Student Life

Health and Wellness

About the Gould Health Center

List of 1 items.

  • Health Services

    The Gould Health Center is committed to a comprehensive health approach that is sensitive to the needs of our students as adolescent individuals and to the school community as a whole. We encourage students to begin to take responsibility for their physical and mental well being and, at the same time, realize their part in regard to the overall well being of the community. While we feel responsible for intervention in treating the illnesses and health needs of our students, we also stress prevention as a means for maintaining optimum wellness.

Contact Information

Phone: 207-824-7733
Fax: 207-824-3085
Nurse phone (available 24/7 while school is in session): 207-592-1341
Email: healthcenter@gouldacademy.org

Our Health and Wellness Staff

List of 8 members.

  • Photo of Joanna Brown

    Joanna Brown 

    Director of Health Services
  • Photo of Tighe Blackadar

    Tighe Blackadar 

    Student Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator
  • Photo of Bonnie Jo Blevins

    Bonnie Jo Blevins 

    Athletic Trainer
  • Photo of Patricia Donovan

    Pat Donovan 

    School Nurse (per diem)
  • Photo of Tobie Feigenbaum

    Tobie Feigenbaum 

    School Counselor
  • Photo of Kayce Gilbert

    Kayce Gilbert 

    Health Center Administrative Assistant
  • Photo of Anne McCandless

    Anne McCandless 

    School Nurse
  • Photo of Daniela Pinto

    Daniela Pinto 

    School Nurse

The Gould Health Center

The Gould Academy Health Center is staffed by four registered nurses and an administrative assistant. A full-time certified athletic trainer also works closely with the health center and student-athletes. The health center is conveniently located in the middle of campus between Hanscom Hall and the McLaughlin Science Center. The health center has eight beds for students who need nursing care, a private room for counseling, and office space for the staff.

List of 2 items.

  • Hours

    A nurse is on campus from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Outside of Health Center Office Hours, there’s a nurse available, on call as needed, when school is in session. On weekends a nurse attends brunch and dinner and is at the Health Center by appointment.
  • Services Provided

    The Gould Academy Health Center provides a range of services to students including nursing care, prescription medication administration, counseling and mental health services, and more.

Additional Resources

List of 9 items.

  • Athletic Training Services

    The certified athletic trainer works closely with athletes, coaches, and the Health Center to provide the best care for the students. Athletes may be seen for new or existing injuries, rehabilitation, and concussion management during or after the school day. The athletic trainer will be present at all home games and practices. Gould has relationships with orthopedics and physical therapists in the area and can arrange additional care as needed.
  • Blood Drive

    Gould Academy hosts an American Red Cross blood drive in the fall. Students who are 17 and older (16 with signed parent consent) are eligible to donate. There are volunteer opportunities for students who are not eligible to donate but would like to participate.
  • Concussion Protocol

    Gould follows standards outlined by Maine Concussion Management Initiative to provide evidenced-based care related to concussions. All students take a baseline IMPACT test within their first few weeks at Gould. The concussion program is supervised by a contracted physician specializing in sports medicine and guides care of the injured student.
  • Counseling/Mental Health Care

    In most instances, a student’s advisor is the usual source for the advice and guidance that an adolescent needs. A student who is having a hard time, struggling with a personal issue, worried about another student, or just needs someone to talk to has several adult support options to choose from: advisor, dorm parent, teacher or coach. Also, our Health Center is a comfortable, safe and confidential place for students to seek support and guidance.

    When concerns arise that may require greater expertise than the faculty can offer, students may opt to schedule time with one of the Health Center’s counselors for additional support. Open Times are free, private, and confidential. Students may be referred to ongoing professional counseling, psychiatric/mental health services, and psychological/educational testing.
    Gould works with a variety of local counselors, psychologists and a psychiatrist for mental health needs.

    These providers are independent of Gould Academy. Providers will either see students in the counseling room at the Gould Health Center, or in their own local offices.
  • Doctor’s Appointments

    Gould Academy Health Center works closely with the Bethel Family Health Center (BFHC). The BFHC is ½ mile from campus and staffed with doctors and physician assistants. The BFHC is a family medicine practice that offers sick visits, immunizations, physical exams, contraception management (including confidential appointments), and lab/x-ray services.

    For needs beyond the BFHC, we utilize specialists including sports medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, orthopedics and more. The Gould Health Center also has relationships with local dentists, orthodontists, and optometrists.

    In the event of an emergency, there are several local hospitals and urgent care centers within 30 minutes.  
  • Health Education

    Health education is ongoing at Gould through various assemblies, group discussions, speakers and films, classroom curriculum, and multiple impromptu opportunities through adult modeling and health care delivery. Designed to provide the school community with useful current information and to better equip students and faculty with strategies for healthful living, the areas addressed include nutrition, fitness, sexuality issues and human relations, tobacco, alcohol and other drug education, and stress management.
  • Influenza Vaccine

    Each fall the health center runs an on-campus influenza vaccine clinic. We strongly recommend that all students receive the flu shot.
  • Medication Administration

    If a boarding student takes prescription medications, a medication form must be completed and signed by the prescribing physician. On Student Registration Day, the nurses will review the medication schedule with each student and parents along with our policies and procedures. Any controlled, stimulant, narcotic, or psychotropic medications, as well as isotretinoin (Accutane), are required to be kept at the Health Center and administered by the nurses. The Gould Health Center stocks most over-the-counter medications for acute needs. Certain types of medications (antibiotics, asthma medications, birth control pills) may be allowed in a student’s room on a case by case basis.

    It is the students’ responsibility to report to the Gould Health Center for their scheduled medication. Gould works with the pharmacy, SchoolMed, to provide regularly scheduled medicines in pre-packaged individual doses for safety. All prescription medications must be filled via SchoolMed, unless for acute conditions such as when an antibiotic may be needed.
  • Nursing Care

    Gould Academy employs four full-time, professional school nurses, a certified athletic trainer, and an administrative assistant to meet student health care needs. Nurses focus on the prevention of illness and disability, and the early detection and correction of health problems. The school nurse is uniquely qualified in preventive health, health assessment, and referral procedures.  

    Students who are ill or injured and unable to attend classes or activities must come to the Health Center for evaluation. Sick or injured students will be cared for in the health center during the class day and during afternoon activity time, at the discretion of the nurses.
Private High School for Boys and Girls | Grades 9-12, Postgraduate and Winter Term for Grades 7-8 | Boarding School in the Mountains of Maine

Gould Academy guides students to be creative, courageous and resilient and to lead lives of fulfillment and purpose.