Bangor, Maine: Geriatrics opportunity at Penobscot Community Health Center

A respected, well known, Bangor physician is providing geriatric and palliative care to 8 nursing homes in the area. He is assisted by a highly skilled, experienced team of 7 Nurse Practitioners. Demand for these services is increasing and the time has come to bring on another Geriatrician.

The position will be structured to meet the professional interests of the incoming physician. The practice could be a combination of office practice and long term care and palliative work. It could be a focused geriatric practice, which may include medical directorship of several nursing homes. The Nurse Practitioners take first call and handle 90% if the night and weekend calls. The two physicians provide backup.

There is a very attractive and competitive compensation and fringe benefits package, which includes market competitive salary. Fringe benefits include vacation, holiday and sick time off, health and dental insurance, life, short and long term disability insurance, employer sponsored pension plan, programs to assist with medical education debt, relocation allowance, malpractice coverage and more.

Penobscot Community Health Center (PCHC) is a comprehensive Federally Qualified Community Health Center(FQHC) serving 38 towns in the greater Bangor area. PCHC is the largest FQHC in Maine, with 120 medical practitioners providing 225,000 annual patient visits to a population of 50,000.

PCHC offers an array of services including large family practice clinics, located in Bangor and surrounding communities, school based health clinics, and community clinics for individuals who are homeless or living in public housing. Psychiatric and mental health services are integrated within primary care. Penobscot Pediatrics is the largest Pediatric practice in Maine, with 20 general and specialist clinicians caring for 12,000 children in two locations. Penobscot Community Dental Services is the largest dental clinic north of Boston with 26 operatories, 9-10 dentists, digital x-ray, electronic dental records, and a dental residency. Bangor is Maine’s second largest city, situated on the shore of the Penobscot River just a half hour from the Atlantic coastline. This is an award-winning community rated as one of America’s Best Small Metro Areas in MacMillan’s Places Rated Almanac. Bangor is also among the top 20 Best Places to Raise a Family in a Reader’s Digest poll scoring communities on schools, absence of crime, healthcare, and the environment.

Bangor is centrally located, providing its residents with easy access to the coast, Maine’s mountains, and many area lakes. Minutes north of Bangor is the town of Orono, home of the flagship campus of the University of Maine, with over 10,000 full time students in baccalaureate and graduate programs and all of the recreational facilities and cultural amenities you’d expect on the campus of a major university.

Bangor and its surrounding towns offer excellent educational options, with first-rate primary and secondary schools, both public and private. These schools rank among the best in New England, earning distinction for standardized test scores, advanced placement programs, math competitions, music, art, and sports. In fact, over 90% of graduating seniors go on to continue their education at post secondary institutions, including some of the most prestigious in the country. Preschool choices in Bangor include traditional nursery schools, all-day programs, and several Montessori schools.

The Maine Discovery Museum downtown draws children and families from all around the state. With seven major interactive exhibit areas on three floors, MDM is the largest children’s museum north of Boston. Seven permanent exhibits teach children about the following subject areas: nature, geography, children’s literature, music, art, science, and anatomy. MDM is an excellent spot to host a child’s birthday party where the kids can learn while they’re having fun!

This region provides an exciting range of affordable housing options. You can purchase a newer or older home in heart of downtown Bangor and live handily near to all the local amenities. Or, get some acreage just outside of the city and build your dream home in an area that is close enough to be convenient, yet but far enough away to be private. In between, you’ll find subdivisions in several of Bangor’s suburbs, country living on quiet roads or former farms, and even quaint New England villages easily near enough for commuting.

The National Council for the Arts selected Bangor as the host city for the National Folk Festival, America’s premier showcase for an international program of music and dance, art, crafts, and cuisine. The Bangor Symphony, America’s oldest community orchestra, offers a full performance season and sponsors a youth symphony. The Penobscot Theatre Company produces a popular Maine Shakespeare Festival, and the Maine Center for the Arts hosts entertainers from around the world. Long a haven for artists and writers (Bangor is the home of Stephen King), Maine has a wealth of museums and galleries, and a diverse literary community. The internationally known WoodenBoat School and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts are each just an hour from Bangor.

If you want to travel to visit family, or just to get away, use the convenient Bangor International Airport (BGR). Owned and operated by the City of Bangor, this airport has more than 60 flights coming and going daily, connecting Bangor to major cities in the Northeast, plus national and regional hubs, and vacation destinations in Florida and the Caribbean. BGR features 100% jet aircraft for non-stop, comfortable and convenient flights.

Enjoy four seasons of outdoor activities in Maine! This part of the state offers opportunities for sailing and kayaking, hiking, cycling, and skiing. Maine’s rockbound coast, Acadia National Park, and inland woods and mountains, lakes and streams offer spectacular beauty and unsurpassed recreation, all within easy reach. Organized sports and adventure programs, and a variety of indoor athletic facilities, are available for all ages. Try a new sport, or hone an outdoor skill at the University’s Maine Bound program, offering instruction, guided trips and rental equipment. Or, check out a course at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, less than two hours away in Rockland. Hunting and fishing, rock climbing and golf, bird watching and antiquing are all popular activities in Maine. Whether you choose Bangor for personal, professional or family reasons, you will enjoy access to rich historic, cultural, and artistic opportunities when you live in this community.

Contact: Jane Ham

Email: jham@themha.org