Bereavement webcast

BANGOR – Each year the Hospice Foundation of America presents a nationally recognized distance-learning program, live via satellite and Webcast, to more than 125,000 people.

For more than a decade, the annual educational program has been instrumental in educating healthcare professionals and families on issues affecting end-of-life care. The program provides an opportunity for professionals to exchange ideas and obtain continuing education credits.

This year the theme is “Children and Adolescents.” It will focus on the experience of grieving children and adolescents and how hospice professionals, educators and counselors, parents, social workers, physicians, grief counselors, funeral directors and clergy can best support them as they cope with loss and grief.

Moderated by Frank Sesno, professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University, the program will be broadcast 1:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, at Husson College. Panelists include Kenneth J. Doka of The College of New Rochelle, Nancy Hogan of Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Rita Milburn-Dobson of Precious Gems Supportive Services, Laura E. Olague of Children’s Grief Center, Stacy F. Orloff of The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast and J. William Worden of Harvard Childhood Bereavement Study.

“We’re pleased to once again host this national teleconference,” said Beverly Wilson, clinical manager of Hospice of Eastern Maine. “Our local conference will focus specifically on professionals who work with grieving children, including hospice professionals, educators, counselors, social workers, physicians, grief counselors, funeral directors and clergy.”

A local panel discussion will be held 4-4:30 p.m. with Linda Boyle and Vicki Trundy from Pathfinders: Support for Grieving Children and nurse Brenda Rogerson, who has extensive experience working with children in hospice.

For information or registration, call Hospice of Eastern Maine at 973-8269.

Physical disabilities support

BANGOR – The Physical Disabilities Support Group will meet 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at Alpha One, 1048 Union St. Mark Arnold of AOM will demonstrate durable medical equipment.

A new “significant others” support group for family members, friends, caregivers and others interested will meet 5:30-7 p.m. in another room at Alpha One. All are welcome to join the physical disabilities group 5-5:30 p.m. for pot luck, attend the new meeting, then rejoin the regular group at about 7 p.m., if they wish.

For information, contact Gail Barrell at 941-6553.

Need for hospice volunteers

BANGOR – St. Joseph Hospice is seeking new volunteers to provide non-medical support to hospice patients and their caregivers. Volunteers may be of all ages, faiths and walks of life who serve two to four hours each week, depending on their availability.

Volunteers offer companionship to hospice patients, talk to them, play games with them, read or play music. Hospice volunteers also provide respite to patients’ families, so they can run errands or rest.

And when a patient passes away, volunteers stay in touch with the families to offer grief and bereavement support.

Training sessions for new hospice volunteers will begin April 30.

For information about the April volunteer training session, contact Jane Folsom at 262-1810.

Religion, healthcare conference

BANGOR – A conference on religion and healthcare designed for healthcare providers, clergy and students will be presented 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at Husson College’s Dyke Center for Family Business. Speakers will address the changing religious landscape in Maine, the integration of spiritual and medical aspects of patient care and the role of religious leaders in the healthcare team.

Husson College, Penobscot Community Heath Care and Bangor Theological Seminary are the sponsors. Registration fee, including lunch, is $25. Husson and BTS students may attend free. Call 941-7760 for information and registration. Online registration is at guthriec@Husson.edu.

Featured speakers will include Dr. Clifton F. Guthrie, Husson College; Rabbi Darah R. Lerner, Congregation Beth El; the Rev. Jason Damon, Abundant Life Church; Dr. Ahmed Rahman, Eastern Maine Medical Center; the Rev. Bob Carlson, PCHC; the Rev. Dr. Rex Garrett, Eastern Maine Medical Center; and Dr. Susan B. Westley, Acadia Hospital.

St. Joseph’s Table

BANGOR – During March, St. Joseph Healthcare employees have collected hundreds of nonperishable food items for Manna Ministries. Representatives from Manna received the donations on April 1.

Each year, St. Joseph’s Table is set up outside the hospital cafeteria where employees may leave items for a local food pantry. Just as the hospital’s namesake St. Joseph helped those in need, employees honor him by doing the same in the Bangor area.

Manna Ministries is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to provide outreach to the hurting, lost and needy in eastern and central Maine. Manna offers services including a soup kitchen, food pantry and residential rehabilitation program.

