About Us
Our goal is to provide the highest quality of medical care to infants, children, and teenagers.
Meet Our Providers
Rebecca L. Yukica, DO
Dr. Rebecca grew up as a Jersey Girl. She moved to Massachusetts for college, and although she has moved many times since, she has landed in the Upper Valley to stay. Dr. Rebecca graduated from Smith College and then spent two years teaching high school chemistry at National Cathedral School in Washington DC before heading to medical school. She graduated from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001.
Following her internship year at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Rebecca transferred to New Hampshire to complete her residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. She stayed to do a Chief year and then moved to Baltimore, MD, to help start a hospitalist program at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. After two years in the city during which she was married and had twins, her family found it was time to return to the Upper Valley. It was in 2007 that Dr. Rebecca first joined Upper Valley Pediatrics as an attending pediatrician. She left once more to work in Washington State, but after 13 months decided that the west coast was never going to be home. So, she returned to VT and shortly after took over ownership from founding physician Mark Harris, MD.
When not at work, you will most likely find Dr. Rebecca skiing, mountain biking, hiking or pursuing some other adventure with her husband and three sons.
Abigail Henderson, CPNP-PC
Abigail Henderson is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who grew up in Rutland County. In 2015 Abbi graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She then worked in adult medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, leaving in 2018 for the Emergency Department at Rutland Regional Medical Center where she still cares for both adults and children. During this time as an ED nurse Abbi became credentialed as a Sexual Assault Forensic Nurse Examiner (SANE) , allowing her to help adults and children who have suffered abuse. She is passionate about this work and continues to serve in this role today.
As working with children has always been her passion, Abbi went back to school to become a pediatric primary care nurse practitioner and graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from Maryville University in 2023. She absolutely loves working with children and families and is overjoyed to be fulfilling her dreams at Upper Valley Pediatrics.
Abbi lives with her husband, son, two dogs, and cat. She enjoys almost all outdoor activities but especially mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking, running, and horseback riding. She and her family are expecting their second child in August of 2023.
Jennifer Olsen, FNP
Jennifer Olsen is a Family Nurse Practitioner who grew up and raised her three children outside of Boston. With her children grown and scattered around the US, she relocated to the NEK four years ago with her husband and is loving their simple rural life. Jennifer graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in economics in 1993. While raising her three young children she taught high school special ed math and science and coached various sports teams. In 2009 Jennifer received her RN from Massachusetts Bay Community College. After graduating she began her work in pediatrics at Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center in Boston. Following this Jennifer worked in several residential programs for children and adolescents with behavioral, mental health, neurologic and developmental challenges. Her passion for mental health led her to an inpatient pediatric/adolescent mental unit at Metrowest Community Hospital. In 2019 Jennifer graduated from Rivier University with her BSN. After graduating she worked as a school nurse at a large middle school in Massachusetts. Since relocating to the NEK she has been the school nurse in Craftsbury. With a new understanding of the challenges of rural healthcare and a desire to be of service to her community, Jennifer returned to school at Norwich University and graduated with her Master of Science as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2024. She completed her clinical training at Boston Community Pediatrics, the Hardwick Area Health Center, Blue Spruce Health and the North Country Ob/Gyn.
When not working Jennifer loves to be outside gardening, riding her gravel bike, nordic skiing and exploring swimming holes! She is a die hard Boston Celtics fan, a huge bookworm and will do anything for a cremee!
Gwynne Briggs MS, APRN, CPNP-PC
Gwynne is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who grew up in a variety of places including Ohio, Arizona, and England. In 2012, she graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering. She worked as a software engineer in Germany for 3 years before realizing it was time for a change. She returned to the Ohio State University and graduated in 2019 with a Master of Science degree for graduate entry nursing. Throughout school, she worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital on the neurology, pulmonary, and complex care units and then continued her career there as a nurse practitioner on the diabetes consult team. She has always loved her work with children and their families and is excited to move to the office practice setting.
Gwynne recently moved to the area with her fiancée and dog Gingersnap, all of whom are excited to enjoy the outdoor activities that this part of the country has to offer. She loves yoga, gardening, hiking, reading, and traveling.
Our Mission
The mission of Upper Valley Pediatrics, as a Patient Centered Medical Home, is to provide pediatric and adolescent patients with comprehensive, evidence-based and respectful care in a timely manner and in a safe environment.
We take pride in and place an emphasis on quality of care, accessibility and a trusting relationship between the providers, staff, and the patients we care for. We offer access to evidence-based care and self-management support incorporated into quality health care services. Our care will not vary in quality because of personal characteristics such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, immigration status, geographic location and/or socio-economic status. We strive to foster a sense of community.
