PORTLAND, Maine — Lewiston native and actor Patrick Dempsey stopped by the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital on Wednesday ahead of the Drive Fore Kids celebrity golf tournament this weekend.
The children's hospital is located within Maine Medical Center in Portland's West End.
Dempsey, who is perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd on the ABC series "Grey's Anatomy," extended well-wishes to patients, their families, and care team members.
According to MaineHealth, he visited several patient rooms at the children's hospital and stopped by nurses' stations both in the children's hospital and on a neurology unit to thank care team members for their work.
"Dempsey spent several minutes with each patient’s family, taking pictures and learning about the world-class inpatient care provided by MHBBCH," the release stated. "The children’s hospital, located within MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland, includes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and provides services in pediatric emergency care, cancer treatment, cardiology and numerous other pediatric specialties."
Dempsey is in town to participate in this weekend's celebrity golf tournament, which will take place Sunday at the Falmouth Country Club.
The golf tournament will benefit the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, which is a part of MaineHealth, as well as the Dempsey Center. The Dempsey Center was founded by Dempsey, offering cancer support services to cancer patients and their families at no cost.
"We are incredibly grateful to Patrick Dempsey for taking the time to get to know our families and care team here at the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital," Dr. Mary Ottolini, the chair of pediatrics at MaineHealth, said. "While Patrick may have only played a doctor on TV, his visit has certainly been healing for those in the hospital today."
"During a visit to the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, I was reminded of the immense strength of these young patients and the incredible dedication of the doctors, nurses, staff and families," Dempsey said in the release. "Their unwavering commitment to healing truly inspires."
You can learn more about the Drive Fore Kids celebrity golf tournament here.
