ROCKPORT — Specialists from the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center (BBCH) will soon begin seeing patients in the recently opened Health Center at Pen Bay Medical Center (PBMC).

Jerry Olshan, MD, a specialist in pediatric endocrinology, will see a full schedule of patients at the Health Center on Friday, March 26. Dr. Olshan’s visit was the result of a partnership between MaineHealth, BBCH and PBMC that brings pediatric specialists to Rockport, reducing the need for children with special health needs to travel to Portland.

“This is a significant step forward in our larger effort to provide the care our patients need close to home,” said Mark Fourre, MD, president of PBMC and Waldo County General Hospital, in a news release. “It shows how being a part of the larger MaineHealth system allows us to make our communities the healthiest they can be.”

Instrumental in developing the partnership with BBCH were Adeline Winkes, MD, chair of Pen Bay Pediatrics, Lyn Faller, director of physician practices at PBMC, and Hilary Chaloux, the practice site manager of Pen Bay Pediatrics.

“We know how difficult it is for parents to drive their children two hours to Portland,” Dr. Winkes said. “So instead of asking them to go to the specialist, we’re bringing the specialist to them.”

BBCH will send specialists in three areas of pediatric medicine: genetics, endocrinology and gastroenterology. These were selected based on a review of records that showed them to meet the highest needs in Knox and Waldo counties.

“I am thrilled to extend the reach of the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital to the beautiful new Health Center at PBMC,” said Mary C. Ottolini, the George W. Hallett, MD, chair of pediatrics at the BBCH. “Although telemedicine has really helped our specialists reach more patients without the need for travel to Portland, in person visits are also very important. The PBMC location will make this more convenient.”

Appointments with BBCH specialists, in both Portland and at PBMC, are available by referral. For more information, talk with your pediatrician or primary care provider or go to the BBCH website at ww.bbch.org. Please note that all MaineHealth facilities have adopted new procedures and policies to ensure that patients have a safe place to come for their health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Five BBCH pediatric specialists from Maine Medical Partners Pediatric Specialty Care are scheduled to be at PBMC this year. They include:

 Melanie Leu, MD, clinical genetics. Dr. Leu has been with MaineHealth since 2018. Her clinical interests include cardiomyopathy, congenital lung anomalies, neurogenetics, sexual differentiation, skeletal dysplasias.

 Jerrold Olshan, MD, pediatric endocrinology. Dr. Olshan’s clinical interests include general endocrinology and diabetes.

 George Russell, MD, pediatric gastroenterologist. Dr. Russell has been with MaineHealth since 2016. His clinical interests include celiac disease, functional gastrointestinal disorders, gastrointestinal infectious disease, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disorders and pancreatic disease.

 Rosemarie Smith, MD, clinical genetics. Dr. Smith has been with MaineHealth since 2001.

 Wendy Smith, MD, clinical genetics and metabolism. Dr. Smith has been with MaineHealth since 2001. Her clinical interests include inborn errors of metabolism and lysosomal storage disease treatment.

Last year, the BBCH recognized Pen Bay Pediatrics for delivering exceptional pediatric primary care to the coastal communities. To qualify for The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital Excellence in Pediatric Care honors, Pen Bay Pediatrics had to meet specific clinical and program goals that support the highest standard of care for pediatric patients. These goals included scheduling patients for all recommended well child visits, screening for adverse childhood experiences and providing babies and toddlers with their full series of vaccines before their second birthday.

“We know that children who get off to a healthy start are more likely to live healthy lives as adults,” said Dr. Winkes. “In that sense, this honor highlights our commitment not just to today’s children but also to the health of our community for generations to come.”

Pen Bay Medical Center

Pen Bay Medical Center is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system consisting of nine local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,600 employed and independent physicians working together through an Accountable Care Organization. With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, please visit pbmc.org.