Rev. Danielle K. Bartz is the staff chaplain at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Thayer Campus in Waterville, ME. In this capacity she ministers to patients and staff in a multitude of ways to enhance their spiritual health and well-being. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, Danielle has provided pastoral care services in diverse settings. Danielle's calling to hospital chaplaincy is the result of her commitment to bring the light of God to those most in need.
Judith Citarella, MA is an artist who works in watercolor, creating fluid designs in combination with philosophical and spiritual quotations. She has studied Creation Spirituality with Matthew Fox and has worked as a director of campus ministry in California and as the director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Burlington, VT. Judith also worked as a legislative intern for the Vermont Resiliency Network, helping to facilitate resiliency studies among children.
Josie Conte, DO is a resident physician with the Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency. She has been studying movement arts through dance, yoga and theater since she was old enough to ask for her first dance classes. In 1999, Josie was welcomed into The Maine Arts Commission Touring roster and continues to perform and teach throughout New England. She was a twice-honored choreographer for Dance Portland and has enjoyed collaborating with fine local artists and performers. As a teacher of movement, she uses breath and varied movement qualities to disrupt old thought patterns, disperse chronic pain patterns and nurture self-awareness.
Frederic C. Craigie, PhD is a faculty member at the Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency and the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. He has written and spoken extensively about spirituality and health care and has coordinated the Nevola Symposium since its beginning in 1987.
Judi Ekholm, RN recently retired after 41 years as a registered nurse. She served 16 years in a pediatric office practice and 25 years as a critical care nurse, preceptor and BCLS and ACLS Instructor. She also has experience in EMS as a paramedic with a local emergency service and as an assistant EMS instructor. For the past seven years, Judi has taught yoga and a Tibetan form of Qigong. She is a certified Reiki level II practitioner. You will also see Judi with her Martin guitar and joyful spirit as part of the music group.
Chaplain David Gant is the Director of Spiritual Care Services at MaineGeneral Medical Center. David is ordained in the Metropolitan Community Church and earned his master's in divinity degree at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. He has served churches in California, New Mexico and in Florida and has provided extensive spiritual care as a chaplain in Maine.
Joel Guarna, PhD is a psychologist in private practice at White Pine Behavioral Health in Portland, ME. Formerly a psychologist in the VA Boston Healthcare System, he specializes in addictions, trauma, health psychology and in specific approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based psychotherapies. He offers groups, classes and workshops through the White Pine Institute, also in Portland. He has been a student of Buddhism, particularly Zen, for more than 20 years.
Elizabeth Balsam Hart, MD is a family physician with certification in geriatrics, hospice and palliative medicine. She serves as associate medical director for MaineGeneral's HealthReach Hospice. Striving to foster gentleness and human connectedness in medicine, she enjoys reflective conversations about literature that illuminate our understanding of health care. She leads the Maine Hospice Council's statewide project Cultivating Meaningful Conversations to Guide End-of-Life Care, which seeks to improve communication about goals of care for people facing serious illness and to help those with life-limiting illnesses to live fully and comfortably.
Persis Hope, RNC, BSN, MSN is a family nurse practitioner on the faculty of the Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency. She is a 2011 graduate of the fellowship in integrative medicine at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, where her natural passion for laughter was reinforced with an introduction to Laughter Yoga (LY). She has since become certified as a LY leader.
Catherine Kimball, DO has been a practicing osteopathic family practice physician for 24 years. She is proud to be referred to as an "old-fashioned osteopath" and has always been dedicated to integrating the principles and practice of osteopathy — both hands-on treatment and an overall holistic approach to patients and families — into her practice. She is presently completing a master's degree in Theology from Bangor Theological Seminary and has completed a summer session of Clinical Pastoral Education at Maine Medical Center, reinforcing her long interest in the intersection of pastoral and medical care.
David Rychener, PhD received his doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue University and also holds a master's degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is a consultant/educator with Duke Integrative Medicine's Health Coaching Program. For 25 years, David was involved in designing and implementing the US Navy's course for reducing health risk behaviors. From 1995-2000, David was associate director for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. David runs a retreat center at his ranch in Arizona. He also writes and performs Western music; his first CD was released last year.
Betsy Sweet, MSP is a healing practitioner and life guide at "SweetSpirit" in Hallowell, ME. She received her master's degree in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica in California. She sees individual clients, teaches classes in "Tools for Joyful Living" for adults and teens and works with agencies and companies on managing human resources "from the inside out." Betsy is certified in Reiki, chakra balancing and energy reading. She is also writing a book, a deck of inspirational cards, and does stand-up comedy and a one-woman show, "How Sweet It Is…"