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Woman's Hospital Association

Volunteers Celebrate with Gifts to CMMC | WHA Raises Nearly $19,000 for Hospital

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The Woman’s Hospital Association (WHA) presented Central Maine Medical Center with nearly $19,000 in support of special programs at their 132nd Annual Celebration.

The WHA, in operation since before an actual hospital was built in 1891, raises money every year in support of CMMC. Their gifts this year reflect both long-supported programs and new recipients.

Special Funds at the Bennett Breast Care Center and The Cynthia Rydholm Center received a total of $12,798 for services to cancer patients.  The WHA has been supporting the Immediate Needs Fund at the Rydholm Center for 35 years, according to WHA president June Mourik. The Bennet Breast Care Center, another longtime focus for the WHA, has a fund to pay for screening mammograms and biopsies for patients that are uninsured or without adequate insurance coverage.

Last year, WHA gave the hospital $150,000 to help pay for 3D mammography technology, which is now in place.

The Maine College of Health Professions, founded as a nursing school by the WHA in the late 19th century, received $5,000 in scholarship money for nursing students.

In a new-program donation, the WHA gave $1,200 to fund scholarships in the Health Care Career Explorers Program. Explorers matches children and young adults interested in a healthcare career with CMMC employees, to provide a hands-on learning experience.

An additional gift was presented to the Dempsey Center for its work with cancer patients.

“We’re deeply grateful for the hard work, energy and compassion that fuels these gifts to the hospital,” said Dr. David Tupponce, president of CMMC and executive vice president of Central Maine Healthcare. “For more than a century, the Woman’s Hospital Association has steadfastly supported our mission to provide the highest quality of care to the community we serve.”

WHA Rotating Art Gallery to Feature Photography of Doug Warner and Paintings of Six Local Artists

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The Woman’s Hospital Association (WHA) Rotating Art Gallery at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston is now displaying the photography of Doug Warner and the paintings of six local artists who gathered together to create their display.

Doug Warner’s photography hobby began as an extension of his hikes through scenic Maine. In the over 40 years he’s been hiking, Warner has worked to improve his photography skills. “I’m always up for an adventure and my hikes take me all over.  My camera is always in hand.”

The six local artists who are displaying this month are all friends of retired art teacher Linda DeSantis who states: “One of the great pleasures of being retired is having the time to pursue my love of the visual arts.  I draw inspiration from the natural world.  The elements of color, form, and texture appeal to me as well as dynamic composition”.  Other artists include well-known local artist and gallery owner, Anita Poulin who comes from three generations of artists who have painted scenes of Maine for nearly a century, veteran secondary school educator Karen Ogg, Maine artist, Susan Fitz-Patrick, who enjoys recreating her love of the ocean in her paintings, acrylic pouring artist, Martha Levesque  as well as Nancy Jutras who states: “The beauty and peacefulness found in nature capture my imagination.”

The works on display may be purchased through the WHA Gift Shop located adjacent to the main lobby at Central Maine Medical Center. A percentage of the sale proceeds benefits patients of CMMC.

WHA Rotating Art Gallery to Feature Photography of Dr. Peter Elias & Paintings by Alex Wilson and Nick Gayton in April

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The Woman’s Hospital Association (WHA) Rotating Art Gallery at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston is now displaying the photography of Peter Elias and the paintings of Alexandria Wilson and Nick Gayton.

Dr. Elias has lived in Auburn since 1977, raising a family, practicing medicine, and enjoying the very best of Maine. Since retiring after 4 decades as a family physician he has had more time to pursue some of his other passions, including hiking, Nordic skiing, woodworking, and photography. This is the first public exhibition of his work, and it clearly reflects how he likes to spend his time.

Wilson, a registered dietician who works both at CMMC and at Hannaford in Augusta started taking art classes when she was 9 years old with Mercedes Gastonguay. One of her greatest accomplishments as a young artist was being asked to paint three large murals at the Health Club and Spa in Lisbon in the pool area.  “I have always had a love for art, especially painting. I found my love for painting on canvas with acrylic paints over the past few years”.

Gayton has also been painting from a young age. As an avid reader he finds inspiration for his paintings in books he reads.