MDI Hospital

09/26/2025

✨ Island Kind - Honoring the Helpers who Keep MDI Healthy ✨

Chip Dugans, Director of Physical Therapy, has worked with MDI Hospital for over 20 years.

As an experienced Physical Therapist, who has worked extensively in clinical areas such as brain injury rehabilitation, sports medicine, acute and skilled hospital settings and with outpatient clinics, it is clear from patients and colleagues that Chip embodies our values of integrity, respect and teamwork.

Dana Fadley, SVP, Provider & Ancillary Services said of Chip, "After 20 years, he continues to show dedication and enthusiasm for treating his patients and meeting the needs of the community. Chip is a true asset to our organization, to his patients, and to the region."

To nominate someone in the community, whether an MDIH employee, volunteer, or an outstanding community member, visit our website: https://www.mdihospital.org/island-kind-nominations/

To learn more about Physical Therapy, visit our website: https://www.mdihospital.org/service-at-mdi-hospital/physical-therapy/

09/26/2025

Happy Business Friends Friday! 🤝🏻 A big THANK YOU to Cross Insurance Agency for being a proud Connectors of Care member of MDI Hospital’s Business Friends Society! 💙

As a third-generation, family-owned business that's been going strong since 1954, Cross Insurance knows a thing or two about community and commitment. With over 50 branches across the Northeast, they’ve got you covered — literally! 🏠🚗🏢

We’re so grateful for their generous support and shared dedication to keeping our community strong and healthy. 💪

Learn more about them here 👉 www.crossagency.com

We are proud to announce that Cross Insurance has been named as one of the 2025 Best Practices Agencies by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. Cross Insurance is one of only 3 agencies in Maine to make the list.
https://www.independentagent.com/best-practices/best-practices-agencies/

09/24/2025

Congratulations to Jane Coombs, who has successfully completed Mount Desert Island Hospital’s first free Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program for employees. Jane, who previously worked in Environmental Services, dedicated herself to the 152-hour program, which included classroom lectures, labs, and clinical training. She has since passed the State of Maine CNA exam, officially earning her certification.

Jane is now applying to CNA positions at MDI Hospital and looks forward to pursuing her career in patient care.

Barbara Jean Bragdon, MDIH Clinical Student Educator who championed the creation of this program said, “Jane gave 100% in the classroom, lab, and throughout her clinicals. Jane’s dedication, compassion, and her hard work reflect the true heart of nursing. Her perseverance and commitment to learn and be registered with the State of Maine as a Certified Nursing Assistant sets the standard for nursing excellence. We are so proud of you!”

Read more on our website: https://www.mdihospital.org/featured/jane-coombs-completes-cna-program-and-passes-maine-state-exam/

09/22/2025

Mount Desert Island Hospital expresses its sincere gratitude to the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation for a generous grant of $12,817. With this grant, we have acquired two state-of-the-art Biolase Epic Dental Lasers for the Community Dental Center in Southwest Harbor.

The addition of these advanced dental lasers marks a significant step forward in the Community Dental Center’s ability to deliver high-quality, patient-centered dental care. Biolase Epic lasers offer a host of benefits to patients, including reduced pain, faster healing times, and a more comfortable overall dental experience.

Thus far, Community Dental Center caregivers have utilized the dental lasers for scaling and root planing, bacterial reduction, tooth desensitization, tissue biostimulation, and other minimally invasive procedures. Training continues to expand the team’s capabilities.

Learn more about the equipment made possible through the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation on our website: https://www.mdihospital.org/featured/northeast-delta-dental-foundation-grant-supports-advanced-care-at-mdi-hospital-community-dental-center/

And learn more about our Community Dental Center at mdihospital.org/dentalcenter

Northeast Delta Dental Foundation Grant of $12,817 Funds State-of-the-Art Equipment in Southwest Harbor Southwest Harbor, ME – Mount Desert Island Hospital expresses its sincere gratitude to the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation for a generous grant of $12,817. With this grant, we have acquired tw...

09/19/2025

Happy Business Friends Friday! 🤝🏻 A heartfelt thank you to Shaw Jewelry for their generous support as a Circle of Care member of MDI Hospital’s Business Friends Society! 💙

For over 35 years, Shaw Jewelry has been a shining gem in Northeast Harbor—where art meets innovation in every piece. From nationally recognized contemporary artists to the iconic twig, beachstone, and gem collections by Sam Shaw himself, this gallery is truly a must-visit on the coast of Maine. 🌊💍

Support local. Celebrate creativity. And discover something extraordinary.
👉 www.shawjewelry.com

Sam Shaw is a jeweler and artist based in Northeast Harbor, Maine.

09/18/2025

🌞👟 Ready to get moving? Join MDI Hospital’s Wellness Walking Program! Whether you’re walking for fun 🎉 or fitness 💪, it’s the perfect way to start your day at your own pace .🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️ Walks kick off at 8:30 am ⏰—don’t miss it!
🗓️ Visit https://www.mdihospital.org/uncategorized/walks-in-the-park-schedule/ to see each month’s schedule.
📲 Sign up today with Mary Parham, Community Health Educator
📞 207-801-5034 | 💌 mary.parham@mdihospital.org

09/17/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for MDI Hospital’s 2025 Community Celebration and Campaign Launch on August 27 at the lovely Bar Harbor Club! 🏥💙

Please feel welcome to browse photos from the event by clicking the link below, which will take you to the full gallery of images from the evening.

