazine.com

APRIL

18

Sourdough Bread Making

Learn to bake your own from scratch using a sourdough starter. You’ll learn how to start and keep a sourdough culture alive and use it to make breads and many other baked goodies, including a loaf of bread to finish at home and biscuits that use the sourdough discard to enjoy at the end of the class. You will also go home with some sourdough starter to continue your sourdough baking journey. Participants should bring a bag lunch for this 4-hour class, a container to transport their unbaked sourdough, and a small jar for their starter. Registration required. $25-$40. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Prescott Farm Environmental Educational Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia; prescottfarm.org

APRIL 18

Discover WILD NH Day

Discover WILD New Hampshire Day is a fun way for the whole family to explore New Hampshire’s wildlife resources and outdoor traditions. With

more than 100 education and experiential exhibits, this day is fun for the entire family. See live animals, big fish, and trained falcons. Try your hand at archery, casting, and fly-tying. Test your marksmanship at the air-rifle range, watch retriever dogs in action, and get creative with hands-on wild craft activities. Meet a Fish and Game biologist, talk with a conservation office or explore the Discovery Room. The food truck alley is available all day with something for every taste. Free. 10 a.m. NH Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord; wildnh.com

APRIL 26

Stained Glass Flower Workshop with Kolika Chatterjee

The garden is for all of us! Head to 3S Art Space’s Performance Space for a hands-on workshop facilitated by artist Kolika Chatterjee, where participants learn to make their own stainedglass flowers using the Tiffany-style copper foil method. Each participant will create up to three flowers, mounted on individual wooden stands. This is an 18+ event, and all safety gear is provided. $160, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 3S ArtSpace, 319 Vaughn St., Portsmouth; 3sarts.org NH

MARCH 7

On Tap for CASA

At this fundraiser for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of New Hampshire, participants aim to keep their teams’ barstools occupied for 10 hours without abandoning the post while competing in a variety of fun competitions to gain points, including trivia, stein-hoisting and more. Come for the cause, stay for the friendly competition. All participant spots will likely be filled by early March, but interested persons can donate and drop by the event for music, raffles and libations offered throughout the 10-hour event. All proceeds go toward recruitment and training of CASA volunteer advocates, women and men advocating for abused or neglected children in New Hampshire’s court system. New England Tap House and Grille, 1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett; donate.casanh.org

Generosity in Motion

Blair Demers works to strengthen nonprofits and build healthier communities

BY LYNNE SNIERSON / PHOTOGRAPHY BY CODEE LINEN

Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ ”

Blair Demers of Portsmouth answers that question every day.

Demers became the chief executive officer of the Foundation for Seacoast Health in October 2024, and in her role, she oversees the nonprofit organization, which is a catalyst for positive change by supporting a creative mix of initiatives that build healthier communities through grants and programs throughout the region.

“For me, it’s always been about opportunity,” says Demers, who is a graduate of St. Paul’s School in Concord and Princeton University. “I’ve had so much opportunity in my life. I was raised to appreciate that

and to take advantage of it and not take it for granted.”

She also earned an executive MBA at Stanford University and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management at Johns Hopkins University.

“I see a lot of opportunity to make a change in manageable ways to make other people’s lives better, and particularly for young people,” Demers says. “At the same time, I really love people, and I really love helping people. That sounds ‘trite or clique’ but it is part of who I am.”

Demers, 51, heard the call early on and went to work in the nonprofit sector straight out of school. Her first job was at a startup nonprofit working to close the opportunity gap for inner-city kids in San Francisco, and over the next 25 years, she has served as the

head of several purpose-driven organizations and as a philanthropic consultant. Her passion lies in harnessing generosity in all its forms to change the world for the better.

“I think that people benefit so much from having the mindset of generosity, the mindset of abundance over scarcity,” she says. “I don’t mean that strictly in the form of dollars. I mean that in every way that they approach their life and the way that they connect with their neighbors and community members.”

