Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Invests $350,000 in the Future of Local Healthcare

Pictured from left to right: Jack Frost, VP, Director of Community Giving Bar Harbor Bank & Trust; Lisa Parsons, Senior Vice President, Regional Market Manager, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust; Curtis Simard, President, Chief Executive Officer, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust; Chrissi Maguire, President, Chief Executive Officer, MDI Hospital; Michelle Smith, Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, MDI Hospital; Oka Hutchins, Director of Advancement, MDI Hospital; Robyn Clark, Advancement Officer, MDI Hospital.

Leadership Gift to MDI Hospital’s Building Our Future Campaign Supports Charity Care for Those in Need

BAR HARBOR, MAINE—Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has made a remarkable $350,000 commitment to Mount Desert Island Hospital’s Building Our Future campaign, directing their support to one of the campaign’s most critical priorities: charity care.

“This generous gift reflects Bar Harbor Bank & Trust’s enduring commitment to the people of Mount Desert Island and their deep belief that everyone deserves access to care,” said Chrissi Maguire, MDI Hospital President and CEO. “They are a true community partner, helping meet our region’s greatest needs and build a stronger, healthier future for our friends and neighbors.”

Each year, MDI Hospital provides approximately $200,000 in free and uncompensated care to local individuals and families. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust’s leadership investment will help offset these growing costs, ensuring that the hospital can continue meeting the healthcare needs of our region while remaining financially strong.

“At Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, we believe good things happen when we work together. We’re proud to support Mount Desert Island Hospital’s Campus Improvement Project by helping offset the costs incurred through the hospital’s patient first commitment.” said Curtis Simard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bar Harbor Bank and Trust. “Just as we build relationships to help our customers reach their goals, MDI Hospital puts patients first with a clear vision for the future. We are honored to be a part of this transformational project, one that will strengthen access to quality care and improve the well-being of our community for generations to come.”

Building Our Future is MDI Hospital’s bold $55 million campaign to expand and modernize its campus—from a new Emergency Department and upgraded surgical suites to critical infrastructure and campus-wide improvements designed with climate resilience and long-term sustainability in mind. The comprehensive campaign also supports vital programs including medical education, workforce stability, and equitable access to care.

“We are profoundly grateful to Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for their incredible kindness and generosity,” said Dr. Charlie Hendricks, Chief of Surgery at MDI Hospital. “Their extraordinary support will help ensure that every member of our community can access the care they need, close to home, when it matters most.”

Members of the public are invited to learn more about the Building Our Future campaign and the hospital’s campus improvements at MDI Hospital’s Community Celebration & Campaign Launch on Wednesday, August 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Bar Harbor Club.

“It’s such a beautiful race,” she said. “The scenery is breathtaking, and the crowd energy is amazing. My mom has come up both years to cheer me on, which also makes it really special.” Whether she’s racing along the island’s winding roads or venturing into Acadia’s trails, Caitlin has found that being outdoors recharges her and deepens her appreciation for the intersection between health, resilience, and nature, a passion that has inspired her next step.

After residency completion this year, Caitlin is pursuing a fellowship in Wilderness Medicine, a field that perfectly blends her love for the outdoors with her dedication to emergency care. “Working at MDI Hospital has been an example of the merger between helping people in challenging environments and working closely in nature that I hope to experience during fellowship,” she said.

Reflecting on her time at MDI Hospital, Caitlin expressed deep gratitude for the people and experiences that have shaped her journey. “I plan to use the skills I have learned across my rotations at MDI Hospital going forward into my medical career so that I can provide great patient-centered care,” she said. “I will also remember the wonderful people I have met and cared for here who have helped shape my medical training to date.”

Whether running along the rugged coastline or responding to patients in the ED, Caitlin has found that MDI offers the perfect mix of challenge, inspiration, and community. It’s no surprise that for her, coming back to Mount Desert Island felt less like returning to a rotation, and more like coming home.

MDI Hospital

MDI Hospital
10 Wayman Lane
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207.288.5081

At Mount Desert Island Hospital, we provide comprehensive care for you and your family through our hospital in Bar Harbor and a network of health centers across Mount Desert Island.