Dr. Bach, 64, is retiring from Mayo's Medical Staff and will be relocating to the Rhode Island area to be closer to family. He has been employed with Mayo Surgical Associates in Dover-Foxcroft since 1995, and has been in active practice as a general surgeon since 1970. Pamela Nourse, M.D. and Peter Buerger, M.D. will be available to serve Dr. Bach's patients at Mayo Surgical Associates following his retirement.

People who plan to attend the reception for Dr. Bach are asked to contact Cynthia Scott in Mayo's administrative office, at 564-4251, by July 26 so that the hospital can make appropriate arrangements.

A native of Newton, Mass., Dr. Bach graduated from Princeton University and went on to earn his medical degree in 1965 from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his internship and surgical residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and from 1970-72 he served at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Annapolis, Md.

After leaving the military, Dr. Bach established his own medical practice in North Conway and Berlin, N.H. While continuing his general surgery practice, he pursued his speciality in thoracic medicine and completed a Thoracic Fellowship in 1977 at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Bach moved to Maine in 1985 and was affiliated in the Bangor area with both Eastern Maine Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital until 1992. He later lived on North Haven island and was on the staff at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockland, before coming to Mayo Regional seven years ago.

Due to his desire to help the less fortunate, Dr. Bach in 1975 established the Partners in Health organization in Nicaragua, where he continues to provide medical services twice annually.