Lewiston – Dr. Robert E. Abrahamsen of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center was recently board certified in undersea and hyperbaric medicine. Abrahamsen is the medical director for St. Mary’s Regional Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center.

The certification, granted by the American Board of Emergency Medicine, is attained after considerable studies and testing in the field of hyperbaric medicine. Abrahamsen is the only local physician to earn the national designation.

The American Board of Emergency Medicine is an independent organization developed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining standards of excellence in all areas of emergency medicine.

“Research and development in hyperbaric medicine have yielded major breakthroughs in the past few years. In addition to early use in the treatment of divers with the bends, the scope of the practice has expanded to include carbon monoxide poisoning, necrotizing infections, radiation injuries, osteomyelitis, and other problem wounds like the diabetic foot ulcer,” Abrahamsen said.

Abrahamsen received his undergraduate education from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., and his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He holds certifications in Family Practice Medicine and Emergency Medicine.