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Central Maine Orthopedics is pleased to introduce its newest provider, Bruce Hamilton-Dick, MD.

Dr. Hamilton-Dick went to medical school at Albany Medical College and completed his residency at Albany Medical Center.  He also did a fellowship at the University of Massachusetts in Orthopedics/Sports Medicine.

Dr. Hamilton-Dick is particularly passionate about musculoskeletal care and quality of life for his patients. “My job is to help people get old in the youngest way possible. And you can’t be a bystander in that game. You have to be all-in, and I want to be on your team,” he said.

“Dr. Hamilton-Dick is an excellent addition to our staff,” said Lauren Adey, MD, chief of Central Maine Orthopedics. “He brings nearly four decades of experience with him, specializing in both sports medicine and general orthopedics. This will be of tremendous benefit to our patients.”

Dr. Hamilton-Dick is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.  He was a physician for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

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) has once again been recognized as “High Performing in Maternity Care” by U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis. For the 2025 edition, 817 hospitals, an all-time high, submitted maternity data for evaluation. These public ratings assist expectant parents, in consultation with their doctors, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care for uncomplicated births.

According to the publication, just half of the hospitals evaluated for the 2025 ratings edition have been named Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.

Hospitals rated “Best” for Maternity Care by U.S. News:

• Are high performing in breastfeeding metrics.
• Have C-section rates 22% lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.
• Have severe unexpected newborn complication rates 44% lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.
• Have episiotomy rates 33% lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.
• Have breast milk feeding rates 12% higher compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.
• Are 13% more likely to report race/ethnicity data for both C-section and severe unexpected newborn complications compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.

“What an honor it is for our Maternity Department to once again receive this recognition,” said Rebecca Brakeley, MD, chief of Women’s and Children’s Health at Central Maine Healthcare. “Few life events are as significant as childbirth, and the people of central Maine are very fortunate to have such dedicated and skilled healthcare professionals available to them when the time comes. U.S. News & World Report is acknowledging what the people of Maine already know: CMMC is a great place to have a baby!”

When a baby is born at CMMC, a chime that is heard around the hospital is played to share the good news.

Earlier this 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 (mPINC) survey which evaluates categories such as immediate postpartum care, breastfeeding education and support after patient discharge. The national average score was 82.

Pictured: Elaine Law, RNC, 30-year NICU nurse at the CMMC Maternity Department and dedicated nurse leader emeritus

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Central Maine Healthcare is pleased to welcome a new orthopedic surgeon. Saad Mohammad, DO, is an orthopedic trauma surgeon who will be working at CMMC.

Dr. Mohammad earned his undergraduate degree at Salisbury University in Maryland and went to medical school at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City. He completed his residency at McLaren Macomb Hospital in Michigan and a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Dr. Mohammad said he chose orthopedics largely for the opportunity to help and heal people at the most vulnerable period of their lives.

“Everyone deserves basic healthcare, regardless of status,” Dr. Mohammad said. “This is why I treat everyone with respect and humility.”

“The people of central Maine are very fortunate to have someone of Dr. Mohammad’s caliber here,” said Lauren Adey, MD, chief of Central Maine Orthopedics. “He brings a wealth of expertise in orthopedic care, and his commitment to delivering compassionate, patient-centered treatment aligns perfectly with our mission to provide the highest quality healthcare for our patients.”

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 Healthcare is pleased to introduce Nicholas Knowland, MD. Dr. Knowland is a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist who will be treating patients at CMMC, spending most of his time in the operating room.

Dr. Knowland has deep Maine ties, having grown up in South Portland. He graduated from McGill University in Montreal. He attended medical school at Tufts University as part of the Tufts School of Medicine’s Maine Track. He did his residency at Loma Linda Medical School in California and completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesia in White Plains, New York. 

“Dr. Knowland is an incredible addition to our anesthesiology department,” said Steven Constantino, MD, chief of anesthesiology at CMMC. “He has already made quite the impression on many of our team members, and we look forward to him continuing to develop relationships with our surgeons and patients for years to come.”

“I want to be part of the team at CMMC that’s helping ensure our patients have the optimum setup for both getting the surgery they need and recovering from it when the time comes,” Dr. Knowland said.

Dr. Knowland is an avid soccer fan, having played semi-pro soccer in Canada, himself, and is a passionate Manchester United fan. He says it’s great to be back in Maine and looks forward to skiing at Sugarloaf again. 

Central Maine Healthcare is happy to welcome Gaurav Kakked, MD.  Dr. Kakked is a gastroenterologist who will be seeing patients at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) in Lewiston.

Dr. Kakked is very excited to join the team at CMMC, specifically because of the high number of interventional endoscopic ultrasound procedures performed at the hospital.

“Some of the procedures that are being done here at CMMC match what is being done at large academic centers in major cities. People aren’t aware of this. The caliber of care and people here is very impressive.”