The Foundation for Seacoast Health, which was founded in 1984 and has an endowment of approximately $35 million, is strictly a grant-maker. Currently, it focuses on the three main areas of mental health, healthy aging and the health care workforce. It addresses those needs within the local sector while at the same time connecting and collaborating with other funding organizations and nonprofits. Demers says the intent is to think more deeply about the ways in which what the organization is accomplishing can ultimately impact the entire state of New Hampshire.

“Where is the clog in the pipe? There are probably many,” she says. “We at the foundation are small but mighty. We can’t

change the whole system, but perhaps there is a piece of that clog that the foundation can help loosen. I want to find those parts with the limited resources that we have. How can we make the biggest impact?”

Attorney Andrea L. Daley, who is in her 10th year as the foundation’s board chair, is convinced Demers is the right person at the right time to hold the reins.

“Blair has been an integral part of the Seacoast for a long time,” Daley says. “Her employment background and extensive involvement with many well-respected nonprofit organizations in this community has provided her with a set of skills that has made her uniquely qualified to lead the Foundation for Seacoast Health at a time

Hwhen we are significantly expanding our grantmaking work.”

Demers, who met her husband, Jeff, while they were students at St. Paul’s and with him shares three daughters, aged 23, 21 and 18, feels that she is living a life of consequence in this role that ideally suits her.

“It’s fitting all the puzzle pieces together of the types of work, the types of hats that I’ve worn in relation to the nonprofit sector, whether I’m doing philanthropic advising or running a nonprofit, or I’m running the Seacoast Women’s Giving Circle, which I did for a number of years, and is collective giving at the grassroots level,” she says. “I really love what happens when people come together for a common goal.” NH

aven NH is the largest agency in the state providing support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The nonprofit, which also offers prevention education and community outreach, is a grant recipient from the Foundation for Seacoast Health.

“Part of what makes Blair so effective is really getting to know the nonprofits, and she is finding more about the needs in the community. It’s a huge advantage. Since Blair has taken the helm, there has been a great shift in really focusing on the nonprofits and their needs in trying to streamline the grant process, so it’s not so complicated or challenging for folks to get this funding that is so necessary,” says Executive Director Kathy Beebe.

One of the targeted grants received by Haven NH this year enables the agency to add an additional prevention educator who will give school kids in grades K-12 age-appropriate presentations on personal body safety, healthy relationships, consent, and power and control. The goal is to help if they are in need or want to know how to step up for a friend.

“We’ve been seeing about 13,000 kids each year, and that’s less than half of the kids in our geographic area. It’s very important that kids have the tools,” Beebe says. “It’s helpful to link any of them to an adult who will be able to help them get out of a situation and get the support that they need, or help get somebody else out of a situation.”

Patient Portals

Finding What You Need — Without Getting Lost

BY KRYSTEN GODFREY MADDOCKS / ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN R GOODWIN

Before you see your doctor, you might be asked to log in to a portal to make your next appointment or fill out forms. Some may prefer using technology in lieu of calling a receptionist, but others may have difficulty remembering passwords or navigating screens.

According to a recent study, 90% of U.S. hospitals offer patient portals, but only 70% of patients get access to their portal and just 34% use it regularly to view, download or transmit their health information.

Patient portals have become one of the most powerful tools in modern health care, reshaping how we interact with our health care providers and medical records. Nearly every major health system offers one, yet many patients still aren’t fully aware of what their portal can do for them.

Concord Hospital Health System’s patient portal serves as a single access point for

nearly every part of a patient’s medical experience, from primary care and specialists to emergency and inpatient visits, according to Dr. Michael McLeod, DO, a family medicine physician with Family Tree Health Care — Hopkinton and associate chief clinical officer for primary care for the Concord Hospital Health System.

Whether patients see a health system primary care provider or a specialist, each of their records from those visits is stored in the portal. This gives both patients and providers a unified view of their lab results, visit summaries, medications, imaging records and upcoming appointments.

“Your emergency room visit two weeks ago, your blood work from your cardiologist a month ago — those are all within your access in your portal,” McLeod says. “It’s a singular point of entry for, really, the entire health system.”

