Franklin Savings donates 700 smoke detectors

Franklin Savings Bank recently donated 700 smoke detectors to local fire departments within its branch location communities.

The fire departments are asked to pass on the smoke detectors to people or organizations in need of a new or updated detector.

“Firefighters have told us that they frequently answer calls and find smoke detectors are not installed or not working properly. These units will be a great tool for them to use and correct such problems on the spot,” said Danielle Welch, operations and securities specialist at Franklin Savings Bank, according to a news release from the bank.

“Each of our branches has 100 smoke detectors to hand out to the fire departments in their local areas. We hope these smoke detectors can play a role in preventing a fire from becoming deadly by alerting people to it early,” she said, according to the release.

DFD Russell wins national health award

DFD Russell Medical Center in Leeds has been recognized as a Diabetes Prevention and Management Leader by the Health Resources and Services Administration Health Center Program.

The award recognizes health centers across the United States that have demonstrated delivery of high-quality diabetes care.

To qualify for the award, DFD Russell had to exceed the national benchmarks for all of the following clinical quality measures in the Uniform Data System reports: uncontrolled diabetes, benchmark: healthy people 2020 goal greater than or equal to 16.20 percent; adult weight BMI and follow up, benchmark: health center national average is greater than or equal to 63.85 percent; child/adolescent weight screening and counseling, benchmark: health center national average is greater than or equal to 65.85 percent.

The award is part of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s commitment to support public health priorities and the Health Center Program’s focus on obesity and diabetes quality improvement.

DFD Russell Medical Center is one of two award recipients in Maine. The other is Fish River Rural Health in Eagle Lake.

Madison Area Health hires clinical social worker

Clinical social worker Catherine Colby will join Madison Area Health Center this winter as its expands behavioral health services at the health center, according to a news release from the center.

Catherine brings expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness and narrative therapy. She earned a master’s degree in social work degree at University of Maine, in Orono, in 2011; and an undergraduate degree in social work at University of Southern Maine in 1999.

Colby will join family nurse practitioners Melissa Covenant, JoHanna Davis and Jeanne Stokes; psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Kelly Bell Bragg; and clinical social worker Danna Lee, who offer medical and integrated behavioral health services to people of all ages.

New Dimensions appoints business development officer

AUGUSTA — Molly Woodward has been appointed the new business development officer for Augusta-based New Dimensions Federal Credit Union.

Woodward, who will be located at the Waterville branch, will focus on developing new business relationships in all service areas for New Dimensions. She has an extensive background in the financial industry, according to a credit union news release.

She is a graduate of Penobscot Valley High School, in Howland, and went on to get her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing management from Thomas College. She lives in the Waterville area with her husband, Richard, and their dog, Princess.

U.S. Cellular promotes Hallowell at Augusta store

AUGUSTA — U.S. Cellular has promoted Brad Hallowell to sales manager at the Augusta store on 1 Stephen King Drive.

In that role, Hallowell is responsible for leading his team of wireless technology experts to help customers select the devices, plans and consumer electronics to meet their needs best. Hallowell has lived in Waterville for 30 years and has over five years of wireless experience.

Hallowell joined U.S. Cellular in 2015 as a retail wireless consultant at the company’s Waterville retail store. He attended the University of New England and earned a bachelor’s degree in health science. He lives in Waterville, with his husband, Zach. He enjoys NASCAR and attending rock concerts.

Waterville resident to receive $80,000 medical fellowship

Dr. Benjamin D. Nicholson, of Waterville, who works in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Boston Medical Center, is the recipient of the NAEMSP/Stryker EMS Medicine Medical Director Fellowship, according to a news release from the National Association of Emergency Services Physicians.

The 12-month, $80,000 fellowship covers training and education costs to pursue a career as a clinically focused EMS medical director who is board-certified in EMS medicine. The opportunity was created to expand the commitment of academic institutions to EMS medicine as a subspecialty and graduate a fellow with a passion for EMS leadership on a national level.

Nicholson began his career as a volunteer EMT-B, has served as a flight paramedic, was the inaugural resident board member of the Air Medical Physician Association and has worked with the African Federation for Emergency Medicine’s Out-of-Hospital Emergency Care Committee. He plans to use the fellowship to help reach his goals of expanding the responsible use of ultrasound in prehospital and disaster settings and develop out-of-hospital care internationally.

The fellowship is scheduled to be presented at the 2019 NAEMSP annual meeting Jan. 7 to 12 in Austin, Texas.

Compiled from contributed releases