Breast cancer awareness van

ORONO – The University of Maine Employee Wellness Program, Healthy U, will host Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a national community education and outreach tour dedicated to the eradication of breast cancer, on Monday, April 7.

Komen On the Go is a free tour crossing the nation to deliver life-saving breast health information to all generations of women. The stop at University of Maine is one of more than 150 stops Komen On the Go will make to heighten awareness of breast health and breast cancer and inspire a deeper commitment from young women to everyday health habits that can reduce their risk for the disease.

The public is invited to stop by the signature bright pink Komen On the Go semi-trailer, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on campus in the North Gym parking lot near the field house. The trailer converts into an interactive learning center. It offers fun, hands-on experiences featuring computer kiosks with easy-to-understand breast health information, such as how to do a breast self-exam, and an eight-foot graffiti wall for participants to share a memory or pledge their support in the global breast cancer movement.

Other information includes how to volunteer locally, details on the Komen Race for the Cure and tips on supporting loved ones facing breast cancer.

For information, event photos and a tour schedule, visit www.komen.org/go. For information about the UM stop, contact Erin Whitehouse, Healthy U Wellness program manager, at 581-4058 or erinwhitehouse@umit.maine.edu.

Institute for genetics

BREWER – The Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health announced that Col. Craig David Shriver is the latest expert to join the institute’s scientific advisory board. Dr. Shriver, chief of General Surgery and the Breast Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, represents the United States of America’s Department of Defense interest in the institute’s development of a Maine Human Cancer Tissue Repository and Maine Cancer Geographic Information System for research on interactions between genes and environmental exposures that modify cancer risks.

“Dr. Shriver is principal investigator and director of the congressionally mandated Clinical Breast Care Project, a military-civilian coalition on the forefront of providing excellent clinical care and research programs to enable cutting-edge breast cancer research,” said Janet Hock, director of the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health. “His membership strengthens our already terrific scientific advisory board, and adds welcome expertise on building a rich resource in human biospecimens for cancer research on gene-environment interactions.”

The institute’s scientific advisory board is made up of nationally renowned scientists and professors with expertise in translational and clinical research in human cancer, and the uses of leading edge genomics technologies. The board is responsible for strategic advice on the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health’s research program.

Shriver’s accomplishments include published work in more than 60 academic papers, including the New England Journal of Medicine. His military operational assignments include a two-year tour at Fort Bragg, N.C., and direct surgical support of two overseas military operations. He deployed in support of the 1989 liberation of Panama, where he served as chief triage officer and surgeon, and went on to become surgeon of the 307th Medical Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, providing surgical support during Operation Desert Storm where he earned the coveted Combat Medical Badge.

Shriver recently returned from a combat surgical tour in Afghanistan.

G.E.A.R. group

BANGOR – Are you worried about your child’s emotional well-being? Through parent-to-parent sharing of experiences and knowledge, G.E.A.R. empowers parents of children with behavioral health needs to build on family strengths and to advocate for the family’s needs. We are parents helping each other; we offer unconditional support – no blame, no shame and no judgment. We want you to know that you are not alone.

The G.E.A.R. Parent Network Support Group meets 6-7:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at Wings Office, 900 Hammond St. Childcare is available on request and pre-registration. For info, call Helen at 800-264-9224 or visit www.gearparentnetwork.com.

Internal medicine honor

BANGOR – Husson Internal Medicine has become the first primary care office in Maine to have its physicians receive accreditation in all three modules of quality improvement through the National Committee on Quality Assurance.

The designation by the committee, considered the nation’s leading authority on primary care quality assurance, amounts to “center of excellence” status for the office.

Designations were achieved in diabetes management, heart-stroke and physician practice connections. Physicians who achieve the recognition are part of an elite group that is publicly recognized for skill in providing the highest level care.

“We’re proud that our clinicians are leading the quality charge in our state. Our patients should be reassured they are receiving the gold standard in care at Husson IM,” said Dr. Iyad Sabbagh. “Our patients with diabetes, for example, receive routine checks at each visit on certain identified complication risk factors. Eye exams, foot checks, specific blood tests, etc. must happen routinely and consistently to minimize the occurrence of potentially dangerous complications.”