Portals provide patients with greater transparency and flexibility. Patients can ask for prescription refills, check appointment times, or complete forms in minutes, without picking up the phone. Test results and health care records require no phone call or special permissions — just a few clicks. And because most portals are accessible through phone apps, you can retrieve information just as easily on vacation as you would at home.

“I think one (advantage), which is a solution for both patients and doctors, with everybody having such busy lives, is asynchronous communication,” McLeod says.

Patients can send secure messages to doctors through the portal any time, and care teams can more easily respond to patient questions during office hours. Staff members can then triage messages, ensuring health care providers reach patients with more timely concerns right away.

While portals provide a convenient way for patients and providers to communicate with one another, they are not designed to handle emergencies, McLeod says.

“If you said, ‘I’m having crushing chest pain right now,’ you shouldn’t send that in a portal message,” he says.

Beyond convenience, portals encourage

patients to play a more active role in their own health care. Data shows that patients most commonly log into portals to view test results and clinical notes. But portals can also help patients remember what medications they should be taking and what they discussed at their last visit. It can also close potential gaps in care.

“It provides you with a double check to make sure things aren’t missed,” McLeod says. “If folks notice something in their portal that maybe their provider didn’t talk to them about or didn’t have a follow up plan for, they can actively manage their health.”

On the back end, the portals help consolidate patient records and gives providers a place to share information and communicate in real time.

“I had two examples today of patients who see one of our specialists, and it was just very helpful to be able to send them a message through our electronic health system to say, ‘Hey, I’m seeing a mutual patient today and this is what their lab looked like. Is there anything else you want me to do? Does this seem OK?’ The communication is much better,” McLeod says.

Easier Access, Technological Advances Will Drive Usage

If portals are so convenient, why aren’t more patients logging in? Some patients aren’t aware that they have access to one, and others might not be comfortable with technology. However, most systems allow you to reset forgotten passwords and offer user experiences that are intuitive and accessible from a mobile device. If you don’t have portal access and want to start using it, you can typically get that information from your provider’s office staff.

“Some of my strongest portal users are 90 years old,” McLeod says. “A lot of my older patients have already looked at their blood work (in the portal) so that they’re prepared for their office visit. I had someone who said they cheated by looking in advance. I told them, ‘It’s not cheating. It’s your lab test.’ ” Looking ahead, Dr. McLeod expects artificial intelligence to play a growing role in patient portals, including chatbots that can answer common questions, point users to helpful resources and guide patients on when to seek care.

“Obviously there will still always be the ability for folks to interact with human

beings,” he says. “But you know, if a patient said, ‘I’ve read something online that ACE inhibitors have coughing as a side effect,’ the chatbot would be able to answer, ‘Yes, that is true; did I answer your question?’ ”

The health care business is still very much a human business. Patients shouldn’t be worried that portals will replace doctors, because they do have their limitations, McLeod says. They don’t always use the most patient-friendly language, which can confuse visitors who stumble across lab reports they don’t understand.

Legislation requires patients receive immediate access to test results, and that can sometimes cause undue anxiety for patients who aren’t able to go over those results with their provider in-person.

“People will sometimes get panicked because they’ll read information that they don’t know what to do with,” McLeod says. “It doesn’t replace the human interaction. There are some things you can do electronically, but it doesn’t replace the need to see folks in the office.” NH

Patient Portal Tips: How to Use One to Your Advantage

• Log in before your visit. Reviewing test results, medications or visit summaries ahead of time can help you prepare better questions for your provider.

• Access it for routine needs. Portals work best for appointment requests, prescription refills, form completion and non-urgent questions.

• Know what not to use it for. Portals are not monitored 24/7. For urgent or emergency symptoms, always call your provider or seek immediate care.

• Don’t panic over medical language. Lab results and diagnoses may appear before your provider contacts you, and they may use clinical terms. If something is unclear, follow up rather than assume the worst.

• Take advantage of visit summaries. If you forget what was discussed — or want to share instructions with a family member — your portal can help jog your memory.

• Reset; don’t give up. Forgetting passwords is common. Most portals allow for easy resets, and office staff can help point you in the right direction.

• Use it your way. Whether you log in through an app on a smartphone or tablet, or a website on your computer, portals are meant to be accessible from anywhere.

