daniel barlow, executive director
Daniel Barlow is an experienced nonprofit executive, healthcare policy advocate, and former award-winning journalist who has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of public policy, community organizations, and social change. He has served as Executive Director of the People’s Health & Wellness Clinic (PHWC) in Barre, Vermont, since December 2021, leading the organization’s work providing free healthcare and support services to uninsured and underinsured Vermonters.
Under Dan’s leadership, PHWC has expanded its medical and dental services, strengthened its volunteer network, built partnerships with healthcare and community organizations, and increased its advocacy around healthcare access. Dan also serves as Board Chair of Vermont’s Free & Referral Clinic network, representing the state’s network of free and referral clinics and helping lead statewide advocacy around healthcare access and funding.
Before joining PHWC, Dan spent approximately 10 years as a journalist in Vermont and New Hampshire, where his work earned recognition for its reporting and commentary on Vermont politics, government, and public affairs. He later spent another decade working in public policy and advocacy, including serving as Public Policy Manager and lobbyist for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, where he worked with businesses and policymakers on healthcare, economic, environmental, and social policy issues.
Dan also served as Executive Director of Business Leaders for Health Care Transformation, a national organization of business leaders working to advance healthcare reform and build support for policies to transform the U.S. healthcare system. In that role, he worked with business leaders and policymakers across the country on national healthcare policy, including efforts to expand access to affordable, universal healthcare.
Dan lives in Barre City with his wife, Phayvanh Luekhamhan, and their two cats.
teal church, director of clinical services
Teal Church recently completed a graduate nursing program at the University of Vermont. She has worked as a school nurse for the past three years and previously spent 12 years as a teacher. She lives in Middlesex with her family, which includes two dog-loving elementary-aged children, her partner, and a lively crew of dogs and small animals.
Joanne puente, director of oral health
Joanne has been practicing for 42 years as a Dental Hygienist in Vermont, in private practices and in clinics for the past 20 years. She was also the Tooth Tutor with the Vermont Department of Health and an Outreach Educator to schools in the Northeast Kingdom.
ellen dunkling, bookkeeper & data manager
Ellen was born and raised in Barre and discovered her interest in bookkeeping and accounting through her school studies, which shaped her career path. Over the years, she’s held a variety of roles—from school bus driver to bookkeeper at an egg farm—gaining hands-on experience far beyond the numbers.
After retiring in 2010 from her position as a Sales Assistant at a car dealership, Ellen joined the People’s Health & Wellness Clinic in 2011 as a part-time bookkeeper. She values her role deeply, saying, “It’s more than just a job—it’s a chance to support people in need however I can.” ellen@phwcvt.org
Stefanie Pinard, Community Resource Manager
Stefanie Pinard is the Community Resource Manager at the People’s Health & Wellness Clinic, where she helps patients navigate social services and overcome barriers to care such as food insecurity, housing instability, and access to benefits. A Montpelier native, Stefanie brings deep experience in outreach and mission-based work, including her time at The Food Pantry and Community Resource Center at Just Basics, Inc. She is currently pursuing a degree in Human Services at the Community College of Vermont and is training to become a Certified Patient Assister. Stefanie lives in Central Vermont with her family and is passionate about connecting people with the resources they need to thrive.