DFD Russell Medical Centers, with locations in Leeds and Monmouth, has announced the addition of two board-certified family nurse practitioners, Josephine “Josie” Poulin, AANPCB, to the Leeds location and Sheila Hospidales, FNP, to DFD Monmouth. Both professionals practice health care with a holistic approach, considering each patient and their families at the center of each care decision they make as part of the DFD team, according to a news release from the centers.

Josephine “Josie” Poulin Submitted photo

Poulin specializes in family medicine, including services for preventative medicine, chronic illness management, birth control and simple surgical procedures. She comes to DFD’s Leeds location with more than 20 years of experience in nursing, most recently as a family nurse practitioner at Belgrade Regional Health Center in Maine.

“My approach with patients and their families is based on the shared decision-making model,” said Poulin. “It is important as a medical provider to not only educate and help navigate patients through the health care process, but also give them the opportunity to make educated decisions about their care and treatment plan.”

Poulin received her associate degree in nursing from Central Maine Medical Center School of Nursing, where she was class president. She graduated magna cum laude from South University with an undergraduate degree in nursing. She attended Purdue University Global and earned her master’s degree in nursing, also magna cum laude. A member of the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association, Poulin enjoys providing preventative care services to patients of all ages while building strong and lasting relationships with them and their families.

Sheila Hospidales Submitted photo

Hospidales specializes in family practice, with a focus on holistic and preventative medicine. She comes to DFD’s Monmouth location with more than 15 years of experience in nursing, most recently as a family nurse practitioner in urgent care at ProHealth Care in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Born and raised in Maine, she is thrilled to be returning to her home state.

“My role is to help guide my patients and navigate their health goals,” said Hospidales. “I believe in a well-balanced life (and) I love working with people and helping however I can.”

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Hospidales holds a master’s degree in nursing from Simmons University, a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maine at Orono, and an associate degree in nursing from the University of New England. A board-certified family nurse practitioner by both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Credentialing Center, she practices health care with compassion, guided by the firm belief that listening to her patients is key to providing exceptional care and service.

Maine Tourism Association celebrates milestone, inducts employees into Hall of Fame

HALLOWELL — The Maine Tourism Association in celebrates its 100th year in 2022. To honor this milestone, the association held its annual meeting and Centennial Gala on May 19-20 at Poland Spring Resort in Poland. The association was founded as the Maine Publicity Bureau by Hiram W. Ricker, son of the founder of Poland Spring, with the goal of advertising the attractions of Maine as a tourist State, according to a news release from the association.

“Holding our gala and annual meeting at Poland Spring was the perfect place. There is so much history between our two businesses. Cyndi Robbins (owner of Poland Spring Resort) is terrific to work with so we couldn’t ask for a better partnership,” CEO Tony Cameron stated. “We are also very fortunate to have MTA’s Centennial Year sponsored by Kennebec Savings Bank and Bay Ferries-The Cat. We couldn’t host such a wonderful event without all of our sponsors.”

Each year, the association inducts into its Hall of Fame a person or persons who through their leadership, dedication and professionalism have made significant and sustained contributions to the tourism industry in Maine. This year MTA’s Hall of Fame inductees are Maine’s tourism employees.

MTA Board Chairperson Rick Martin said, “These workers are the backbone of our industry. They have made tourism the success it has been over the past 100 years and will keep it going for the next 100 years. It is particularly appropriate that we recognize them in 2022, after the past very challenging two years and all they have done to help tourism survive and recover.”

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All MTA members will receive a certificate recognizing their employees as Hall of Fame inductees. The first certificate was presented to the staff at Poland Spring Resort, who received a standing ovation for their outstanding work on the MTA gala.

The annual meeting also included in the induction of two new members to the MTA board of directors: Geoff Iacuessa, president and general manager of the Portland Sea Dogs; and Don Kleiner, owner of Maine Outdoors, a professional guide service. Two other board members had their terms renewed: Lynn Tillotson, VisitPortland, and Scott Riccio, Northeast Charter & Tour Co.

Iacuessa said, “The tourism industry is a crucial part of the Maine economy, including our business at the Sea Dogs; therefore, I am thrilled to join the Maine Tourism Association board to help execute the important mission of the association and what it means to our great state.”

Kleiner stated, “I am pleased to be able to return to the MTA board to give back to the industry that has given me so much. I look forward being able to represent the interests of those in the outdoor recreation sector.”

“We did the required annual meeting business, but most of the evening was about celebrating tourism in Maine, its position for decades as the largest private industry in Maine, and its resiliency,” stated Cameron. “We also were so fortunate to have some of Maine’s best entertainers join us — Tim Sample as our keynote speaker and a concert by the Mallett Brothers Band.”

Incorporated in January 1922, the Maine Tourism Association is the state’s largest advocate for all tourism-related businesses. The association members include lodging, restaurants, camps, campgrounds, retail, outdoor recreation, guides, tour operators, transportation, amusements, and cultural and historical attractions. The association is a private, nonprofit that operates seven State Visitor Information Centers — Kittery, Fryeburg, Yarmouth, Hampden North and South, Houlton and Calais.

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The association has been producing and distributing the state’s official travel planner, Maine Invites You, since its inception in 1933. The association also produces the official state highway map, and has produced many other publications over the decades to inspire travelers in Maine.

Retail Association of Maine, Maine Tourism Association send 40,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine

AUGUSTA — In late March, the Retail Association of Maine and the Maine Tourism Association launched From Maine to Ukraine, a statewide relief program that collected food, clothing and household goods from Maine’s retailers, tourism and hospitality businesses and everyday Mainers. On May 22, the associations shipped nearly 40,000 pounds of food, clothing and household goods to New Jersey where the items will be delivered to Lviv, Ukraine, for final distribution to the people of Ukraine. The goods will fill nearly three shipping containers.

From Maine to Ukraine is organized by the associations that collaborated with the Association of Retailers of Ukraine to deliver food, clothing and relief to the people of Ukraine.

“When we launched this project, we had no idea how much we would collect. I know Mainers are generous people, but I was simply blown away by how thoughtful and helpful they were. In addition to the locations that we set up, some people set up their own collection locations, and the donations poured in,” stated Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine.

The donated goods were consolidated at the MTA warehouse and shipped to a Ukrainian shipping company in New Jersey. From there, the containers will be shipped to Lviv, Ukraine.

“There are so many people who helped make this project successful. Our staff collected goods at the Maine Visitor Information Centers, and we had so many staff and volunteers help consolidate, and sort the items for shipping. This ended up being a huge project, but the support we received made it work,” said Tony Cameron, CEO of Maine Tourism Association.

“One of the things that really stuck with me were a number of handwritten notes from Mainers that were included with some of the donations. Some were even written in both English and Ukrainian. We didn’t open any of them, but packed them carefully in the shipment,” added Curtis Picard of RAM. For additional details, visit retailmaine.org/ukraine-relief.

For more business news, visit CentralMaine.com.

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