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An Ode to Rock Skis

BY BRION O’CONNOR / ILLUSTRATION BY PETER NOONAN

Lord knows New Hampshire skiers and snowboarders love the arrival of spring, and spring skiing, even if it’s a harbinger of our favorite season coming to an end.

Much like New England weather, spring skiing can be the very definition of capriciousness, as the vagaries of March and April can translate to a wild mix of conditions.

In short, don’t be fooled by the promise of sunshine and mild temperatures. Resorts will market those bluebird days, and you can’t blame them. It’s a tough business, especially given the erratic behavior of Mother Nature.

Despite the best efforts of local snowmaking and grooming crews, spring skiing is still a gamble, to some extent, and skiers and snowboarders should know that most gamblers rarely win against the house in the long run.

The funny thing is, these less-than-ideal circumstances often lead to epic outings, providing ample fodder for the best après ski stories. My brother Sean’s bachelor party in early April delivered nonstop rain, forcing us to don trash bags (before we could afford Gore-Tex gear). The fog was so dense, we could barely see 10 feet in front of us, inspiring one pal to coin the phrase, “skiing by Braille.”

On another wet spring day, I had a wellknown resort all to myself. The steady drizzle was a tad uncomfortable, especially on the

lifts (I had finally upgraded my outerwear), but the conditions on the trails were simply outstanding. I skied until my legs were fried. Back at the base lodge, folks looked at me like I’d lost my mind. Yes, they were warm. And dry. But I left with memories of an exceptional day that I still cherish decades later.

That’s why I continue to head north, no matter what the forecast is. But I don’t make that trek without my trusty “rock skis.”

The venerable rock ski is an integral part of any dedicated skier’s quiver, in large part because warm rain and fog can eat through a snowpack quicker than a starving Labrador retriever devouring his Purina dog chow. When local slopes look like they’re dotted with coffee stains (thanks to the barely covered mud and gravel), skiers and snowboarders know they’re risking wallet-crushing gouges to the P-Tex bottoms and metal edges of their boards. For those who care about the investment they’ve made in their equipment — often well into four figures — spring often means turning to and tuning up the rock skis.

“Every ski has a place, and rock skis are no different,” says my good friend and fellow winter fanatic Lafe Low. “They’re essential for those first turns early in the season when coverage is sketchy. They’re also critical for those last few runs when you’re more likely to hit a rock or two, or have to skim across a

bare spot. They’re even valuable companions for hauling up to Tuckerman Ravine and snaking down the last tendrils of snow on the lower Sherburne Trail.”

Most rock skis are typically an older pair of beloved boards — used skis given an opportunity to enjoy a second life (not unlike a great baseball player who becomes a designated hitter before being put out to pasture). There’s also the sensation of reconnecting with an old friend.

“It’s the life cycle of a ski,” says Low, a 1984 graduate of Keene State College. “It starts out factory-fresh, super sharp and snappy. A fresh ski is able to carve up the hardest loud powder New England can serve up with alacrity.

“Then, you get used to it,” he says. “It becomes your go-to, everyday ski. You know its nuances and how it feels. A few seasons go by, and you don’t pull them out quite as much. They retire to the exalted position of ‘rock ski.’ ”

Ski equipment, like bicycles and tennis racquets and even sneakers, has seen a sea change in technological advances. Superior design and superior components have made the performance characteristics of skis and snowboards better than ever.

But it also makes them … different. When the snow cover gets suspect, I break out my old K2 KVC Comp skis with their screaming neon pink highlights or my squash-colored Salomon X-Scream skis to carve some old school turns through the mashed-potato snow.

And those old friends have never let me down. NH

Right here, 291 of our Top Doctors make the impossible possible every day.

Congratulations to our 291 doctors who were recognized in New Hampshire Magazine’s 2026 Top Doctors list. Whatever the specialty, all of our providers rede ne what’s possible to bring you world-class care, right here. To learn more visit go.d-h.org/topdocs

More than 40 hospitals and clinics across the region. One world-class health system. In partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine. A Healthy Disregard for the Impossible™