The Upper Valley along the Vermont and New Hampshire border is a collection of little-known small towns featuring the New England we all look for. You'll find beauty, nature, soft adventure, art–and even what Forbes magazine called "the best gelato in America."
About the Upper Valley
- Local music and art scene is alive - with many restaurants hosting live music several nights a week
- Small college town atmosphere with good schools and cultural events
- Small-town life with lots of 4 season outdoor activities-hiking, biking, cross country skiing
- Surfeit of culture, great food and unique shopping possibilities
- The Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont offers diverse employment and pace of life
Visit our section Life in the Upper Valley for a detailed guide.
“I chose to train at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center because it offered a combination of one-on-one surgical training and a tight-knit community, all within 1 of the most beautiful parts of the country.”
Marc Polacco, Class of 2019
The Upper Valley blends the very traits I aim to embody – a sense of movement, vitality and purpose interwoven with nature.
Prashanthi Divakar, Class of 2022
Dartmouth offered a unique combination of strong hands on surgical training, hospital wide collegiality, abundant outdoor recreation, and a great family atmosphere I couldn’t pass up. I commute ten minutes to work and have numerous hikes, lakes, and rivers within an hour drive.
Mason Hinchcliff, Class of 2023
I chose the program because it seemed like a great group of people when I interviewed - I wasn’t really attracted by the location. I ended up loving the location because of the skiing, hiking, biking and outdoor adventures available in the area.
Kathryn Noonan, Class of 2017
Dartmouth is a great combination of top notch faculty and training combined with "easy" living. There's no traffic, easy parking, and the most beautiful hospital I've ever seen. Combined with outstanding year round recreational activities it's a great place to spend 5 years.
Tate Maddox, Class of 2012
Outside of the exceptional surgical training, I was attracted to Dartmouth because of the beauty of rural New England. Living here has helped me develop passions for snowboarding, furniture building, running, hiking and endless home improvement projects.
Chris Harper, Class of 2021
I loved the program because I found myself surrounded by happy, like-minded people, and the apprenticeship model appealed to me. This was all set in the upper valley with all the hikes, bike trails and outdoor activities you could ask for.
Maggie Mouzourakis, Class of 2025
The close knit relationships and one-on-one surgical training are just a few of the aspects that I appreciate at Dartmouth ENT. On top of that, I love exploring New England and finding new trails, beaches, restaurants and activities on the regular. This program provides us with exceptional training in a beautiful, affordable area that is hard to beat any time of the year!
Galit Almosnino, Class of 2024
I chose Dartmouth because it seemed like the program provided great clinical training in a setting/culture that was relaxed and fun to be around. It really made for an educational and enjoyable 5 years. I also really loved the area, with all the outdoors and skiing that is available.
Eric Eisen, Class of 2020
The Upper Valley is home to not just cross-country skiing, but many of my favorite hobbies including hiking, biking, and great food and culture. I am drawn to the otolaryngology residency program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for the opportunity to learn in a supportive and close-knit community under brilliant and accomplished faculty. The smaller program size will allow me to better connect with the faculty, staff, and other residents, while offering ample opportunity to develop clinical and operative expertise. Since coming to Dartmouth for summer camp and for various outdoor adventures, I continue to be in awe of the incredible natural beauty and intellectual diversity of the Upper Valley. I would be honored to continue my training at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in the Otolaryngology Residency Program.
Rebecca Bell, Class of 2026