We are grateful to everyone who helped make this event possible, and for their support of MDI Hospital and our community. We were honored to have a room so full of individuals who are committed to Building our Future. Thank you!

"2025 Community Celebration & Annual Meeting" Photo Gallery Access Link: https://mdihospital.mediavalet.com/portals/CommunityCelebration

Learn more about MDI Hospital's Building Our Future campaign at mdihospital.org/BuildingOurFuture

09/12/2025

September is national su***de awareness month. On behalf of our team at the Behavioral Health Center, we'd like to remind our friends and neighbors of the mental health resources available for everyone in Maine.

Standing together to support mental health saves lives.

09/12/2025

Happy Business Friends Friday! 🤝🏻 We're giving a shoutout to Lynam Insurance Agency for being a Circle of Care member of MDI Hospital’s Business Friends Society! 🏥💙

For over 134 years, Lynam has been a trusted name here in Hancock County — helping neighbors protect what matters most, from homes to local businesses and everything in between. 🏡🏢

Their commitment to this community runs deep, and we’re truly grateful to have them by our side in supporting the health and well-being of everyone who calls this place home.. 🙌

Need coverage you can count on? Check them out 👉 www.lynamins.com

It’s National Preparedness Month! While we’re fortunate here in Maine most of the year, it's essential to know the disasters and hazards that could impact our area. Do you know how to receive emergency alerts or where to go if your family needs to evacuate? If not, visit www.ready.gov/be-informed for free resources to help you stay prepared.

09/11/2025

Today, we pause to honor the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the first responders who answered the call with courage and compassion. May we never forget the strength, unity, and resilience that carried us through that day and continues to inspire us now.

09/10/2025

At Mount Desert Island Hospital, we know how much it means to have care you can count on from providers you trust, especially when it comes to women’s health. That’s why we’re committed to bringing you the latest women’s health happenings at MDIH, so you can feel informed and confident in your continuity of care.

This summer, we welcomed longtime OB nurse Ellen DaCorte, RN, BSN, CBC to the role of Women’s Health Nurse Navigator. For 29 years, Ellen has been a trusted presence in the lives of families at Mount Desert Island Hospital. She has supported generations of families with calm reassurance, deep understanding, and genuine joy, celebrating every new life and every growing family.

At the end of this month, MDI Hospital is thrilled to welcome Dr. Kara Dwight, a board-certified OB/GYN who will bring expanded gynecology and urogynecology services to women across our region. With Dr. Dwight’s arrival, women on MDI will no longer need to travel far for many of the specialized services that were once only available off-island.

And lastly, after years of caring for women and families on the island, Dr. Katie Gassman has decided to transition out of her role with MDI Hospital at the end of December. While her departure is bittersweet, her legacy of compassionate care continues, and the women’s health team she has helped build remains strong because of her leadership.

Reflecting on her time at MDIH, Dr. Gassmann said, “While I am excited for the professional opportunities my new position will allow, I am sad to leave the hospital and community. I am so grateful for my time at MDI Hospital and the families I have had the privilege to care for here. I am excited for my colleagues, Ellen DaCorte, Dr. Brown, and Dr. Dwight, who continue to provide exceptional care to women and families on MDI.”

On behalf of all of us at MDI Hospital, we thank Dr. Gassman for her many years of dedicated service to this community, her unwavering commitment to women’s health, and her compassion for every life she touched.

Dr. Gassman will continue to see patients leading up to her departure in December. Dr. Brown will continue to see OB patients and Dr. Dwight will begin seeing OB patients after her start at the end of this month. If you have questions about accessing OB and OBGYN care at the Lisa Stewart Women’s Health Center, please contact Ellen DaCorte at 207.288.8100 ext. 2550.

Read the full update on our website: https://www.mdihospital.org/featured/womens-health-care-updates-look-ahead/

09/09/2025

For Daniel Childers, a 3rd Year Resident in Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, two weeks at Mount Desert Island Hospital’s Emergency Department offered a change in pace, scenery, and perspective. Trading the fast-paced, highly resourced environment of an academic medical center in urban Philadelphia for an eight-bed rural ED on an island in Maine proved to be an invaluable learning opportunity.

Childers’ rotation was made possible through the partnership between Penn Medicine and MDI Hospital, which offers residents the chance to experience rural healthcare firsthand. Mount Desert Island Hospital’s groundbreaking teaching partnership with Penn Medicine, established in 2011, has evolved into a model for future urban-rural partnerships across the nation and has established MDI Hospital as a premier rural hospital for emergency medicine and critical care.

While the cases and environment were different from what he sees in Philadelphia, the experience broadened Childers’ skills and deepened his appreciation for rural practice. “It’s very important for residents who usually work in high-resource settings to have experiences like this,” he said. “Even though we train at Penn, most of us won’t necessarily work at a place like Penn. This helps us develop our skills and understand the range of practice settings out there.”

Read the full story on our website: https://www.mdihospital.org/featured/from-philadelphia-to-bar-harbor-penn-resident-gains-perspective-and-experience-on-rural-emergency-medicine/