Remembering Nicole Killian, NP

PLATTSBURGH | Family, friends and colleagues of Nicole Killian, NP, gathered recently at the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) Emergency Department to dedicate its General Treatment Area in her honor and to celebrate the lasting influence she continues to have on patient care and the spirit of teamwork she so deeply valued. Known for her quiet strength, empathy and ability to connect with people, Killian, of Richmond, Vt., held a doctorate in nursing and had an extensive health care background. In addition to practicing as a nurse practitioner at CVPH, she also volunteered as an Advanced EMT for the Richmond Rescue Squad and worked clinically at New York Presbyterian Hospital and for Solis Health, both in Manhattan. In 2023, at the age of 28, Nicole died tragically while hiking in British Columbia. In his welcoming remarks, CVPH Emergency Department Medical Director Nicholas Aunchman, MD called Killian "a steady presence in moments of uncertainty, a compassionate voice in times of fear and a trusted colleague who elevated everyone around her." "It is fitting that this space — this general treatment area — will carry her name," he said. "This is a place where care begins, where decisions are made, where comfort is offered, and where lives are impacted. It reflects the very heart of what Nicole stood for: compassionate, skilled, patient-centered care." CVPH ED Nurse Manager Michael Wells, RN echoed Aunchman's sentiments and added, "The dedication ties her legacy to something much larger: the collective purpose of this Emergency Department team. It ensures that what she represented - steady care, professionalism, and compassion - remains connected to our daily work." Wells added, "Emergency medicine requires skill, sharp judgment, adaptability, and a kind of compassion that doesn't pause when things get busy or difficult. It also requires teamwork. No one succeeds here alone. Every outcome, every moment of reassurance, every difficult decision is the result of people working together with a shared purpose. And this Emergency Department team does exactly that, every single day." Calling Killian patient, dedicated and committing to always putting her patients first, CVPH Emergency Department Advanced Practice Provider Manager Maurice Pauquette, PA noted, "In a year where we are celebrating our centennial – 100 years of caring for patients across the North Country – we are dedicating a clinical space to someone who represents the very best of what and who we strive to be." Aunchman recalled how Nicole embodied the quiet strength and resilience that defines emergency medicine. "She showed up, day after day, ready to serve others — not for recognition, but because it was who she was. Her dedication to patient care and her commitment to her team left a lasting imprint that we continue to feel." Her participation on the team, according to Wells, reflected the strength and commitment that continues to define the group. "This team shows up under pressure, supporting one another through long shifts, difficult cases, and moments that extend well beyond the end of a shift. Much of their work is unseen and often goes unrecognized, yet it has a profound impact on patients, their families, and the hospital," he said. The General Treatment Area is located within the department and includes 10 patient rooms. Just beyond its entrance, the ED team has placed a sign dedicating the space to Killian, along with a photo collage featuring the nurse practitioner with coworkers, family and friends and sunflower artwork, a personal favorite of their colleague. The memorial was funded by The Foundation of CVPH. A paver remembering Killian is part of the Foundation's Circle of Healing and Hope, surrounding the Angel of Hope on the hospital's main lawn.

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Remembering Nicole Killian, NP

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