Dr. Kakked attended Gujarat University in India. He did his residency at Mount Sinai in New York and completed a gastroenterology fellowship at Willam Beaumont Hospital in Michigan. Dr. Kakked also completed an advanced endoscopy fellowship at Rush University in Chicago. 

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Kakked with us here at CMMC,” said Kanishka Bhattacharya, MD, chief of gastroenterology at Central Maine Healthcare. “His expertise in interventional endoscopy will complement a team that is already performing these new and cutting-edge procedures for our patients in Maine.”

Central Maine Healthcare’s board-certified gastroenterologists provide expert care for all types of gastric problems, from everyday stomach ailments to complex intestinal, swallowing and inflammatory conditions. They work closely with our patients to create a tailor-made treatment plans.

Rumford Hospital is proud to announce the launch of its annual Giving Tree in the hospital’s main lobby. Rumford Hospital team members, patients and the public are invited to support a vital cause while celebrating the season of giving.

The Giving Tree fundraiser, which began in 2015, offers an opportunity to purchase ornaments in honor of a loved one, with all proceeds benefiting the hospital’s effort to raise funds for a new sit-to-stand lift for the inpatient unit.

How the Giving Tree Works:

• Individuals can purchase an ornament for $10, $25 or $50, and each ornament will be displayed on the Giving Tree.
• Local businesses are invited to become partners in this charitable initiative by sponsoring an ornament at the $100, $250, or $500 level. Business sponsors will be recognized throughout the year as a hospital corporate partner.

Ornaments will be available for purchase beginning Nov. 25. Funds raised will go toward the purchase of the much-needed sit-to-stand lift, which will greatly enhance patient care and mobility on the inpatient unit.

“We are excited to welcome back the Rumford Hospital Giving Tree and offer this special way for our community to come together in support of our patients and hospital staff,” said Stephany Jacques, RN, President, Rumford Hospital. “The sit-to-stand lift is an essential piece of equipment that will help improve the quality of care for our patients, and this tradition helps make that possible.”

The Giving Tree will remain on display in the hospital’s main lobby until the end of the year with ornaments being added regularly as they are purchased. Community members, team members and local businesses are encouraged to participate and contribute to this important cause.

For more information on the Rumford Hospital Giving Tree or to make a donation, please contact Rumford Hospital at 207-369-1032 or visit www.cmhc.org/givingtree.

LEWISTON, Maine (Nov. 8, 2024) Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) honors our veterans in a very visible way.

In the second-floor hallway of the Central Maine Heart & Vascular Institute (CMHVI) there is a “Veterans Wall.” It was created by Michael Ricci, MD, who is the former chief of vascular surgery at CMHVI.

Dr. Ricci is also a retired colonel and U.S. Air Force flight surgeon. He wanted to honor his fellow servicemen and women, so he started taking photos of his patients who have served in the military.

Dr. Ricci printed, framed and mounted the photos and this labor of love has grown into what is now called our Veterans Wall – a heartfelt homage to hundreds of vascular and cardiac patients and their dedication to our country. Click here to see a video of the Veterans Wall.

“Shortly after I started here, I noticed many of my patients were veterans. I later learned Maine has the largest number of veterans per capita of any state. I think it’s great that we honor those who have served on Veterans Day. But it’s easy to forget about the sacrifices they made after Nov. 11 has come and gone. This is our way of honoring our veterans year-round.”

LEWISTON, Maine (Oct. 25, 2024) A Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) anesthesiology technician’s transportation challenges have come to an end, thanks to his fellow team members.

Corie Hubbard has been at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) for less than a year and didn’t tell anyone he was unable to get reliable transportation to and from work.

“It was very challenging, and I almost gave up hope,” Hubbard said. “Even though I was trying to get ahead, every time I came close to buying a car, something else would happen.”

Once his colleagues found out he was silently struggling with transportation, Tina Moring, CRNA, and the entire CMMC perioperative team decided to pool their money. Their hope was to raise $5,000- enough to buy a vehicle that could at least get Corie to and from work.

“Corie is wonderful. He never misses a day of work and is always so positive,” Moring said.

“In just 10 days, we raised $11,000. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of his team members as well as other staff who barely knew him.”

Tina did some car shopping and found a 2015 Nissan Rogue. With money left over, they paid for vehicle registration and six months of insurance. She and a crowd of surgeons, nurses, technicians and others surprised Corie in the hospital garage.

“It felt like a dream. It was mind-blowing,” Hubbard said. “I have never cried so much in my life. The first day I drove to work it was so freeing. I drove with the windows down and the wind felt incredible.

“I am so grateful and so humbled. To see all of the people who made this happen for me. I want everyone to know what they did. I want everyone to know the kind of place this is and the kind of people who work here. It’s been life changing.”