Contributed photo
The Veterans Administration Community-Based Outpatient Clinic on the Cary Medical Center campus in Caribou was the first of its kind in the nation to open in a rural community hospital 25 years ago. On Nov. 29, a 25th anniversary luncheon was held in the hospital’s Chan Center to celebrate the clinic milestone with almost 100 veterans, community leaders, legislative representatives, hospital and VA officials attending. The VA was presented with a gift from Cary Medical Center in recognition of the collaboration and partnership between the two organizations and the VA’s continued dedication and service to Aroostook County veterans and their families. Among those in attendance were, from left: Bill Flagg, director of community relations and development, Cary Medical Center; Dr. Michael Mayo-Smith, VA New England Network Director; Dr. Robert Shaw, physician at the VA Clinic in Caribou; Kris Doody, RN, Cary Medical Center’s CEO; Ryan Lilly, director of the Maine VA Healthcare System; Dr. Rodolphe Camy, VA Clinic physician; Mildred (Millie) Forbes, family nurse practitioner, formally at the VA Clinic in Caribou; Reginald Guerrette, original member of the Veterans Clinic formation group; and Gary Michaud, RN, CPHQ, head nurse, VA Clinic in Caribou.
