New directors at EMH

BANGOR – The board of Eastern Maine Healthcare has appointed three new directors:

Peter G. Vigue of Pittsfield is president and CEO of Cianbro Corp. He is a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy.

Dr. Stanley S. Bergen Jr. is founding president emeritus, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He lives in Englewood, N.J., and Stonington.

Dottie Wheeler of Bridgewater is the vice president and general manager of Burrelle’s Information Services in Presque Isle, where she has worked 22 years.

End-of-life care discussion

BANGOR – The public is invited to discuss issues related to end-of-life care at the session “Loss, Grief, and Planning for Holidays,” 4-6 p.m. Nov. 14, at the Center for Family Business, Husson College.

The free session will explore emotions surrounding the death of a loved one, particularly around the holidays. Common issues and effective ways to help oneself or others will be discussed.

Presenters will be: Rex Garrett, chaplain at Eastern Maine Medical Center; Linda Boyle, Pathfinders program coordinator at Hospice of Eastern Maine; Penny Gray, case manager at EMMC.

The sessions are jointly supported by EMMC, Rosscare, Bangor Area Visiting Nurses-Hospice of Eastern Maine, and New Hope Hospice.

Obesity lecture

BANGOR – Dr. Joseph Benoit will give a free lecture, “Obesity – Ten Things You Should Know,” at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, in the Brown conference room at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Lecture topics include: common myths and stereotypes related to obesity, related health problems, and current and future treatment options.

Benoit is a local doctor who specializes in obstetrics, gynecology, infertility and weight management.

New physicians in Bangor

BANGOR – Dr. Judith Allen, pediatric hematologist-oncologist, has joined Eastern Maine Medical Center after working for 15 years at the Children’s Health Center in San Diego, Calif.

Dr. Fadi Ajine, rheumatologist, from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, joins the office of Drs. Geoffrey Gratwick and Sidney Block. He will assist with outreach clinics in Houlton, Skowhegan, Presque Isle and Caribou.

Gastroenterology Associates of Eastern Maine has welcomed Dr. Sandeep Singh from Houston, and Dr. Scott Stern from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Eastern Maine Inpatient Care, the hospitalist group, has added Dr. Rosalinde Collins, Dr. Ehab Hanna and Dr. Ashley Morrison.

Northeast Cardiology Associates has welcomed Dr. Alan Wiseman from Bay State Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., and Dr. Brian Blatt, who specializes in electrophysiology for those who need pacemakers or implanted defibrillators.

Dr. Astrid Andrescu, who specializes in adult hematology and oncology, has joined CancerCare of Maine. She trained in Vermont and has practiced in Alberta.

EMMC’s surgical services have added anesthesiologists Dr. Dianna Branson, Dr. Thomas Huesers and Dr. Ivan Schwendt with Penobscot Anesthesiology; and Dr. Carolyn Harnois, Dr. Yuriy Medvid, Dr. Jay Neil and Dr. Honorio Valdes-Murua with Spectrum Medical Group.

New surgeons are Dr. Dan Moore; Dr. Michael Starks, with Bangor Surgical Associates; and Dr. Tom Flynn, Maine Vitreoretinal Consultants. Surgical Specialists of Eastern Maine, the trauma surgery program, has added Dr. David Rydell, Dr. Wassim Mazranny and Dr. Victor Parisien.

Children’s Miracle Network

BANGOR – Earlier this month local volunteers raised nearly $8,000 to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network of Eastern Maine Healthcare.

The all-new Enchanted Forest was held at Sprague’s Nursery and sponsored by Sam’s Club of Bangor.

More than 1,000 local children had the opportunity to paint pumpkins, decorate Halloween cookies, pin the stem on the pumpkin, paint faces, do pumpkin bowling, use the bounce house, take hayrides and try their luck at a pumpkin bean bag toss game.

Local volunteers included Sam’s Club associates, CMN steering committee members, John Bapst and Brewer High School Key Clubs, Aspenledge, and students from Sigma Chi fraternity and Phi Mu sorority at the University of Maine.

CMN director Nancy Dysart credited Carol Lackedy of Sam’s Club with implementing the idea. Proceeds from the Enchanted Forest will help fund the acquisition of pediatric medical equipment for CMN hospitals in this region.