ROCKPORT – Two physicians will join the Penobscot Bay Medical Center medical staff in early January.

Dr. Joel D. Lafleur will join Dr. Gordon Paine at Surgical Associates, and Dr. John W. Karod will join Drs. Craig Hawkins and Richard J. Leidinger at Penobscot Bay Urology. Both practices are located in Rockport.

Lafleur has been a member of the medical staffs of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston since 1992. An honors graduate of Bowdoin College, he received his medical degree from the University of Vermont and served his residency in general surgery at UVM-Medical Center Hospital of Vermont.

He was chief resident in 1987-1988. Lafleur is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is certified by the American Board of Surgery.

Karod grew up in Camden and graduated with honors from the University of Maine. He received medical degree from the University of Vermont and served his internship and residency at Penn-State Geisinger Health System.

He has been in private practice in urology in Gadsden, Ala., since 1999.

Both physicians will be on board the first week in January 2001.