Jim Cyr

Central Maine Healthcare’s cancer care program is among the best in the nation, according to the Commission on Cancer (CoC).

The CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for patients with cancer by setting and raising standards. The organization promotes cancer prevention, research, education and monitoring of comprehensive quality care.

“As a participant of the Commission on Cancer (CoC), your hospital has earned distinction as an American College of Surgeons Surgical Quality Partner. This designation recognizes that your institution is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in surgical care,” a statement from the CoC reads.

“This is great news and confirmation of what we already know: our oncology team members are among the best in the nation,” said Tim Counihan, MD, chief of surgery. “This accreditation should serve as further proof to our cancer patients that they are in great hands at Central Maine Healthcare.”

“The Commission on Cancer has incredibly high standards, so it’s especially gratifying to receive this accreditation,” said John Hamilton, senior vice president of service line operations at CMH. “This recognition not only highlights our dedication to quality but also reinforces our role as leaders in advancing cancer care and improving outcomes for our patients.”

Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) has announced appointments to two senior leadership positions within the healthcare system.

Michael Berlowitz, MD, has accepted the position of chief medical officer for Central Maine Healthcare. Since 2021, Dr. Berlowitz has provided exceptional leadership as chief of Central Maine Heart & Vascular Institute (CMHVI). He will continue to lead CMHVI.

Before joining CMH, Dr. Berlowitz served as chief of clinical operations for the University of South Florida’s cardiovascular service line. He holds an MBA from Auburn University Harbert College of Business, specializing in operations and organizational behavior. He has also earned certificates in strategic healthcare leadership from Cornell University and patient safety and quality from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Michelle Kap, MS, RN, who has been serving as interim chief nursing officer (CNO) since December, has accepted the permanent role of CNO.

Michelle brings extensive leadership experience to this position, having previously served as senior vice president of clinical operations at Steward Health Care in Massachusetts. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on critical care from the University of Massachusetts.

“These appointments reflect our dedication to strong leadership for the health system,” said Steve Littleson, president and CEO, Central Maine Healthcare. “I am confident these two seasoned professionals will have a positive impact on the care we provide to our patients.”

Topsham Family Medicine, which is part of Central Maine Healthcare, is happy to introduce its newest provider to the Midcoast-based care team.

Emily Carle, a nurse practitioner, specializes in family medicine and is seeing patients in the Topsham area.

Carle graduated from the University of Southern Maine and is board certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Among her specialties are women’s health and lifestyle medicine – providing coaching on diet, exercise and pillars of healthy living for quality of life and disease prevention.

“For me, being a provider is a personal calling and mission,” Carle said. “I appreciate and value patient and family-centered care, community-based health, and empowering patients to live the best version of themselves.

“I love when patients are engaged and curious about their health; I provide education to my patients to empower them to make informed decisions for wellbeing as each defines it.”

Central Maine Medical Center’s (CMMC) soon-to-be new neighbor is already making a positive impact.

cPort Credit Union is preparing to open its doors this fall at its Lewiston location on Main Street, directly across the street from CMMC. In a show of support for the hospital and its team members, cPort has generously given CMMC a $10,000 donation, reinforcing its commitment to community well-being, even before its official launch.

“We are excited to be partnering with Central Maine Medical Center,” said Gene Ardito, CEO of cPort Credit Union. “This collaboration represents an important milestone as we work together to better serve this region. We are particularly enthusiastic about being partners and neighbors, contributing to the strong sense of community in the Lewiston-Auburn area.”  

“This partnership with Central Maine Medical Center underscores our commitment to our community’s well-being by supporting both financial and physical health,” said Kelsey Marquis, President of cPort Credit Union. “Together, we can work towards ensuring a healthy future for all area residents.”

“We are grateful to cPort Credit Union for their generous $10,000 donation to support our Corporate Partnership Program,” said Lisa Lavallee, Development Director at Central Maine Healthcare. “This contribution will directly impact our ability to provide vital services and resources to our patients and team members. Their commitment to our mission strengthens our community and enables CMMC to continue delivering exceptional care.”

For more information on Central Maine Healthcare’s Corporate Partnership program, please contact System Director of Philanthropy Lisa LaVallee at 207-795-2685 or giving@cmhc.org.

Central Maine Healthcare is encouraging the communities it serves to remember the saying, “You are what you eat” throughout March, which is National Nutrition Month.

