Pamela Nathenson

Town: Pownal, Vt.

Age: 27

Birthdate: March 10, 1975

Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minn.

Occupation: Coordinator of programs, REACH Community Health Foundation

How I would describe myself: Energetic, passionate and a believer in social and behavioral change, community collaboration and preventive medicine. I guess that means I’m idealistic, but I still have a decent sense of humor.

Current volunteerism, board memberships, etc.: Board member of Ecu-Health Care, member of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Rural Health Advisory Council, occasional kickboxing instructor at schools and retirement homes in the community.

Family: Eyal Rimmon, husband.

Education: B.A. and masters degree in Public Health from Boston University

Personal hero/role model: Paul Farmer, tireless advocate for the medically underserved, who also happens to be a North Adams native.

Why is this person a hero/role model to you: Because he’s always pushing the boundaries of his accomplishments and never doubting that there’s more to be done.

Personal achievement(s) of which you are most proud: Programs that REACH has launched over the past few years: Dental program in schools that educated 3,000 kids, screened 1,000, and paved the way for the Great Brush-In; The Men’s Health Partnership, which provides free prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease screenings to uninsured men; STOP Program -- smoking cessation for pregnant women; Schwartz Center Rounds at North Adams Regional Hospital and North Star Children’s Health Profile.

Personal quote/trademark expression: “It’ll get done, don’t worry.”

The best advice you can give someone: Always do more than the minimum to get something done. The more you do and the better you do it early on, the fewer pieces you’ll have to pick up later.

Most recent book read and author’s name: “A House for Mr. Biswas,” by V.S. Naipaul.

Favorite TV/radio show: Being that I’m originally from Minnesota, I can’t help but relate to “Prairie Home Companion” on NPR.

Pet peeve: SPAM, both in a can and in my inbox.

Hobbies/interests: Reading, running, hiking, skiing, snow shoeing and just

about anything outdoors, especially fishing and camping with my family. I also love antiquing with my husband, hanging out with my nieces and nephews, and taking in the many beautiful sights and interesting cultural events in our area.