Strong Area Health & Dental Center to host 3rd annual Pierpole Day 5K

STRONG – Strong’s annual Pierpole Day celebration will take place on Saturday, July 13, 2024. As a part of the celebration, the Strong Area Health & Dental Center – In partnership with the Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County – will host a fun 5K run/walk event. You won’t want to miss this family-friendly outdoor activity!

The event course will start and end at the Strong Area Health & Dental Center, 177 North Maine Street, in Strong. The event will begin at 9:00 AM. Those who plan to register on the day of the event should arrive at 8:30 AM. In lieu of a registration fee, please bring a donation – either a non-perishable food item for the community pantry, or diapers for the MaineHealth Diaper Drive. Adult participants will be given one entry for a chance to win raffle prizes; one additional raffle entry will be provided for every three extra donations that the participant contributes! In addition to the run/walk event, we will be distributing fun giveaway items, and a mobile health unit will be onsite to provide health education, kid’s games, and prizes!

Please visit the following RunReg page to pre-register and help our planning committee prepare –

https://www.runreg.com/12074

As a thank you for pre-registering, the first 50 registrants who sign up by June 7th will also be able to order a FREE participation t-shirt!

The Pierpole Day 5K planning committee is also seeking volunteers to help ensure this event is a success for the community. Volunteers are requested to assist from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM on July 13. Volunteers can help with setup, teardown, and other assorted tasks. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Ayla Haines at ( 207 ) 860 – 8609 or Ayla.Haines@HealthReach.org by no later than Friday, June 30.

Finally, for those that are curious – Pierpole Day is an annual event celebrating local Strong heritage and history. The day is named after the Wabanaki (Abenaki/Amaseconti) settler Pierre “Pierpole” Paul. Paul and his wife, Hannah Susup, came to the Strong area in the late 1700s to settle in what was known at the time as Middletown.

Strong Area Health and Dental Center is a part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across rural Central and Western Maine. Dedicated clinicians deliver high-quality, evidence-based healthcare – inclusive of behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric services – to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs – including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

A private non-profit with a 49-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2% financed by non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.

HealthReach welcomes new Dentist, Rebecca DiSarro

Strong – This July, staff of the Strong Area Dental Center are happy to welcome Rebecca DiSarro, DMD, to their professional dental team.

DiSarro earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree from the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. Previously, she earned her Master of Public Health degree from Sacred Heart University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Connecticut. DiSarro’s wealth of dental and medical experience includes both in-field and research experience. Her background includes community-based dentistry, health and nutrition research, and dental assistance.

DiSarro shares, “I’m looking forward to joining HealthReach in their efforts to bring high-quality dental care to areas that need it most, and I am excited to make Central Maine my new home!”

DiSarro joins the existing Strong dental team – Registered Dental Hygienists, Briana Beedy and Lauren Enright.

Strong Area Dental Center, founded in 2003, is part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across Central and Western Maine. Dedicated clinicians deliver high-quality healthcare – inclusive of behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric services – to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs – including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

A private non-profit with a 49-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2% financed by non-governmental sources.

The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.

HealthReach welcomes Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Clinician, Jenna Martini, DO

Jenna Martini, DO

Central Maine – This November, HealthReach staff in Strong, Livermore Falls, and Belgrade are happy to welcome Dr. Jenna Martini to their care teams.

Dr. Martini grew up in Peru, Maine. She earned her Doctorate degree, Doctor of Osteopathy, from Touro University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, CA. She previously earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from The University of Vermont.

Dr. Martini has a wealth of experience across the healthcare field. After completing family medicine training, she worked as a primary care physician and education faculty in a remote region of Northern California. She recently completed a second residency training program in Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine through Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency in Augusta, Maine. Dr. Martini will bring these experiences to her position at HealthReach by providing osteopathic manipulative treatment to patients at three HealthReach locations.

Dr. Martini shares, “I believe in meeting people where they are at and working as a team to help achieve their goals. I consider each person as a whole – including body, mind, and spirit. Osteopathic treatments can help the body to function optimally so a person’s underlying health can shine through. It’s amazing to see how much a person’s life can improve in all areas when they feel healthy and well.”

Dr. Martini joins the existing mission-driven, values-focused care teams at the Belgrade Regional Health Center, Strong Area Health Center, and Western Maine Family Health Center (of Livermore Falls). Our clinicians offer medical and behavioral health services for patients of all ages and from all walks of life.

Belgrade Regional Health Center, Strong Area Health Center, and Western Maine Family Health Center are all part of HealthReach Community Health Centers – a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across Central and Western Maine. Dedicated clinicians deliver high-quality healthcare – inclusive of behavioral health and dental services – to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers. In addition, an Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured residents. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with the cost of your healthcare and medications, including Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

A private non-profit with a 48-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2% financed by non-governmental sources. The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

HealthReach Receives “Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0” Recognition at Eight Sites

Western Maine – This year, HealthReach Community Health Centers is happy to announce that it has received Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program recognition across eight of its local healthcare practices.

Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 is a program focused on education around obesity and healthy living for primary care practice teams. The program provides materials to support “simple changes for better health, such as moving more, eating real food, drinking water, and getting adequate rest.”

HealthReach’s longstanding partnership with Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 has had positive impacts on both HealthReach patients and their care teams. This year, HealthReach was recognized for excellence in obesity prevention. The sites recognized include Belgrade Regional Health Center, Bethel Family Health Center, Lovejoy Health Center (of Albion), Rangeley Family Medicine, Richmond Area Health Center, Sheepscot Valley Health Center (of Coopers Mills / Whitefield), Strong Area Health Center, and Western Maine Family Health Center (of Livermore Falls).

Connie Coggins, HealthReach President & CEO, shares, “HealthReach is proud to once again be recognized for our staff’s efforts to help our patients achieve their best health. Local, affordable, quality care is only possible through effective partnership between clinician and patient – so we also must thank our community members for engaging so well in our programs. Thank you!”

HealthReach Community Health Centers is a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across Central and Western Maine. Dedicated clinicians deliver high-quality healthcare – inclusive of behavioral health and dental services – to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers. In addition, an Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured residents. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with the cost of your healthcare and medications, including Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

A private non-profit with a 48-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2% financed by non-governmental sources. The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily representthe official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

HealthReach welcomes Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Amy Peters

Franklin County – This July, HealthReach Community Health Centers staff from across Franklin County – at practices in Kingfield, Rangeley, and Strong – welcome Amy Peters, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, to the team.

Amy earned her Master’s degree in Nursing from Walden University in Maryland. Previously, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Marian University in Tennessee. Amy brings a wealth of nursing experience, and a philosophy that focuses on compassion for each patient’s lifestyle and individual needs.
Amy shares, “Everyone wants a chance to be heard… to be respected… to be well. This is the cornerstone of my professional ethos. I look forward to joining and serving your community. Meet you soon!”

Amy joins the existing mission-driven, values-focused care teams at the Strong Area Health & Dental Center, Rangeley Family Medicine, and the Mt. Abram Regional Health Center. Welcome aboard, Amy!

Strong Area Health & Dental Center, Rangeley Family Medicine, and Mt. Abram Regional Health Center are all part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across Central and Western Maine. Dedicated clinicians deliver high-quality healthcare – inclusive of behavioral health and dental services – to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers. In addition, an Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured residents. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with the cost of your healthcare and medications, including Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

A private non-profit with a 48-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2% financed by non-governmental sources. The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Strong Area Health & Dental Center to Host Pierpole Day 5K

STRONG – Strong’s 2023 Pierpole Day takes place on Saturday, July 8. The Strong Area Health & Dental Center – In partnership with the Healthy Community Coalition, and Maine Family Planning – will host a fun 5K run/walk event. You won’t want to miss this family-friendly outdoor activity!

The event course will start and end at the Strong Area Health & Dental Center – 177 North Maine Street in Strong. The event will begin at 9:00 AM. Those who plan to register on the day of the event should arrive at 8:30 AM. In lieu of a registration fee, please bring a donation – either a non-perishable food item for the community pantry, or diapers for MaineHealth’s Diaper Drive. In addition to the run/walk event, we will have participation bags for the first fifty participants, and the mobile health unit to provide health education and Hepatitis-C screenings, along with kid’s games and prizes.

Please visit the following Eventbrite page and pre-register to help the planning committee prepare – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-pierpole-day-5k-tickets-622653041007

The Pierpole Day 5K planning committee is also looking for volunteers to help ensure this event is a success for the community. Volunteers are requested to assist from 7:30 AM to 11:00 PM on July 8. Volunteers will help with setup, teardown, and other assorted tasks. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Ayla Haines at( 207 ) 860 – 8609 or Ayla.Haines@HealthReach.org by no later than Friday, June 30.

Pierpole Day is an annual event celebrating local heritage and history. The day is named after the Wabanaki (Abenaki/Amaseconti) settler Pierre “Pierpole” Paul. Paul and his wife, Hannah Susup, came to the Strong area in the late 1700s to settle in what was known at the time as Middletown.

Strong Area Health & Dental Center is a part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across Central and Western Maine. Dedicated clinicians deliver high-quality healthcare – inclusive of behavioral health and dental services – to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. We provide complete care at a reasonable cost, and we are happy to assist you in understanding your insurance coverage. For primary care and behavioral health services, we accept Medicare, MaineCare, and most major insurance providers. Our Dental Centers are considered in-network with the following insurers: MaineCare, Delta Dental, Envolve, United Health Care, GEHA Connections, and Liberty Dental. In addition, an Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured residents. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with the cost of your healthcare and medications, including Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

A private non-profit with a 48-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2% financed by non-governmental sources. The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.