The first year of medical school was challenging, filled with rigorous coursework, introductory sessions in the clinical skills labs, anatomy dissections, and making new social connections, all while adjusting to being back in my home state … By the time winter break hit, I was worn out. My mind had been so focused on the nitty-gritty of foundational medicine that I had lost sight of reality. I needed to return to what fuels my passion for medicine–listening to patients so I can best help meet their needs. It was time to return to the mountains, to the community, and to myself.
“The mountains are for everyone, and it is a privilege to assist others in the pursuit of winter adventure.” — Lindsey Gleason ’27
I began volunteering with Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports on weekends, teaching ski lessons to athletes with disabilities ... The mountains are for everyone, and it is a privilege to assist others in the pursuit of winter adventure ... Teaching ski lessons to athletes with disabilities has been the highlight of my winter seasons since joining Vermont Adaptive in 2023. Whether it be calling out turns for the skier who is visually impaired, supporting an athlete with schizophrenia in taking their first turns on the bunny hill, or using hand-held outriggers alongside an army veteran who spent 70 years as a two-track skier, each lesson is filled with challenge and most importantly, fun.
This deep sense of purpose and fulfillment in helping others down the mountain mirrors that of my experience in the clinical setting. I see the same light in the eyes of the visually impaired skier successfully completing a hard run that I see in the patients making strides in their health care.