Portland doctor honored by peers for work in Haiti

Dr. Michael Taylor of Portland recently received a Presidential Citation Award from the American Academy of Dermatology for his work with Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership, which he co-founded in Maine in 2001 with his wife, Wendy.

The award was bestowed at the AAD’s 77th annual meeting in Washington, D.C., during the Stars of the Academy Awards Ceremony.

The plaque was given to Taylor in recognition of his long-term commitment to the health of underserved peoples through the establishment of Konbit Sante and partnership with the Justinian Hospital in Cap Haitien, Haiti. 

The largest organization of dermatologists worldwide, AAD has more than 16,000 members from more than 35 countries. More than 6,000 dermatologists attended the event.

While in Washington, the Taylors met for lunch with U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, in the Capitol dining hall. Pingree also entered an acknowledgment of Konbit Sante and its role into the Congressional Record on Feb. 28.

In addition to co-founding Konbit Sante, Taylor is a member of Gloderm, a committee composed of dermatologists who promote and engage in education and care programs in the developing world, and of the Climate Change Consortium, which focuses on the adverse effects on the skin caused by climate change.  

Portland man recognized by national franchise

Portland’s Two Men and a Truck employee Dusan Martinovic was named one of only three nationally recognized Move Heroes from over 5,000 employees.

The award was given to Martinovic at the annual meeting held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where a video of each finalist was played and a round of applause was given to all three as the impressive customer referral numbers each had posted were announced.

“I mean, I’ve never had anybody do that,” Martinovic said. “And the fact that I got the chance to stand out in front of everybody was just … it made my heart burst because I’ve never had this opportunity before.”

Recognition

Baker Newman Noyes received ClearlyRated’s Best of Accounting Award. Based entirely on satisfaction ratings provided by clients, the firm received a score of 81.1 percent, more than three times the accounting industry’s average of 24 percent in 2019.

Several local business owners will be recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration at the Small Business Awards Celebration on May 15 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport: Maine Small Business Exporter of the Year, Kathleen O’Heron, Jynx Productions of Yarmouth; Maine Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Tyler Frank, Garbage to Garden of Portland; Maine Minority Owned Small Business of the Year, Ahmed Abbas, Ameera Bread of Portland; and Maine Financial Services Champion of the Year, Maine Technology Institute, based in Brunswick. 

Granted

Portland peninsula and island parishes received a $2,500 grant to support the Catholic Community Response to Addiction and Mental Illness, a new, faith-based ministry. The money will be used to train peer recovery coaches, hold a public health fair focused on addiction and mental illness, and provide literature in churches on local resources. 

Program partnership 

Hospice of Southern Maine has partnered with Southern Maine Community College, University of Southern Maine and St. Anselm College to offer nursing students a semester-long, hands-on clinical rotation at  Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.

Hired, promotions, appointments

Avesta Housing has announced Tim Agnew of Masthead Venture Partners in Portland and James K. Elkins, owner of Career Planning Services in Scarborough, are the newest members of the nonprofit’s board.

Matt Jacobson, an experienced leader in the Maine business community, has joined Summit Natural Gas of Maine as director of sales and marketing. 

Dr. Michael Taylor, receives the American Academy of Dermatology Presidential Citation Award from AAD President Dr. Suzanne Olbricht. At right is Wendy Taylor, Dr.
Taylor’s wife and co-founder of Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership.Dusan Martinovic was named one of only three employees of the Two Men and a Truck national franchise to be named Move Heroes at the recent annual meeting.