The theme for this year’s National Nutrition Month is “Food connects us.” Food is a beautiful way that we can connect with one another through culture and community, registered dietician nutritionists say.

Central Maine Healthcare, which includes Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC), Rumford Hospital, Bridgton Hospital and numerous practices, includes a team of registered dietitians that plays a critical role in helping patients and its own team members understand the connection between the food we eat and how it impacts our health throughout our lives. 

“It’s no secret: healthy food choices are key to well-being and longevity,” said Sandy Collins, RDN, LDN, clinical dietitian, Central Maine Bariatric Surgery. “Some of the steps we can take to achieve this include dining out less, eating more plant foods and fiber, choosing whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat bread and sides such as quinoa and consuming healthy fats and lean protein. Regular physical activity can also make a big difference.”

Members of Central Maine Healthcare’s nutrition team are hosting information tables in the CMMC cafeteria in March to help spread the word about healthy food choices.

Pictured: Central Maine Healthcare dieticians at CMMC nutrition information table

Central Maine Healthcare, which includes Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC), Rumford Hospital, Bridgton Hospital and numerous practices, is recognizing its medical residents for the critical role they play in the healthcare system.

Feb. 28 is national “Thank a Resident Day,” a time to honor those team members who have graduated from medical school and are at Central Maine Healthcare to gain experience and specialize in a particular area of medicine.

These residents are committed to providing compassionate care to patients and their families while conducting important research and collaborating with doctors and nurses to strengthen patient care.

“I would like to publicly express my gratitude to our resident physicians,” said Bethany Picker, MD, medical director of Family Medicine Residency. “This diverse group of doctors honors our health system with their trust to give them the training and experiences they need to develop into competent family physicians. In the process, they provide exceptional, compassionate care to the most vulnerable of our patients, partner outside our system to improve the well-being of our community and remind us why we were drawn to healthcare ourselves.”

“Our dedicated family medicine residents have a huge impact at Central Maine Healthcare by creating a rich teaching environment,” said Rebecca Brakeley, MD, interim chief medical officer at Central Maine Healthcare. “Having residents critically think through each clinical decision ups everyone’s game and is beneficial for the patient and care team, alike.”

Central Maine Medical Center Family Medicine Residency (CMMC FMR) is a 7-7-7 ACGME certified program with an osteopathic recognition track and rural training. Founded in 1978, CMMC FMR has graduated more than 160 family physicians. The program prepares physicians to practice family medicine in communities with populations ranging from 500 to 500,000.

Pictured left to right: Michael Stadnicki, MD, medical division chief, Primary Care, Mark Steciuk, MD, chief of Pathology, Tasha Duval, DO, physician, OB GYN, Bethany Picker, MD, residency program director, Rebecca Brakeley, MD, interim chief medical officer, Tim Counihan, MD, chief of surgery and Oncology Institute

Central Maine Healthcare recently welcomed a new orthopedic surgeon.

Dennis Sullivan, MD, is the newest member of Central Maine Healthcare Orthopedics, specializing in knee and shoulder surgery at Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.

Dr. Sullivan says he chose this field because he could clearly see how orthopedic surgery directly improve patients’ lives.

“When it comes to my patients, I favor a conservative approach to injuries and arthritic conditions, whenever possible,” Dr. Sullivan said. “I also explain diagnoses in multiple ways, reviewing images and reports, and using anatomical models so my patients understand what’s happening.”

Dr. Sullivan earned his medical degree at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York, and completed his residency at the University of Toronto Orthopedic Sports Medicine. He has been a team physician for USA Hockey for 25 years, which included a tournament in the Czech Republic. He was also head team physician for the Portland Pirates from 1994-2008.

Central Maine Orthopedics has been named a Cigna Center of Excellence for hip and knee replacement. It has also been named a Blue Distinction Center by Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) this month became the first hospital in Maine to complete a dual chamber leadless (wireless) pacemaker implant.

The electrophysiology team at Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute (CMHVI) successfully performed several implants, using the AVEIR ™ dual chamber pacemaker, an implantable device that stimulates the heart’s two main chambers.

While traditional dual chamber pacemakers include wires that risk breaking and may cause infection, the Aveir pacemaker is wireless and therefore has a lower risk of infection.

The new pacemaker was approved by the FDA in 2023 and is ideal for patients who have abnormally slow heart rhythms and require pacing in both chambers of the heart. 

