Pediatric Associates of York Hospital Expands Team and Welcomes New Medical Providers

Pediatric Associates of York Hospital, with locations in York and Wells, is excited to announce the expansion of the provider team and introduce the following medical staff members to the community.

Laura J. Bickford, DNP, FNP-BC, earned her BSN at the University of Southern Maine in Portland and her MSN and DNP at Simmons College in Boston. She brings valuable experience as both a nurse and nurse practitioner from her work in the emergency departments of Mercy Hospital in Portland and York Hospital, as well as pediatric experience from Waterboro Village Pediatrics. While at Mercy Hospital, Laura served on the Evidence-Based Practice counsel committee and was certified for mass casualty preparedness and hazmat training. At York Hospital, she took on the role of ER clinical resource nurse and department liaison. As a provider and collaborator on the pediatric team, Laura offers holistic and integrative health care to her patients and families, providing exceptional care to the York Hospital community. In her time away from the office, she enjoys hiking, camping, running, and spending time with her granddaughter, biking, painting, baking, and skiing.

Lauren Buoncristiano, MSN, FNP-C, earned her BSN at St. Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish and her MSN-FNP-C at Simmons University in Boston. Lauren’s nursing experience includes serving as a Nurse Clinical Instructor at the University of New England and a Nurse Educator at Maine Medical Center, both in Portland. She has worked with inpatients in pediatrics, maternity, cardiology, medical-surgical, and the Level I trauma emergency department at Maine Medical Center. As a nurse practitioner, Lauren cared for patients with acute and chronic conditions, including mental health diagnoses like ADHD, anxiety, and depression at Maine Medical Partners. She spent three years at Family Medicine at MMP in Falmouth, focusing on evidence-based pediatric and family care. The oldest of seven siblings, Lauren’s passion for working with children started young and continues today. While caring for all ages, she particularly enjoys early childhood development and nutrition. The mother of a little girl, any free time finds them camping, baking, or playing at the beach.

Nicole Lessard, PA-C, earned her BS in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire in Durham and her MS in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of New England in Portland. Before her PA training, Nicole was a preschool teacher, specializing in children with autism and ADHD. During her PA training, she particularly enjoyed pediatric surgery and pediatric intensive care rotations at Maine Medical Center (MMC). After graduating, she joined the trauma surgery and response team at MMC, assisting surgeons in the operating room and liaising with patients and families pre- and post-procedure. Nicole later served as lead physician assistant of critical care at Mercy Hospital before joining York Hospital’s Emergency Department. She worked there for seven years as lead physician assistant, followed by a year treating patients in four of the hospital’s urgent care locations. Her positive experiences with pediatric patients led her to join the team at Pediatric Associates, where she is excited to dedicate her time caring for children in the York Hospital community. When not in the office, Nicole enjoys keeping up with her active four-year-old twin girls and feels fortunate to both live and work in this beautiful and welcoming community.

Michael Vinograd, MD, MS, FAAP, board-certified in pediatrics, has been with York Hospital since the summer of 2020.  Prior to joining the team, Dr. Vinograd cared for pediatric patients within the Central Maine Health Care system, where he was Perinatal Chief of Pediatrics and a member of the medical executive board at Bridgton Hospital. He also served as Medical Director of Region 3 Primary Care at Central Maine Medical Center. Dr. Vinograd earned his BS at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., his MS in physiology from New York Medical College, and completed his MD from St. George’s University, School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies. He completed his residency at New York Methodist Hospital and Presbyterian Health Care System Weill Cornell in Brooklyn, N.Y. Passionate about living healthy and setting a positive example for children, Dr. Vinograd can be found running in local road races and enjoying Brazilian jiu-jitsu when not in the office.

Ashley Webster, FNP-BC, is a veteran of Pediatric Associates of York Hospital, having joined the team in early 2022. Ashley cares for patients from birth through young adulthood in the Wells office. She began her nursing career in the Special Procedures Department at York Hospital and has held positions in the Cardiac ICU at Elliot Hospital, Manchester, N.H., and the Intravascular Cardiac ICU at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, where she often served as a charge nurse and nurse leader, focusing on quality care and patient safety. Ashely earned a BSN, RN at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine, and her MSN, FNP-BC at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Her passion is advocating for her young patients’ well-being while providing compassionate, evidence-based care that empowers family wellness. When away from the office, you’ll find her running and hiking with her three young children, who keep her and her husband on their toes with year-round activities, including a fondness for chasing crabs on the beach.

For more information about Pediatric Associates of York Hospital, or to make an appointment with a member of the provider team, call York Hospital at (207) 351-1710. ​​​​For further details about other York Hospital providers and services, visit www.yorkhospital.com or contact Community Relations at (207) 351-2385 or info@yorkhospital.com.