Proctor native named golf pro at Manchester club; Mt. Ascutney PA earns specialty credentials

MANCHESTER

Michael Harger, former assistant professional at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, NJ, and a Vermont native, has been named head golf professional by the Manchester Country Club in Manchester, VT.  Harger joins the Manchester Country Club after serving as an assistant for four years at the Ridgewood Country Club, which hosts the PGA Tour’s Barclays event. Prior to Ridgewood, he served three seasons as an assistant professional at the Country Club in Brookline, MA, the oldest private country club in the United States and home of the Ryder Cup in 1999.

A native of Proctor, VT, Harger said, “I’m delighted to return home to lead the golf program at one of the best courses and clubs in Vermont. Manchester Country Club has all the best attributes of a great club with a staff and membership who are committed to a first class golf experience.” MCC President Russ Mills said, “We are excited to welcome Michael back to Vermont and to Manchester Country Club. He’s a creative young talent and we are looking forward to having him lead our golf program for many years to come.”

Harger graduated cum laude from Clemson University in 2008 with a degree in parks, recreation and tourism with a concentration in professional golf management and a minor in business. He started his professional career at the Country Club in Brookline, and spent the winter seasons teaching for Jim McLean at Doral in Miami, FL. Harger managed all aspects of the golf operation at Ridgewood Country Club and has a history of introducing some unique events and programs. He started the “Get into Golf” program that focused on getting women introduced to the game. The result was 40-plus new women golfers over the last three years at Ridgewood and better utilization of the club. He also helped introduce golf to younger players through the “Bass and Birdies” event, which was a shortened round of casual golf for those ages 5 to 14 followed by a fishing derby and barbeque.

Manchester Country Club is located at 229 Beech St. in Manchester, VT. For more information, visit its website or call 802-362-3148.

Physician assistant earns specialty credential

WINDSOR

George Brothers, a Wilder resident and a certified physician assistant at Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, is one of only 108 PA-C’s nationwide to recently earn a specialty credential called a Certificate of Added Qualifications from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Brothers is one of only six PAs in Vermont to earn the CAQ credential since the program’s inception in 2011.

Brothers, who joined the Mt. Ascutney Hospital team in 2001 with a focus in emergency medicine, earned the Emergency Medicine CAQ by meeting licensure, education and experience requirements, then passing an exam in the specialty. To pass the certification, Brothers needed to demonstrate advanced knowledge and experience in emergency medicine.

“George’s expertise is something we’re fortunate to see first-hand every day,” said Mt. Ascutney Hospital CEO Kevin Donovan. “George displays a mastery of the procedures and protocols required in emergency medical situations. His level head and advanced skills are key assets to his patients and to our hospital.”

Brothers is a 1988 graduate of the University of Vermont with a BA in Psychology. He was an active duty Air Force medical technician from 1991 to 1996 and graduated from the Albany Medical College/Hudson Valley Physician Assistant Program with honors in 1998. Prior to joining Mt. Ascutney Hospital, he was a physician assistant at the Southwestern VT Medical Center Emergency Department. In addition to his work for Mt. Ascutney Hospital, he also lectures and teaches students at the Franklin Pierce PA program in West Lebanon, N.H.