New Hampshire's Everyday Heroes
Deborah Pullin, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Like so many others, Deb Pullin didn’t set out to focus her career on supporting abused children, but instead describes her destiny as one that was gradual and evolved over time. For her it began in 1981. Fresh out of a graduate school nursing program, Deb was working in a large mid-western clinic when a baby was brought in with a hand print on its cheek. Back then, the medical field was just beginning to explore the epidemic of child abuse and the baby was released without the kind of full medical work-up that would be standard practice today.
When asked about other pivotal cases in her career, Deb speaks of another family whom she regularly treated in the mid 1980s. A mother with four children was a frequent visitor to the County Medical Center where Deb was practicing at that time. Although the mom was clearly caring for her children, Deb always sensed that she wasn’t completely attached, but instead, there seemed a sense of disengagement or blunted emotion. Eventually it was discovered that the four year old daughter was being sexually abused and upon further investigation it was revealed that this family had a long multi-generational history of incest – one that included not only the mom, but all of her other children as well. For Deb, this mom and her children constitute what she refers to as her first “aha” moment, a moment when she knew the medical community needed to get smarter about the devastating reality of child sexual abuse.
Eventually Deb left the mid-west and settled in Vermont. She began practicing at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. One of her first patients there was a little boy with what appeared to be an upper respiratory infection and vomiting. It was later discovered the boy was a victim of abusive head trauma. In hindsight Deb considers this her second “aha” moment and again began thinking, “I (and we) have to get better about this work.” Eventually she became one of a team of providers caring for severely abused children throughout the state.
When asked how she continues in this field day after day, she simply replies, “The work needs to be done.” Like so many other CAC team members from around the state she also talks of the strength and support she gains from working with great people, both inside and outside of DHMC. To her these dedicated team members make an enormous difference, and it is without question that the advent of the Child Advocacy Center of Grafton and Sullivan Counties at DHMC has buoyed her sense of hope.
Like so many members of New Hampshire’s multidisciplinary teams that are working on behalf of abused children throughout the state, Deb sees the immediate change the CAC brings in coordinating investigations and subsequent services for children and families. She is reminded of a 7 year old who was transported from another Emergency Department last year for an acute sexual assault. The girl needed to be hospitalized for treatment. Once released, the team rallied and was able to gather together for her forensic interview on the same day as her medical follow-up appointment. The careful coordination of services helped ensure the mom secured mental health treatment for her daughter.
Deb now provides medical care exclusively for child abuse assessment and for children in foster care. Sadly, her weeks always include a full case load. But, more than just providing medical care to New Hampshire’s (and Vermont’s) abused children, Deb has been an invaluable asset in both growing New Hampshire CAC movement, and also in securing the funds necessary to support a statewide medical response. Deb is leader, a friend and an everyday hero doing a hero’s job every day. Thank you Deb Pullin for all you do on behalf of New Hampshire children and families.