ROCKPORT — MaineHealth Waldo Hospital provider Ainsley Price, PA-C, was recognized as Maine’s Physician Assistant of the Year for 2023 during the Maine Association of Physician Assistants (MEAPA) annual conference on Oct. 1, 2024.

The PA of the Year Award is presented each year by MEAPA to a Maine PA in recognition of their dedicated service to the community in which they work, and for inspiring other PAs to serve their communities. Price was nominated for her work setting up MaineHealth Waldo Hospital’s Healthy Lifestyle Program, which treats patients with obesity by supporting them in improving their overall health.

“Too often we as clinicians tell patients that they need to ‘lose weight’ for their health yet provide little guidance or support for them in how to successfully accomplish that,” said Price, in a MaineHealth news release. “By looking at a patient’s individual environment, habits, emotions, nutrition, physical activity and medical history, we can effectively treat obesity and help patients get where they want to be.”

Price worked together with MaineHealth Waldo Hospital Senior Medical Director Heather Ward, MD, to set up the Healthy Lifestyle Program, which is based out of the hospital’s Family Medicine practice.

Patients are referred to the program for one-on-one appointments with designated providers, who use a combination of lifestyle interventions and, in many cases, medication to help patients achieve their goals. Group visits are offered intermittently for patients who are interested in that setting.

Price said the hospital started offering the Healthy Lifestyle program just before COVID started, but the program has really picked up momentum in the last three years. In 2024 alone, Price has taken on 75 new Healthy Lifestyle patients, seeing around 25 per week.

“I really love this work and feel lucky to be able to do it in this community,” said Price. “I’m honored to receive this award, and I hope it sheds more light on the program so we can help more patients.”

The Healthy Lifestyle program is open to adults aged 18 and older and requires a referral. For more information, talk to your primary care provider or call MaineHealth Family Medicine Belfast at 505-4970.

About MaineHealth

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care.

MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Care at Home in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Heal System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.