University of New England

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Shake the Mango Trees: Maxwell Opoku-Agyemang, MSI

Too poor to buy toys, Max was too rich to be unhappy. After all, he had many cousins and aunts in Mampong, Ghana, and he knew the path to the wilds where boys could shake the mango trees. 

He spent his grade school holidays visiting his cousins in the village: “We walked about in the village,” he says, “barefoot and without any toys except milk tins. We spent many hours forming those tins into cars, and when we were done we would tie a string to the car and pull it around.” He beams proudly and says in a colonial British accent, “They were some fine-lookin’ cars!”

On holidays, the boys walked miles to the boundary regions beyond the fields to climb in mango trees. “Some of the trees were very tall,” Max recalls, “and a good climber would go to the top and shake the tree until the mangos fell. The others stood beneath and gathered the mangos from the ground, taking them home to the village to share with the poor and those who could not climb.”

A fortunate encounter and one probing question sowed seeds that brought Max to America four years ago to become a doctor. To this day, Max Opoku still shakes the mango trees.

A Country Begotten

Years before Columbus, Portuguese sailors exploited the human mines of Western Africa, building prisons by every port. The Portuguese are gone now, but stucco castles still dot the coast where slavers chained their groaning gold. Dutchmen came, then English mercantile companies. In their rush to empire, the ever-practical British converted slave prisons to coastal forts - the frowning mouths of cannon can still be seen.

In 1957, Ghana became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to win its independence. It was a country begotten and forgotten, left to its own ill-equipped devices by the retiring British government. Significant tribal divisions, a series of coups, and the resultant military rule helped to delay substantial economic development for several decades. A newly approved constitution in 1992 paved the way for free and fair elections, and greater stability has helped Ghana manage inflation and increase exports of raw materials.     

Today, Ghana sprawls like a great green hippo along Western Africa’s Guinea Coast. Its Oregon-sized tropical stomach bulges around the incision of the river Volta and huge Lake Volta - the ruptured appendix of a waterway that forms a navigable channel to the country’s steaming interior. Little packets ply the river, bringing workers to the north and gold, timber, and industrial diamonds south. Sixty-percent of the workforce labors in agriculture, but poverty settles like Saharan dust on the majority of the people.

The Solution of Education

Max’s family, too, felt the quiet suffocation of a struggling country. His mother worked very hard, but in the depressed economy of the 1980s she could not support her children, so Max’s aunties helped to raise him. In Ghana, the typical nuclear family can barely make ends meet, so the extended family closes ranks to raise the children or provide meals. “I had an aunt who was so close that I called her ‘mother,’ Max recalls fondly, “and I still think of her so.”

He lived in the Ashanti tribal region of southern Ghana, surrounded by lush fields and tropical rainforest. Twi and English were his primary languages, but he understood several of the other 48 dialects common to the multi-ethnic region. “By visiting different aunties, I moved from place to place and became familiar with people from many tribes,” Max says. The contact broadened him and prepared him for leadership opportunities in the future, where his people skills won for him respect and trust. 

When Max visited his grandfather, the former teacher gave him adages and sayings to interest him in learning. Max’s mother, too, preached the benefits of education. “I think that since my mother had to drop out of high school when I was born, she wanted each of her children to have what she didn’t have - education!” says Max. “I think that for her it was a solution, and I always found this very motivating when I was in school.”

A Stone’s Throw of Weeding

Fifty-four students comprised Max’s primary school class. The teacher exercised total control over his young charges, and if any aspiring ne’er-do-well cherished thoughts of pulling pigtails or picking mental cotton, he had another thing coming. “The teacher had the unquestioned right to punish you,” says Max, “and if you did anything wrong, you would be caned for it.” Every morning, the students had a test in arithmetic; they were caned for each incorrect answer. Max grimaces at the memory, but knows that the fear helped him to take his work seriously. He did not want to be caned.

For other offenses, a child would be made to stand in the field by the schoolhouse. “The teacher gave you a stone,” Max recalls, “and as far as you could throw it, that is how far you had to weed the field.” Presumably, the instructor knew the throwing capability of each student and held them accountable to that standard. The punishment was bad, Max admits, but the education was quite good. Textbooks were British and American, and if a student spoke any language besides English, they were punished.

