MDI HOSPITAL HEALTH CENTERS
MDI General Surgery
Exceptional Surgical Care, Close to Home.
MDI Hospital General Surgery provides state-of-the-art surgical care in a welcoming and comfortable environment. MDI Hospital’s Chief of Surgery Charlie Hendricks, MD, specializes in advanced laparoscopic and general surgery. He was awarded the Maine Hospital Association’s Caregiver of the Year Award in 2014 for his commitment to service and top-quality patient-centered care.
Our Registered Nurses and Surgical Technologists work hard to ensure each patient is comfortable and cared for before, during and after surgery. A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist will ensure your comfort and safety throughout any procedure requiring anesthesia services.
Our ambulatory care unit provides a comfortable, safe environment in which to prepare for and recover from your surgery. We provide complete post-operative instructions and follow-up calls from our staff to answer questions and to ensure that your recovery is as swift and complete as possible.
In addition to general surgery, MDI Hospital also provides orthopedic, ophthalmologic, urologic, and obstetric/gynecologic surgical services.
Please don’t be afraid to get the medical care you need due to COVID-19. MDI Hospital and Health Centers have safety precautions in place to protect you, our staff and our community. MDI Hospital is now open for all surgical cases.
Visit https://www.mdihospital.org/health-centers for a list of our health center contact information. If your need is emergent, our 24-Hour ER can be reached at 207 288-8439.
MDI Hospital General Surgery
17 Hancock Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207 801-5300
Related Services
Orthopedics
MDI Orthopedics is full-service orthopedic and sports medicine clinic. LEARN MORE
Ophthalmologic Surgery
Timber Gorman, MD, offers ophthalmologic surgery at MDI Hospital. LEARN MORE
Urogynecology
One of only a handful of board-certified urogynecologists in Maine, Dr. Jorge Peacher is an expert in both surgical and non-surgical treatments for pelvic floor disorders. LEARN MORE
Urology
Dr. S. Ramanadha Rao, MD provides consultation as well as in-office procedures to treat enlarge prostate and female incontinence. LEARN MORE
MDI Hospital General Surgery
MDI Hospital General Surgery
17 Hancock Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207 801-5300
Our Providers
Charlie Hendricks, MD
Chief of Surgery, Physician
“Surgery is really about honoring people’s lives—especially as they age.”
Dr. Charlie Hendricks is the Chief of Surgery at Mount Desert Island Hospital. In 2014, he was awarded the Caregiver of the Year Award by the Maine Hospital Association for his lifetime commitment to service and excellence in care. He is an advocate for women and young people, a dedicated father, an active member of his church and a faithful humanitarian. His lifetime commitment to service is most evident in his work with the Hancock County Medical Mission, a group he helped establish in 1989. Every year since he has returned to South America to provide surgical services to disadvantaged and underserved populations. His 25-year commitment to this humanitarian work has inspired countless area medical professionals, students and community members, including all of his six children, to do the same. For Hendricks, the work is its own reward. “The people are very grateful; they have no other access to health care.”
Dr. Hendricks chose to practice in Maine because the quieter pace of life here allows him to spend more time getting to know his patients. “It’s an honor for me to listen to my patients and learn about their lives. ”He greatly admires the relationships that his colleagues in primary care have with their patients. His surgical practice is based in the Cooper Gilmore Health Center, so named for physicians Llewellyn Cooper and Edward Gilmore, who Hendricks explains, have always cared for their patients as much as their patients cared for them. “The biggest compliment I have received is patients asking me to be their primary doctor.”
“Surgery is really about honoring people’s lives—especially as they age.”
Dr. Charlie Hendricks is the Chief of Surgery at Mount Desert Island Hospital. In 2014, he was awarded the Caregiver of the Year Award by the Maine Hospital Association for his lifetime commitment to service and excellence in care. He is an advocate for women and young people, a dedicated father, an active member of his church and a faithful humanitarian. His lifetime commitment to service is most evident in his work with the Hancock County Medical Mission, a group he helped establish in 1989. Every year since he has returned to South America to provide surgical services to disadvantaged and underserved populations. His 25-year commitment to this humanitarian work has inspired countless area medical professionals, students and community members, including all of his six children, to do the same. For Hendricks, the work is its own reward. “The people are very grateful; they have no other access to health care.”
Dr. Hendricks chose to practice in Maine because the quieter pace of life here allows him to spend more time getting to know his patients. “It’s an honor for me to listen to my patients and learn about their lives. ”He greatly admires the relationships that his colleagues in primary care have with their patients. His surgical practice is based in the Cooper Gilmore Health Center, so named for physicians Llewellyn Cooper and Edward Gilmore, who Hendricks explains, have always cared for their patients as much as their patients cared for them. “The biggest compliment I have received is patients asking me to be their primary doctor.”
Charlie Hendricks, MD
Chief of Surgery, Physician
Joseph Dougherty, MD
Doctor of Medicine
Care Philosophy: “Every patient deserves unique, individualized care that works for them and meets them in the places where they are ready and able to heal and grow. There is no cookie-cutter solution that works for everyone in all circumstances, and ultimately the patient is the captain of their own ship. My role is to serve as a guide and counselor to help each patient navigate their healthcare journey, providing them with the best current medical information and available options so they can decide what route is best for them; and once a plan is selected, to help them execute that vision effectively and efficiently. Some surgical needs are cut and dried, but many others are more nuanced, and I am here to help each patient arrive at the destination that is best for them on an individual basis.”
