MDI Hospital & Birch Bay Employment Hub

09/15/2025

We would like to recognize Meg Carroll for being nominated for Birch Bay Retirement Village's Employee of the Year Award!

This is the highest form of peer-to-peer recognition offered by the organization and we are pleased to share a summary of the recognition Meg received from her peers:

"Meg is one of the most longest-term employees at Birch Bay. She always acknowledges fellow staff with a warm greeting and smile. Meg consistently goes above and beyond for both residents and her coworkers. She frequently ensures residents have personal comfort items such as fans during hot days or radios to help them feel at home. She brings in milkshakes as a surprise treat, brightening residents' afternoons and showing how well she knows and cares for each person. She is a calming, reliable presence in the neighborhood. Meg’s dedication and loyalty to her residents and to the mission of the organization are unwavering. Meg treats every resident with deep kindness, often going out of her way to provide small but meaningful comforts. She brings residents outdoors for fresh air and exercise, takes time to talk with them and their families, and shows genuine empathy, especially during end-of-life care. Meg knows many residents' families by name and builds strong, trust-filled relationships that strengthen the community as a whole."

Meg, you make a difference every day. Thank you for all you do for Birch Bay Retirement Village. Congratulations on receiving an Employee of the Year nomination!

09/15/2025

We would like to recognize Jessica Bock for being nominated for Birch Bay Retirement Village's Employee of the Year Award!

"Jessica often steps in to help with activities and adjusts to last-minute needs that residents may have. She ran both the Straus Day Program and the activities department until a new leader was found—Jessica did all of this with a smile on her face! To see Jessica interact with the residents and Straus members is something to behold. You can tell by their interactions that Jessica genuinely cares about the members. Her ability to communicate and step in when needed for their team or another department is commendable. While running two programs, Jessica earned her PSS certification—demonstrating dedication and drive. Jessica embodies grace and a positive attitude that is contagious. She is always smiling and has such a welcoming demeanor with all she meets. Jessica is well-rounded, kind, and caring."

Jessica, you make a difference every day. Thank you for all you do for Birch Bay Retirement Village. Congratulations on receiving an Employee of the Year nomination!

09/15/2025

We would like to recognize Tara White for being nominated for Birch Bay Retirement Village's Employee of the Year Award!
This is the highest form of peer-to-peer recognition offered by the organization and we are pleased to share a summary of the recognition Tara received from her peers:

"Tara is here every day and is always working. Tara has put in countless hours to keep Health Services functioning. She is well deserving of recognition. Tara does everything to go above and beyond. She does her job with dignity and grace and is unbelievably dependable. When we had changes within leadership, she stepped up to the plate not once but twice. Tara is always is so friendly and kind and there when you need an ear or shoulder to cry on. Tara cares about the residents deeply and that is demonstrated every day that she is here. She is a team player and joins in the fun with activities and of course when it comes to dressing up for a silly day, she nails it! Tara, you make a difference every day. Thank you for all you do for Birch Bay Retirement Village."

Congratulations on receiving an Employee of the Year nomination!

09/15/2025

We would like to recognize Marc Woolfolk for being nominated for Birch Bay Retirement Village's Employee of the Year Award!

This spring, Marc was nominated by his peers for Employee of the Year in recognition of his immediate and deeply felt impact at Birch Bay Retirement Village. Despite being relatively new, Marc “consistently goes above and beyond, giving 1000% in everything he does,” earning the trust and admiration of residents, families, and coworkers alike. He is known for his “deep compassion, genuine kindness, and unwavering respect,” treating every resident “with dignity, patience, and heartfelt kindness.” A dependable and uplifting presence on the Safe Harbor team, Marc “always has his teammates’ backs and approaches challenges with positivity and professionalism.” Whether he’s running errands, leading activities, or learning new skills like Tai Chi to enrich resident life, Marc is “extremely helpful to Safe Harbor and the residents” and is truly “missed on his days off.” His “soft voice, calm presence, and sometimes funny jokes” make him a comforting and trusted caregiver.

Marc, you make a difference every day. Thank you for all you do for Birch Bay Retirement Village. Congratulations on receiving an Employee of the Year nomination!

