BRATTLEBORO — Dr. Richard Orlan, 56, of Westminster, was recently recognized by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., for his work delivering health care to veterans in southern Vermont.
Orlan serves as the medical director at the Veterans Affairs' community based outpatient clinic (CBOC) in Brattleboro, which opened in 2011.
Since his start there in 2012, the number of patients at the clinic has more than doubled, increasing from 350 to 800 veterans.
“Dr. Orlan is both respected and very well-liked by the veterans under his care, and the community at large,” Deb Amdur, the director of the White River Junction VA Medical Center, was quoted as saying in a recent Sanders newsletter. “His dedication to caring for veterans is clearly evident. He goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that his patients receive the top quality, timely and comprehensive care they deserve.”
Sharon Levenson, a registered nurse at the Brattleboro CBOC, told Sanders that “the entire staff never fails to thank each veteran for their service to our country, as well as for coming to the CBOC for their visit when they arrive.”
Levenson says the increase in patients is a direct result of Orlan, and the work he performs daily.
“We are all very happy to know that our veterans are so happy with Dr. Orlan, the CBOC and the VA in general,” Levenson said. “It means we are doing what we are hired to do – to care for our wonderful veterans in a way that makes them feel safe, attended to, important, and honored.”