President of medical staff

BANGOR – Dr. James Sears has been elected to a two-year term as president of the medical staff at St. Joseph Hospital. He succeeds Dr. Kenneth Simone, who had served as president since 2002.

Sears is affiliated with Neurology Associates of Eastern Maine, and has been a member of the St. Joseph Hospital medical staff since joining the Bangor practice in 1981.

He received his medical training at the University of Studies of Bologna, Italy, in the 1960s, later serving an internship in internal medicine at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Mich.

He served a residency at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, N.Y., and is board-certified in neurology, sleep medicine and clinical neurophysiology.

In addition to his service as secretary-treasurer and vice president of the medical staff, he has served as chairman of the bylaws committee, credentials committee and medical staff executive committee.

Talks on Medicare cards

BANGOR – Stacie Sparkman, Medicare coordinator for the Eastern Agency on Aging, will speak about the new Medicare Approved Discount Drug Cards, how much money can be saved by signing up, and what it all means for seniors.

Her talks will be held:

. Feb. 25, 10:30 a.m. at the Meals for Me dining room, United Methodist Church, Stillwater Avenue, Old Town. Topic: Medicare-approved discount drug cards and transitional assistance.

. March 10, 2-4 p.m. at the Hammond Street Senior Center, Bangor. Topic: How to read a Medicare summary notice. Afterward, there will be office hours for seniors with individual questions or needs.

AARP bus trip to Portland

BANGOR – AARP is offering seniors a free charter bus trip to Portland to attend a forum on proposed changes to Social Security on Thursday, May 3.

Continental breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m., the forum runs 10 a.m.-noon, and a box lunch will be distributed at noon. The bus will then take passengers to the Maine Mall for an afternoon of shopping before returning to Bangor.

Space is limited. Departure times and pickup location is available to those who register by calling the Eastern Agency on Aging at 941-2865. The deadline is March 1.

Trip to Diabetes Expo

BANGOR – St. Joseph Healthcare’s Diabetes and Nutrition Center will host a bus trip to the American Diabetes Association’s 2005 Diabetes Expo on Saturday, March 19, in Boston.

Those with diabetes, as well as family members, are encouraged to attend the 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. conference.

The expo will include exhibits featuring the latest diabetes products and services; eye, foot, cholesterol and blood pressure screenings; glucose testing; questions answered by medical professionals; family fun and excitement, including a Kid Zone; giveaways and prizes.

The cost of the bus trip is $26.

St. Joseph Healthcare’s Diabetes & Nutrition Center offers comprehensive education and training to individuals with diabetes to assist them in developing the necessary skills to control the disease.

The program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association and includes a pre-assessment interview, small group classes and four follow-up visits throughout the year. For information or a reservation for the bus, call the center at 262-1870.

Great American Weigh-In

BANGOR – The American Cancer Society’s third Great American Weigh-In is scheduled for 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at the Weight Watchers Center in the Airport Mall on Griffin Road.

Participants will receive a free, private weigh-in and body mass index calculation, as well as information to learn whether their BMI is within a healthy range. For information, call (800) 651-6000.

Sleep-related support group

BANGOR – AWAKE is a new support group offered by Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Sleep Center of Maine for people diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, for those awaiting testing for OSA or people using continuous positive airway pressure.

AWAKE will meet monthly at the hospital and feature speakers, when available.

Dr. Thomas Kandra, medical director of Sleep Center of Maine, was the speaker at the first meeting on Feb. 16, and Larry Lee was the facilitator.

There will be time for each meeting for discussion on issues, positional therapy or oral devices. Refreshments will be available.

For information, call Sleep Center of Maine at 973-5892.

Multiple Sclerosis board

PORTLAND – The Maine Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has announced the election of the new board of trustees, including:

. Judy Horan, WLBZ-TV.

. Gail Kelley, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office.