Our anesthesiologists have a passion for caring for patients in a variety of care settings. Spectrum Healthcare Partners employs skilled anesthesiologists in settings of all sizes, including outpatient surgical centers, community-based hospitals, and Level I Trauma Centers.
“As a patient, it is very important to trust the provider who is essentially responsible for your life,” says Olga Diomede, MD, MS, an obstetric anesthesiologist with Spectrum Healthcare Partners who works primarily at Maine Medical Center in Portland. “As physicians, we recognize that our patient health and wellbeing depends on our knowledge, skills, and how quickly we can react to rapidly changing medical conditions.”
The Range of Patient Needs
There are many reasons someone may need surgery, which may determine where patients go for care.
“In a community hospital, we tend to see healthier patients,” says Adam O’Brien, DO, a general anesthesiologist and managing director of the Coastal Anesthesiology division. “A lot of the time if we are getting a trauma, it’s a kid that fell off the jungle gym bars, a sports injury, or an elderly patient who may have suffered a hip fracture.”
With experience in small and large hospitals, Dr. O’Brien appreciates the challenge of anesthesia care for patients who need urgent care. “When I hear LifeFlight flying overhead, I know there’s a pretty good chance they are not coming in my direction,” he says. “With traumas there are unique challenges. You need a larger, specialized team to deliver care quickly to patients flown in from all over the state.”
These patients often land at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland, a major tertiary care center in the state. “In general, these patients are fairly medically complex and require greater attention,” says Dr. Diomede. “You must be ready for the worst-case scenario and put your best foot forward.”
The Calling to Anesthesiology
Dr. O’Brien was born at what was then the Osteopathic Hospital of Maine on Brighton Avenue in Portland, where his father completed his radiology residency.
“I grew up with medicine in the family, and had that exposure at a young age,” Dr. O’Brien says. “I also had my first experience with anesthesia as a young teenager for orthopedic surgery, and I have been fascinated with the field since.”
After various jobs as a boat captain, water taxi operator, and a self-declared ski bum, Dr. O’Brien attended the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. After volunteering at Maine Medical Center as an “unpaid orderly,” he later completed their residency program and joined the group after graduation. Bouncing between Maine Medical Center and community hospitals throughout his career, he loves the OR environment.
Dr. Diomede shares this passion. “I have always had a deep appreciation for this environment and type of work,” she says. “I volunteered in the Maine Medical Center OR for two years before medical school. In addition to helping the orderlies stock patient gowns, masks, and linens in the rooms, I assisted with transporting the patients and keeping them company while waiting for their surgeries on the weekends.”
After completing her education at Tomsk State University, University of Southern Maine, and Tufts University School of Medicine, Dr. Diomede did her residency at Maine Medical Center in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. She also completed an obstetric anesthesiology fellowship at Duke University School of Medicine.
“I was always drawn to the perioperative care environment. In medical school, I was interested in cardiology but essentially went back to anesthesiology when I was doing my clinical rotations,” Dr.
Diomede says. “It gives me a unique opportunity to take care of patients in a variety of clinical settings.”
For Dr. Diomede, the choice to continue practicing at Maine Medical Center was an easy one. “Throughout my residency, everyone was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable,” she explains. “It was nice to return to the environment where people would value, support, and elevate you.”
The Love for This Specialty
“In a community hospital, I get to spend more time with patients,” explains Dr. O’Brien. “I can go in-depth about our approach, learn a little about them, where they are from, and what they look forward to doing after surgery.”
Dr. O’Brien also loves the sense of community at a smaller hospital. “You get a better sense of a particular surgeon’s needs or what the PACU nurse likes for information when I drop off the patient. Together, we know what we’re looking for, whether it’s setting up a nerve block or approaching a specific patient.”
Dr. Diomede recalls that her passion for anesthesiology began during her hospital volunteering days. “I loved the interactions that I would be privy to just by sitting in the pre-operative holding area and waiting with patients,” says Dr. Diomede. “I felt like these were very brief but such important interactions. You often have only a few minutes to meet the patients, establish a rapport, and then their life depends on your knowledge and skill.”
Today, as an anesthesiologist, she loves what she does. “I have a strong passion for obstetric anesthesiology and taking care of women during the birthing experience and beyond,” says Dr. Diomede. “Day to day is so different, which is beautiful about anesthesiology. There is never a dull moment.”
“It’s also exciting to continue your education to stay current with newest medical advances,” adds Dr. Diomede. “I think the life of learning is what draws many of us in.”
A Shared Commitment to Exceptional Anesthesia Care
Spectrum anesthesiologists provide anesthetic care to more than 75,000 patients each year. With this unparalleled depth and breadth of experience, top hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout Maine rely on our highly trained anesthesiologists to assist with surgical procedures or specialized pain management.
Spectrum’s anesthesiology divisions employ a variety of subspecialists. To learn more about our current anesthesiologist opportunities, visit the Coastal Anesthesiology and Southern Anesthesiology pages on our website.
For these openings in the culturally rich areas of greater Portland and the southern Midcoast region, you’ll be in close proximity to a range of outdoor recreation opportunities. The same is true for Spectrum’s sites of service in southern Maine and further inland. “My family and I love it here — there are so many recreational opportunities available. One of our favorite activities is family time at a ski resort,” notes Dr. O’Brien.
At all of our locations, Spectrum anesthesiologists are the only anesthesiologists providing services. When doctors schedule their patients’ surgeries at one of these facilities, they know their patients will receive the excellent, thoughtful care they deserve. As trusted partners, we work together to provide expert patient care in all communities we serve. Both inside the hospital and outside in Maine’s neighborhoods, Spectrum’s network is extensive, supportive, and unique.
