Mount Desert Island Hospital and Health Center’s newest physician, Tanya Hanke, DO, believes there are many influences on one’s health that often require different kinds of care. As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, she is a board certified family physician and practices traditional family medicine as well as osteopathic manipulation. She is also versed in the wellness potential of many Eastern or alternative practices and uses all the tools in her toolbox to practice Integrative Medicine.
Dr. Hanke completed her family practice residency at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, CT; one of only 12 programs in the nation to offer a fourth year for individual specialization. Her integrative medicine track took her to China to study acupuncture and also included holding clinics to explore the paths patients wish to take towards wellness. “I would talk with them about their health and concerns, then I would collaborate with a group of massage therapists, homeopaths, acupuncturists, physicians and we would discuss the potential options that patient would have,” she said.
She has also recently completed a fellowship at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Andrew Weil, MD, who is credited with creating the field of Integrative Medicine, founded the center. The concept of integrative medicine is to compliment Western medicine by incorporating alternative therapies such acupuncture, herbal remedies, meditation and other “spiritual” strategies.
“To me integrative medicine is kind of combining Eastern and Western medicine and allowing for the best treatment of the patients’ mind, body and spirit,” Dr. Hanke said.
For Dr. Hanke, Integrative Medicine is about being able to offer options to her patients they may not have considered before that may impact their overall health. “My goal is to get my patients healthy on every level so that their stress levels are low, they’re sleeping and eating well, and we can focus on prevention,” she said.
Originally from Upstate New York, Dr. Hanke first came to Maine to attend medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and was anxious to return after completing her residency. “I loved living in Maine,” she said. “It’s nice to be where it’s a little quieter, a little bit slower (than a larger city). I like the small town. I want to know the community.”
Her interests in outdoor pursuits such as kayaking, hiking, and photography also helped attract her to the area to establish her practice and become a part of the community. After nearly a decade of school and residency programs that took here all over the world, she is ready to settle down. “I must have 42 can openers because every time I moved I bought a new one because I couldn’t find the old one,” she jokes.
Dr. Hanke is currently welcoming new patients at Cadillac Family Practice in Bar Harbor and Community Health Center in Southwest. For an appointment, please call 288-5119 or 244-5630.