“We have had single chamber leadless pacemakers for many years,” said Joseph Dell’Orfano, MD, electrophysiologist at CMMC. “However, when patients experience slow heart rates, they often require pacing in both the top and bottom chambers of their heart. Now we can do this without the need for surgically implanted wires or battery packs. This represents the future of pacemakers. I’m proud that we could bring this technology to our patients in Maine.”

This isn’t the first time in recent history CMHVI has led the way in Maine. Last spring, CMMC became the first hospital to successfully treat atrial fibrillation using Pulsed Field Ablation, a non-thermal device designed to minimize potential damage to the heart.

CMHVI offers advanced treatments for all arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Last year, its vascular lab earned a three-year accreditation in peripheral arterial, peripheral venous and extracranial cerebrovascular testing from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission. CMHVI has also started a dedicated hypertension and lipid clinic and a new preventive cardiology program. Additionally, the vascular surgery team recently performed its 50th TCAR, the latest in minimally invasive procedures to treat carotid disease.

Pictured: CMHVI’s electrophysiology team poses with Aveir equipment

Central Maine Healthcare team members are wearing red on Fridays throughout the month of February.

February is American Heart Month, a time when everyone-especially women-are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for women in the US. and around the world.

The team at Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute (CMHVI) encourages everyone to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle choices that include a balanced diet, exercise and stress management.

“Heart Month is a chance for us to remind everyone that you can make a difference in your life by taking charge of your own health,” said Michael Berlowitz, MD, chief of CMHVI. “Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. If you smoke, quit. Get a good night’s sleep and be sure to get regular heart health screenings.” 

Every Wednesday this month, CMHVI will host a heart health booth in the lobby of 60 High St. on the CMMC campus from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.  

A Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) family medicine doctor recently found himself in the baby delivery business, unexpectedly.

Jan. 15 was a typical day at Minot Avenue Family Medicine in Auburn with the team taking care of respiratory illness cases, injuries and other common healthcare issues. But after the last patient of the day went home, the team faced an unexpected challenge.

Nathan Raby, DO, was finishing up paperwork after 5 p.m. when team member Alexis Libby, a medical assistant at the family practice, suddenly went into labor. 

An ambulance was called, but the baby wasn’t waiting. Dr. Raby and the team were quickly pressed into service. They called the Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) maternity team right away, knowing they would have expert help on the line. 

“I noted the look on Alexis’ face. I had seen it before, and I knew what it meant. I told her we needed to get her into a room and onto a table,” Dr. Raby said.

Just a few short minutes later, Alexis became a new mom.  Dr. Raby and Alexis could hear the CMMC maternity team cheering in the background.

Dr. Raby said, “Instinct kicked in and I gently pulled down on the head to expose the upper shoulder, pulled gently again and out slid the entire baby, a boy. He came out singing, much to my relief, moving all his extremities with great tone and color.

“We don’t deliver babies at Minot Avenue Family Medicine. This was the first for our team and my first delivery since residency,19 years ago.

“The ambulance team arrived, and I used their maternity kit to suction out the baby’s mouth. I clamped and cut the cord and handed the baby to his mother.”

Dr. Raby is more than grateful for the support from the CMMC maternity team.

“I talked him through the delivery; he really just needed moral support because he knew just what to do,” said Janice Locke, CMN, the midwife on call at CMMC that afternoon. “I recall him chuckling, ‘I haven’t delivered a baby in 19 years!’ It was a jovial conversation with people laughing and celebrating in the background!”

The mother and baby were then taken by ambulance to CMMC for postpartum care.

Alexis has named the boy Logan. Mom and baby are doing fine.

“I’m very thankful I was in the right place at the right time and very thankful for Dr. Raby who made me feel calm during the whole experience,” she said. “I can’t wait to tell Logan his birth story when he gets older!”

Minot Avenue Family Medicine has named the exam room where the boy was born “Logan’s Room.”

Minot Avenue Family Medicine consists of six family practice professionals as well as clinical and clerical staff who work together to provide care for patients of all ages in the greater Lewiston-Auburn area.

U.S. News & World Report has recognized CMMC as “High Performing in Maternity Care.” Last year, Newsweek also named CMMC one of the best hospitals in the nation for maternity.

Additionally, CMMC received a near-perfect 97 (out of 100) score on the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition & Care survey which evaluates categories such as immediate postpartum care, breastfeeding education, and support after patient discharge. The national average score was 82.