Harvard Emergency Medicine Resident Returns to MDI Hospital
When fourth-year Harvard Emergency Medicine Resident Physician Caitlin Craft-Hacherl began looking for elective clinical rotations, she wanted more than just a hands-on experience, she wanted connection, challenge, and a chance to practice medicine in a setting where community is at the heart of care. She found all that and more here, at Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor.
This fall marked Caitlin’s second Emergency Medicine rotation at MDI Hospital, a return she requested after an especially rewarding first experience last year. During both visits, she lived at the hospital’s Kogod Center for Medical Education, just a short walk from the Emergency Department where she spent most of her time.
“Living in the Kogod Center was great because I could just walk over and be in the emergency department within a few minutes,” Caitlin said. “It also made it easy to get out and explore, whether that meant running in Acadia or walking through downtown Bar Harbor on my days off.”
That blend of professional focus and personal rejuvenation was part of what drew her back. But so was the hospital’s unique mix of patients: year-round islanders, seasonal residents, and visitors from around the world.
“I loved the variety of people who came in for treatment,” she reflected. “It exposed me to such a wide scope of medical problems and created an amazing learning environment. Sometimes, when visitors or part-time residents didn’t have prior records available, it really challenged me to think critically and keep a broad differential, making me a better clinician.”
Caitlin said that working in a rural emergency department offered perspectives that resident physicians in larger urban hospitals might not encounter. “I would definitely recommend a rotation at MDI Hospital,” she said. “It broadens your view of medicine and offers a different perspective from what you may be used to. Even if you don’t plan to practice in a rural setting, it’s an invaluable experience.”
Outside the hospital, Caitlin has found another connection to the island through running and exploring its spectacular natural beauty. A lifelong runner who started in middle school cross country, she has now completed the MDI Half Marathon twice.
“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.
