How were you able to balance playing field hockey and lacrosse while studying neuroscience at Middlebury?

I've always been someone who needs a physical outlet to be my best self. One of the reasons I chose Middlebury was that I would be able to compete athletically at the top level and have a strong academic atmosphere. The balance of athletics and academics helped me be more fulfilled as a person and these skills in life balance continue to support me in my career and family life.

Why did you decide to go into pediatric medicine? What have been the most rewarding parts of working in this realm?

Well, they say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I am a product of nature and nurture with my mother being a local pediatrician in Middlebury. As a child, I would join her on morning rounds with the newborns and go with her to Grand Rounds and continuing medical education conferences! During my time at Midd, I was able to shadow physicians both at the University of Vermont Children's Hospital as well as a general practitioner in Scotland, affirming a great fit in medicine. In medical school, I felt most drawn to and supported in the realm of pediatrics and so I pursued that for my residency training.

You just started your position as Associate Chief Medical Officer at Central Maine Healthcare earlier this year. What does that new position entail and how have you been able to balance this new role alongside everything else you do with CMH?

I now have two new roles in the last year in addition to my clinical time, one as service line chief of women's and children's health and the associate CMO title. The first put me responsible for all of OB/GYN and pediatrics for the system which is a great fit because I've been a part of this team as a pediatrician for 12 years and have existing relationships that help me be effective. 

As ACMO, my roles are more diverse as I have multiple departments reporting to me including quality, med staff office, Infection Prevention and research and ethics. It's been fun to have a broader view of the organization and apply things that I've learned in my area of expertise more broadly. Relationship building and trust help me balance this new role, as I must delegate, support and coach more than completing the tasks myself. In this way, it is very analogous to my experience in athletics and the player-to-coach continuum.

*On Dec 29, Brakeley was elevated to an interim role after the interview was conducted.*

What were the conversations like when you and your husband were thinking about creating TruStrengthTomorrow? What is the focus of the organization and how has the idea evolved into what it is today?

TruStrength Tomorrow was born out of a deep belief that mentoring through athletic training and sports has a profound effect on the youth of our community and is a prime vehicle for character building. We saw an economic barrier in our community and wanted to level the playing field for those families who couldn't traditionally afford access to these opportunities. 

It has been such a joy to see the access this program has created and the attestations from the student-athletes themselves of how it has laid the groundwork for their values and how they see themselves.

How important was it for you to return to Middlebury and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 2004 women's lacrosse championship? What is one core memory that sticks in your mind from that undefeated season?

That was a pretty magical event, and remarkable how most of the team was able to make it back! We got the invite from Coach Livesay in early spring and it was crickets for weeks until finally someone committed and in a blink of an eye most people were coming! The current team was so gracious in hosting us, with new Midd Lax sweatshirts, a dinner banquet and a very grainy VHS to digital transfer of our national championship highlights! Talk about feeling outdated! But it was like no time had passed when we gathered with Coach Missy Foote, passed the lacrosse ball around in the alumni game, and had an epic dance party with the current team that night! 

A core memory from that 2004 season was simply the joy we had. We had quite the cast of characters and an underclass-heavy team with only three seniors. There was a sense of cohesiveness, levity and confidence that was a perfect recipe for success (and fun!) Of course that national championship game, where we had to apply all our grit and skill to win in overtime was just the cherry on top! 

You have had multiple family members attend Middlebury. Who has and how important is it for you and your family to keep the tradition of having more extended Brakeley family members attending the college?

Our Midd tradition began with my grandfather Charles "Pete" Brakeley moving to Middlebury for work at the college as Director of Financial Aid. My mom was a first-year financial aid scholarship recipient and was invited down to the family house for a welcome dinner when my dad was getting back from football practice as a junior in high school! And sparks flew! 

There are now 12 of my immediate and extended family that have attended Middlebury so far. Having grown up in Middlebury, I thought the last place I'd end up was Middlebury College. However, the strength of the field hockey and lacrosse programs was a big pull for me as well as the brand new science center and academics. It was like the world came to me on campus- even though I was just up the road from my home! As for the next generation attending Middlebury… we will see!

What is one piece of advice that you would give to current Middlebury student-athletes?

Missy Foote would always remind us that we, "stand on the shoulders of those who come before us!" The legacy and tradition of Middlebury athletics run deep, and we are so proud of the current teams to be carrying the torch. Soak it up, have fun and live in the moment! So much of what you learn through athletics is directly applicable to any future career! 

What is your Midd Moment?

There are too many to count, but a lot of the memories are the little things, such as the beautiful golden light on the mountains at the end of practice, the long hours in the lab working along great lab partners and music classes with Professor Jennifer Post.

But one of my Midd lessons in adversity, grit and perseverance was not making the lacrosse team during my first spring semester. I remember a conversation with field hockey coach Katharine DeLorenzo between sophomore field hockey and lacrosse seasons hashing out whether I should try out for lacrosse again. With extra support and encouragement, I prepared and improved and not only made the team but started every game for the rest of my career. 

The senior week coming off the undefeated national championship lacrosse season was also pretty sweet. A true time to celebrate the completion of classes and athletics the week before graduation. I remember comparing NCAA Championship watches at Mr. Ups during the week with men's hockey goalie and great friend Marc Scheuer and just feeling so proud to be a Panther! It was a thrill to go out on top! 

But I am still a super fan of the current teams, and an "adopted alum" of field hockey and lacrosse, cheering on one or two specific players each season! My eight-year-old daughter Olive sends the best pump-up videos!

If you are interested in being a part of our Alumni Spotlight Series, please email sid@middlebury.edu for consideration.