Marjel Zaldivar, DO Joins NVRH St. Johnsbury Pediatrics

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is excited to announce that Marjel Zaldivar, DO, has joined St. Johnsbury Pediatrics as of April 1, 2020.

Before joining St. Johnsbury Pediatrics, Zaldivar worked for a pediatric group on the Jersey Shore. Originally from New York City, she is a graduate of New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and is board-certified in pediatrics. Dr. Zaldivar has spent much of her training and career in the New York City metropolitan area and has been in practice for almost a decade.

Both of Zaldivar’s parents emigrated from the Philippines and settled in the United States in the 1970’s. Although she had grown up in a busy city, Zaldivar had always wanted to live someplace different. She and her husband thought about moving to New England, and, after a short vacation in Vermont, they fell in love with the state.

“I really felt that I had found my home and my people,” Zaldivar said. “The day my husband and I returned from interviewing at NVRH, I had my usual breakfast of oatmeal topped with fruit and a little maple syrup.  And I realized that our maple syrup was from none other than Maple Grove Farms!”

As an osteopathic physician, she recognizes the relationship between structure and function and treating the whole patient. Dr. Zaldivar hopes to continue to building strong, resilient children and adolescents while providing compassionate medical care to patients and families.

 “I think it is important to build a strong foundation of health from the beginning, and hopefully avoid more disease and complications down the line,” she said. “Like Frederick Douglass said, ‘It is much easier to build strong children than to fix broken adults.’”

Zaldivar strives to help her patients be as healthy as possible – in mind, body, and spirit – so that they can continue to enjoy their lives to the fullest. She hopes her patients will see her as another adult they can turn to and share any questions or concerns they may have. She also wants her patients and their families to know that she too is human, and that it has taken a lot of perseverance to get to this point in her career.

“Dr. Zaldivar is kind, smart and sympathetic, a wonderful addition to St. Johnsbury Pediatrics and our community!” VP of Medical Practices Laura Newell said. “I am confident our community families will embrace her style and care.”

The providers and staff at St. Johnsbury Pediatrics have not slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are available to meet the healthcare needs of kids on-site and through telehealth visits. Visit nvrh.org/st-johnsbury-pediatrics/ for more information.