Orthopedic Surgery opening details

Board Certified/Eligable in Orthopedic Surgery

An excellent practice opportunity has just become available in Belfast, Maine. Waldo County Hospital is recruiting a general Orthopaedic Surgeon. You will have the option of sharing overhead expenses with other Orthopaedist in town or locating your practice in a separate facility. The hospital will provide a very generous salary guarantee along with overhead expenses and malpractice coverage. Moving expenses will be provided as well. Call is comfortable as there is no trauma surgery.

Waldo County General Hospital is a 100-year old, 45-bed community hospital located in the city of Belfast, Maine. This hospital is a federally designated, sole-community provider of health care for Waldo County. It serves Belfast, with a population of 7,000, and numerous rural communities within a 20-mile or so radius, bringing the hospital's total service population to about 17,000 Mainers. Waldo County General Hospital is growing. Specialists have joined the medical staff, leading to an increase in both inpatient and outpatient services. To meet these demands, the hospital just completed a substantial expansion project. This hospital has a full service, 24-hour Emergency Room; a Pulmonary and Sleep Lab; Cardiac Rehabilitation facilities; a Renal Dialysis unit; Maine's foremost Voice and Swallowing Center for diagnostic testing and speech therapy; and a full array of surgical and specialty services. In the summer of 2005, a new capital campaign was launched to fund the addition of three new OR suites and two new procedure rooms.

The city of Belfast, and neighboring Searsport, are two of the most beautiful and historically interesting coastal communities in Waldo County. Belfast is about 45 minutes east of Maine's capital of Augusta, and 50 or so minutes south of Bangor. Settled in the 1700's, these charming fishing villages have grown into bustling communities that are popular with tourists and families alike.

In the early days, the sea had a profound influence on the development of this region. During the nineteenth century, the combined shipyards of Belfast and Searsport produced 550 sailing vessels! At that time of great prosperity, shipbuilders and merchants built beautiful Greek revival mansions on spectacular lots, often with water views, and decorated them with treasures from the China trade. Many of these homes remained untouched by renovation over the years. As a result, these communities now boast a rich, abundant collection of pristine nineteenth-century architecture. When shipbuilding slowed, the area turned to shoe production and poultry processing, and Belfast became known as the "Broiler Capital". By the mid-1980's, those industries left the area, but their legacy has not been forgotten. The fascinating history of these towns is preserved at the Belfast Museum and the Penobscot Marine Museum, where visitors can enjoy an educational and entertaining, in-depth look at the past.

Today, Belfast enjoys economic prosperity. A new branch of the University of Maine offers day and night classes. Credit card giant MBNA established its corporate headquarters in Belfast in the 1990s, where they now employ 3,000 people. The revival of the visual and performing arts adds additional color and drama to the current landscape.

If you love the outdoors, you will find a nearly endless number of recreational opportunities in Waldo County. On and near the coast you can enjoy a range of freshwater and saltwater activities. Or, travel inland, and try cross-country skiing, biking, camping, or hiking. If you prefer something a little more relaxed, you can pick your own strawberries, raspberries, or apples, and enjoy a picnic in Belfast City Park. Another fabulous way to enjoy the city is by attending the Annual Dessert Cabaret, a family variety show featuring local talent that, since 1996, has been held to raise funds for the Waldo County General Hospital Wellness Program.

Belfast has an excellent school system. With six different elementary schools to choose from, you can be sure that your child gets the best education right from the start. Troy Howard Middle School is where all of the 6th thru 9th graders go, and high school students attend Belfast Area High School. Once in high school, trade oriented students can choose to get an early start by attending Waldo County Technical Center in conjunction with their regular high school classes.

New families moving to the Waldo County area will have a wide range of housing options. Like many small communities located in this costal area, you may live inland where you can find homes or land for building, either at reasonable prices. Or, you may choose to live right on the ocean, so you can wake up to the sea breeze every morning. There are many choices that will keep you within an easy commute to Waldo County General Hospital. Relax on the coast of Maine, because the crime rates are low here, and so are the taxes, compared to other areas. No matter how you choose to live in the area, you'll see why Belfast and Searsport are considered the heart of coastal Maine.

Contact: Jane Ham

Email: jham@themha.org