Technology for the blind

BANGOR – The public is invited to attend a technology demonstration day 3-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Bangor Career Center, 45 Oak St. The event is free and of interest to those who have blind or visually impaired friends or relatives, employers, and health agency and social service personnel.

The event will offer an adaptive device display, a CCTV vendor display, catalog and brochure information, and a GPS demonstration.

Sponsors of the event are the Maine Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Iris Network, and the Catholic Charities of Maine Education Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Children.

For more information, call 561-4020 or 888-543-8811, or e-mail kathryn.taylor@maine.gov.

New cancer researchers

BREWER – The Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health has welcomed two experienced biomedical research scientists to build research programs. Both will have faculty appointments with the University of Maine Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences to contribute to the university’s expansion of its biomedical program.

Dr. Roger Phipps will be the first department head at the institute, building a research team in bone genomics and cancer. Phipps brings many years of pharmaceutical research experience to the institute.

He was a senior principal scientist at Procter & Gamble for 20 years, working in inflammatory and bone diseases. At the institute, Phipps will lead a team of six scientists in studies of genetic diseases that affect bone, such as neurofibromatosis type 1, as well as cancers in bone, to find diagnostics for earlier detection of disease, and new targets for better treatments.

Dr. Xiong Li joins the institute’s bone genomics and cancer team from Indiana University School of Medicine. There, Li was a key molecular and cell biologist who developed methods to treat bone metastases of prostate cancer using gene therapy. Li will continue to study treatments for bone metastases of breast, lung and prostate cancer at the institute.

“The arrival of Doctors Phipps and Li signals an important advance in the development of the institute,” said Dr. Janet Hock, director of the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health.

“This represents a step forward in the vision established by EMHS, EMMC, The Jackson Laboratory and the University of Maine to bring translational research to eastern Maine and speed the application of research discoveries to clinical use,” she said.

A member of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health is uniquely positioned to study cancer and chronic disease in rural areas and develop new breakthroughs that currently are not being studied in urban-based research. By leveraging informational technology, the institute is identifying gene-environment risks to transform how it delivers care and finds cures for cancer.

Memory Walk on Oct. 4

BANGOR – Alzheimer’s disease isn’t just a disease of the very old, but it is true that the biggest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s is age. Sometimes the disease strikes people in the prime of life and may cause early retirement.

The public is invited to join the effort to raise awareness and funds for people of all ages affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

The annual Memory Walk will be held Oct. 4 at Bangor Raceway at Bass Park. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

At 9 a.m., brief presentations will be given by:

. Virginia Dwyer, 53, who will inspire participants as she relates her strategy for living with Alzheimer’s disease by taking “one day at a time.”

. Elizabeth Arps, who will share her family’s story of how her father’s diagnosis at age 54 affected the whole family.

. Cindy Blodgett, honorary chairwoman for the walk and coach of the University of Maine women’s basketball team, who will help walkers get warmed up, stretched and ready for the three-mile walk in the neighborhood surrounding Fairmount Park.

Proceeds benefit the Maine chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and its efforts to provide support and services to people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families in Maine.

To register for the walk, visit www.alz.org/maine or call 800-272-3900.

Grants to Penquis

BANGOR – Penquis recently received grants from the Penobscot Valley Health Association Fund of the Maine Community Foundation and from the Davis Family Foundation.

The grants will be used to support the integration of preconception counseling and care into Penquis Health Services.

Healthy births are largely influenced by the health of the mother. Such factors as substance use, nutrition, prenatal care, overweight and obesity, chronic medical conditions, family history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, and stress play a part in birth outcomes and may be a determinant of infant mortality, low birth weight and birth defects.

The main goal of preconception care is to provide health promotion, screening and intervention for women of reproductive age in order to reduce risk factors that might affect future pregnancies.

Penquis Health Services provides reproductive health care for all ages.

Women’s services include physical exams, Pap smears, STD testing and treatment, breast exams, birth control methods, pregnancy tests, culposcopy procedures, menopausal services and other services related to women’s health.

Services for men include STD testing and treatment, HIV testing and testicular exams for prostate health.

For more information, call 973-3574 or 800-215-4942, ext. 574.

Clam bake

The residents of the Phillips-Strickland House, 21 Boyd St., in Bangor enjoyed a clam bake on Sept. 25. The menu was replete with clams, lobster, corn on the cob, salads and blueberry cake.

Residents enjoyed watching the clams and lobsters being baked right outside their windows. The event was sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank, which in past years has sponsored an annual bus trip for residents who went to the coast for a clam bake meal. This year, many residents were unable to go on a daylong bus trip so the meal was brought to them.

Honors for EMHS

BREWER – Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems has received the distinction of being both a Best Place to Work in Maine and a Best Place to Work in Healthcare.

Although these recognitions are separate, both were received by EMHS within a month of each other.

Modern Healthcare, a national publication, announced recently that EMHS was named one of 100 companies nationally as a Best Place to Work in Healthcare for 2008.

Earlier this year, EMHS participated in a two-part assessment process administered by Best Companies Group, a workplace excellence consulting firm, where both employees and employers fill out separate surveys regarding the company.

After the results were tallied, the surveys were combined and analyzed to determine the company’s strengths and opportunities. Best Companies Group looks to find and recognize companies that have established and consistently fostered outstanding workplace environments.

In addition, the Society for Human Resource Management’s Maine State Council announced that EMHS was one of 26 companies named as a Best Places to Work in Maine for the second year in a row.

The Best Places to Work in Maine program is a statewide program also managed by the Best Companies Group. The assessment looked at employee policies and procedures in eight areas – leadership, planning, corporate culture, communications, role satisfaction, work environment, pay and benefits, and overall satisfaction, and surveyed and analyzed responses from the employees.

“EMHS is very honored to be named both a Best Place to Work in Maine and a Best Place to Work in Healthcare,” said Michelle Hood, CEO of EMHS. “Our employees are our most valuable resource, and with their commitment and dedication, we are able to provide service excellence in all that we do.”

For more about Modern’s Healthcare “Best Places to Work in Healthcare,” visit www.bestplacestoworkhc.com.

For information about “Best Places to Work in Maine,” visit www.bestplacestoworkinme.com/2008.