Joseph Dougherty, MD, specializes in general surgery, acute care, and trauma surgery. Having graduated from the UC Berkeley (BA) and the University of Michigan (MD), Dr. Dougherty is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. His medical interests include minimally invasive surgical solutions to challenging physical conditions; Surgical Acute Care with the goal of helping people navigate unexpected emergency conditions and return to their normal life; helping people achieve optimal healthy lifestyles through a holistic fusion of exercise, nutrition, and modern medical care.
“The human body is an incredible living machine that can give you a lifetime of joyful smooth service if well cared for and maintained,” says Dr. Dougherty. “Like any machine, it must be properly tuned, well fueled, and used often in order to stay in optimal operational condition. Sometimes the long miles take a toll and we all need some basic maintenance from time to time. Preventive care will help keep you running smoothly and avoid the major overhauls that could leave you rusting in the yard on blocks! Invest in your health: stay active, exercise often, don’t smoke, get proper rest and nutrition, and fix the little things before they become major issues – from gut health to weight loss to hernia repair to preventive screenings, we’re here to help keep you healthy. If you need help with any of those things, come and see me… let’s talk about your health goals and how to help you achieve them.”
Dr. Joseph Dougherty has received a number of awards, honors, achievements, memberships, committee seats, licenses and certifications. In just the last several years, Dr. Dougherty has achieved the following awards and honors:
1. The 2020 US DOD Humanitarian Service Medal for action in support of COVID19 response
2. The AVH Values Oak Leaf Recognition Program (5 times from 2018-2020) for exemplary patient care
3. The US Navy review board for promotion to O-5, Commander in 2019
4. The Navy commendation in 2018 for meritorious service during Operation Inherent Resolve deployment with Naval Expeditionary Medical Unit, selected by CJTF for cross assignment to forward deployed USAF Ground Surgical Team at Syrian border
5. Army Commendation Medal for service in support of 3rd Cav at Al Qaim, Iraq, in 2018
Outside of work, Dr. Joseph Dougherty enjoys spending time with his children and family. He also enjoys wildlife photography, exercise and nutrition, BJJ and other combat sports, powerlifting, botany, birding, scuba diving, travel, and creative writing and poetry. Dr. Dougherty says that MDI presents, “the perfect mix of rural community large enough to be exciting, viable and vibrant but small enough to be a healthy place to raise a family.”
Care Philosophy: “Every patient deserves unique, individualized care that works for them and meets them in the places where they are ready and able to heal and grow. There is no cookie-cutter solution that works for everyone in all circumstances, and ultimately the patient is the captain of their own ship. My role is to serve as a guide and counselor to help each patient navigate their healthcare journey, providing them with the best current medical information and available options so they can decide what route is best for them; and once a plan is selected, to help them execute that vision effectively and efficiently. Some surgical needs are cut and dried, but many others are more nuanced, and I am here to help each patient arrive at the destination that is best for them on an individual basis.”
Joseph Dougherty, MD, specializes in general surgery, acute care, and trauma surgery. Having graduated from the UC Berkeley (BA) and the University of Michigan (MD), Dr. Dougherty is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. His medical interests include minimally invasive surgical solutions to challenging physical conditions; Surgical Acute Care with the goal of helping people navigate unexpected emergency conditions and return to their normal life; helping people achieve optimal healthy lifestyles through a holistic fusion of exercise, nutrition, and modern medical care.
“The human body is an incredible living machine that can give you a lifetime of joyful smooth service if well cared for and maintained,” says Dr. Dougherty. “Like any machine, it must be properly tuned, well fueled, and used often in order to stay in optimal operational condition. Sometimes the long miles take a toll and we all need some basic maintenance from time to time. Preventive care will help keep you running smoothly and avoid the major overhauls that could leave you rusting in the yard on blocks! Invest in your health: stay active, exercise often, don’t smoke, get proper rest and nutrition, and fix the little things before they become major issues – from gut health to weight loss to hernia repair to preventive screenings, we’re here to help keep you healthy. If you need help with any of those things, come and see me… let’s talk about your health goals and how to help you achieve them.”
Dr. Joseph Dougherty has received a number of awards, honors, achievements, memberships, committee seats, licenses and certifications. In just the last several years, Dr. Dougherty has achieved the following awards and honors:
1. The 2020 US DOD Humanitarian Service Medal for action in support of COVID19 response
2. The AVH Values Oak Leaf Recognition Program (5 times from 2018-2020) for exemplary patient care
3. The US Navy review board for promotion to O-5, Commander in 2019
4. The Navy commendation in 2018 for meritorious service during Operation Inherent Resolve deployment with Naval Expeditionary Medical Unit, selected by CJTF for cross assignment to forward deployed USAF Ground Surgical Team at Syrian border
5. Army Commendation Medal for service in support of 3rd Cav at Al Qaim, Iraq, in 2018
Outside of work, Dr. Joseph Dougherty enjoys spending time with his children and family. He also enjoys wildlife photography, exercise and nutrition, BJJ and other combat sports, powerlifting, botany, birding, scuba diving, travel, and creative writing and poetry. Dr. Dougherty says that MDI presents, “the perfect mix of rural community large enough to be exciting, viable and vibrant but small enough to be a healthy place to raise a family.”