Mel Houser, M.D. (she/they) is an autistic/PDA/ADHD/dyslexic/dyspraxic/ dyscalculic Board Certified Family Physician. Except for the doctor part, she didn’t know any of these things about herself until age 37. In fact, she was diagnosed autistic on the 2 year anniversary of her child’s diagnosis. “Dr. Mel” loves helping patients of all ages to discover how their brains work and supporting them to show up as their true selves.
Dr. Houser holds a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and completed their residency training in Family Medicine at Middlesex Hospital in Connecticut, where they served as Chief Resident. She also completed a Fellowship in Medical Student Education from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, as well as several hundreds of hours of training in neurodevelopment, autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, and learning differences.
Sierra Miller, DNP, APRN, FNP-C (she/her) is a founding member of our medical staff. She is an AANP board certified nurse practitioner. Sierra earned her Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from St. Lawrence University before coming to the University of Vermont and earning her Doctorate in Nursing (DNP). As a family nurse practitioner, Sierra is passionate about providing inclusive patient-centered primary care to all ages. Special interests include LGBTQ healthcare, Health at Every Size, sexual and reproductive health, trauma-informed care, inclusive neurodivergent care, and empowering everyone’s healthcare autonomy. Sierra lives with her partner, stepson, dog, and two cats in Montpelier, VT where she hopes to build a future improving the healthcare of the community she grew up in.
Lizzy Pieratt (she/her) is All Brains Belong’s Education Programs Coordinator and Mel’s Executive Assistant. She coordinates all of ABB’s research collaborations, small group educational programs, and neurodiversity / inclusion and neurocultural competency trainings.
Lizzy has her MA in Teaching from Point Loma Nazarene University. She has loved working with children for the past 23 years. In addition to her experience as an educator in a wide range of settings, she also started and led a Waldorf homeschooling co-op. Over the past 10 years, Lizzy has also enjoyed helping several start-up small businesses blossom by coming alongside to help with marketing and public relations. In her free time, Lizzy enjoys being a Mama to her two amazing kids, reading, and snuggling her cat.
Amy Richardson (she/her) joined the ABB team in November 2022 as our Resource Coordinator. A social worker by training, Amy has an extensive mental health background in addition to 15 years’ experience working for a large health insurance company. In her role at ABB, she fuses her past experiences to help ABB patients navigate complex, often dysfunctional systems that interfere with their health.
Amy is a lifelong gardener who has a great appreciation for nature, travel, music, and community. She loves living in Montpelier where she enjoys walking at the local parks, kayaking, swimming, and camping in the summer months.
Olivia Tyler (she /her) is a nurse with over a decade of experience who brings a holistic approach to patient support. She strives daily to hold space for her patients so they can focus on healing. Over the years she has become more and more aware of the mind-body connection and the importance of helping others find theirs.
Olivia finds herself drawn to advocate for equality for all specifically the Neuro divergent, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. She has expanded her skills by becoming a yoga instructor, birthing doula, and a trauma informed, embodied anti-racist paraprofessional. Her goals for the future are to help bridge gaps in the community, create inclusivity so we all have a place at the same table and we can see the impactful ripple effects of creating a world where all people belong.
Olivia lives in Montpelier with two amazing teenage children, their dog and two kittens. She loves music, walks, movies, yoga, conversation, silence and singing in the Montpelier Community gospel choir.
Sara Wilkins (she/they) is ABB’s Community Programs Coordinator. Sara has been working with children and families in various capacities for the past 25 years. She has directed summer day camps, run after school programs, taught at several childcare centers, and both taught at and held a leadership position in a Montessori school. She has her MA from the University of Vermont in English and Psychology and her Master’s in Business from Champlain College. She has both started and run a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and intimately understands and believes in the power of a small, dedicated group of volunteers. Sara also serves in the role of Lead Advocator for the state of Vermont on behalf of the non-profit Lives in the Balance.
Gabe Worzella, D.O. (she/they)’s strong personal mission in medicine is to assist patients on their journey to improving their health and overall wellbeing, utilizing her Integrative Medicine training.
Her love of nature started while playing in the forests of Maine as a child. She initially dreamed of becoming a veterinarian who would offer complementary and alternative modalities to conventional medicine (a.k.a. integrative therapies) to animals. During their time as a Division 1 hockey player at University of Vermont, they became interested in exercise science and nutritional biochemistry. She pivoted her studies, and instead decided to become an osteopathic physician.
In addition to her conventional medicine training, Dr. Worzella completed an Integrative Medicine Fellowship through the University of Arizona. She is passionate about homeopathy, functional medicine, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is also exploring a new love for culinary medicine. She enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with her partner, family, friends, dog, cat, chickens, and nature.