09/15/2025

09/15/2025

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/

09/15/2025

We would like to recognize Skylar Ward for being nominated for Birch Bay Retirement Village's Employee of the Year Award!

Described as a “true ambassador for our organization,” Skylar leads with “compassion, integrity, and professionalism in every interaction,” whether supporting colleagues, engaging with residents, or representing Birch Bay in the wider community. His thoughtful and selfless actions—like buying Uno cards for residents with his own money or ensuring a solo resident still enjoyed a planned trip—reflect a genuine commitment to making others feel valued. He “goes above and beyond” with a calm, positive, and can-do spirit that uplifts those around him. Skylar also demonstrated initiative and leadership by organizing Birch Bay’s first-ever auto show to build community and raise awareness of the organization’s mission. As one nominator put it: “It's difficult to capture in words what defines a true caregiver, but Skylar embodies it in every interaction.”

Skylar, you make a difference every day. Thank you for all you do for Birch Bay Retirement Village. Congratulations on receiving an Employee of the Year nomination!

09/03/2025

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

When a health center closed on the island last year, it left a lot of community members worried about where they'd go, and if they'd lose the provider they'd come to trust so much. Thankfully, MDIH was happy to welcome CeCe Mailhot to the Northeast Harbor Health Center so she could continue to serve her patients who she built such a bond with. Today, CeCelia Mailhot, FNP practices at Mount Desert Island Hospital’s Northeast Harbor Health Center, leading with a patient centered approach and welcoming demeanor.

Grace Galan, Northeast Harbor Health Center Administrative Assistant, shares that, “Cece is patient-centered in everything she does. She validates her patients' experiences, is incredibly thorough, and goes above and beyond. The authenticity in her care and consideration really does make NEHC so special, and the patients can feel it too!”

Cheryl Young, Northeast Harbor Health Center Practice Manager, says, “CeCe is a pleasure to work with. She represents all the MDIH Core Values, and is a great asset to the organization, the Northeast Harbor Health Center, and the community.”

If you know of anyone in the community who deserves to be recognized as Island Kind, whether they are a caregiver, a volunteer, a community member, or just someone who makes a difference, nominate them here: https://forms.office.com/r/xScpmxWddm

08/30/2025

🌟 Spotlight on Job Shadowing at BBRV & MDI Hospital! 🌟

Birch Bay Retirement Village and MDI Hospital were thrilled to welcome Matilda for a day of job shadowing in Music Therapy—a special moment as Matilda became BBRV’s very first job shadowing participant through the new program!

Music Therapy Director Melissa Violette shared:

"It was such a pleasure to have Matilda spend the day with Emma and me in Music Therapy. Matilda is truly a special person—enthusiastic, bright, thoughtful, and kind in her interactions. She picked things up quickly and showed a genuine curiosity about the work we do. Her questions reflected real insight and interest. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with her, and I have no doubt she’ll be successful wherever her path leads."

💼✨ Interested in learning more about the MDI Hospital & Birch Bay Retirement Village's Job Shadowing Program?
Visit https://www.mdihospital.org/job-shadow-program/ to explore how students can gain real-world experience in healthcare and senior services.

08/28/2025

🚨Campus Improvement Update🚨

Beginning on Tuesday, September 2nd and continuing through December, the MDI Hospital Campus will have separate access points and it is very important to understand the distinction between them.

Entering by vehicle from Hancock Street you can access the Emergency Department, Cooper Gilmore Health Center, MRI, and the Breast Health Center. Emergency signage will be posted.

Entering by vehicle from Wayman Lane you can access the Main Entrance and Registration.

You cannot travel by vehicle across campus. If you enter campus by vehicle from Wayman Lane, you must exit via Wayman Lane. If you enter by vehicle via Hancock Street you must exit via Hancock Street.

Stanwood is no longer open to through traffic, though parking is available for patients, employees, and visitors, with marked pedestrian pathways to the hospital.

Read more about September updates on our website: https://www.mdihospital.org/construction/september-2025-campus-improvement-update/

08/27/2025