It was at this time that Max’s education nearly ended. “I was nine years old,” Max says, “and I had unbearable stomach pain. It was so bad that I could not go to school for many days.” With her son’s education in jeopardy, his concerned mother took Max to a doctor who diagnosed a congenital hernia. While Max underwent preparations for his surgery, the doctor probed Max’s mind by asking the youngster what he wanted to be when he grew up. Max stared blankly at the man. “I had never thought about the future,” Max recalls, “and I told him that I did not know.” The doctor repaired the hernia and sent Max home. “Much later, I remembered his question, ‘What do you want to be?’” says Max, “and I realized that my whole life was pinned on this man – he had not only given me the gift of a healthy life, but by doing so, he had also given me the chance of an uninterrupted education. I realized that I also wanted to make such a difference in people’s lives. I wanted to be a doctor.”

Stagnant Pools of Knowledge

The operation enabled Max to attend school every day. In high school, he developed a reputation as a keen student of general science. When a teacher spoke of surface tension, Max immediately made the application to his daily life. “I said, ‘Aha! I know what this teacher is talking about!’” Max recalls, “I went outside to see the pools of stagnant water, and I watched the mosquitoes walking back and forth on the water, and it made sense to me.” It would not be the first time that Max’s active mind bridged the gap between theory and practice; he was never content to let knowledge stagnate.

At the Catholic boarding school he attended, Max was elected senior prefect during his final year, which meant that he was in charge when the teachers weren’t around. The position was loaded with challenges. “I was elected because of my show of the discipline that my family had inculcated in me; plus I got along well with everyone,” Max says, “however, it was tough with my mates, because they thought that they could do anything they wanted. I learned a lot as a leader.”

He also learned a lot as a student, but his stellar grades in general science slated Max for agricultural school, not pre-medicine. In Ghana, a person is tracked according to their measured aptitude, not necessarily their desire. As far as his native country was concerned, Maxwell Opoku-Agyemang was going to be a farmer, not a doctor. He left the central jungles with their mango trees and went to Cape Coast University, near the sea.

Between Two Castles and the Sea

In a twist of irony, Cape Coast University overlooks the same ocean as the medical school Max would later attend in the United States. According to its website, the University’s “main entrance is only about 50 meters from the Atlantic Ocean, whose waves thunder intermittently against the shores, sending their showers and music across the verdant green campus - adding poesy to the academic and social life of the University.”

History, too, was sometimes overlooked. In a burst of enthusiasm, the University website notes that “Its strategic location lies also in the fact that it is spotted midway between the famous Cape Coast Castle, the first Seat of the British Colonial Government until 1879, and the Elmina Castle, the first port of call of the first European merchants to the Gold Coast in 1487.” Unhappily, those first European merchants were Portuguese slavers. Max attended university at the same location where Ghanaians were shipped to the Americas some five hundred years before. His place of education was a profound juxtaposition of historical wrongs and current rights.

Max made the most of his time at Cape Coast: the UN gave him an award for an essay he wrote in diplomatic studies; he joined the Air Force cadets; he served his dorm as a writer, and he moved on to become the president of the Cape Coast National Union of Students in his final year. While he found his academic work interesting, Max most remembers the hours after class when the 400 men in his dorm gathered around the central arena to talk, drum, and dance. “Before this time, I was very shy and quiet,” Max says, “but ever since, I have loved to drum and dance as a way to relieve stress.” He sits back and smiles and says, “Ah, yes, I remember those days.”

“Some Thought That I Was Lazy”

By the time he was a senior at Cape Coast, Max knew two things for certain: he wanted to become a doctor, and he could never do so in Ghana. He went to the Ministry of Education and used his leadership connections to secure a letter of recommendation from the Minister, which in turn procured him a visa to the United States. Max said good-bye to his family before he left for the airport. “My mother was not sure about this,” Max recalls, “but she trusted that I was making a good decision. The day I left, we had a family meeting and said a prayer.” Max boarded the flight to America with barely any money – an uncle in New York had even purchased the ticket.

Culture shock was predictably tremendous. Max was a long way from Mampong, Ghana, and Manhattan had very few mango trees to shake. “I got out of a bus,” Max recalls, “and I remember dropping my bag and looking all… the… way… up… to… the… top… of the tallest building. The man next to me had also come from Ghana a few years before, and he laughed and said, ‘Brother, I did the same thing!’” 

Max lived for a time with his uncle, and then visited his cousin who worked in Rhode Island while attending college. “I realized that I could do this, too,” says Max, “and so I worked in an automotive engineering plant while I took pre-med classes at Providence College.”

A full class schedule and his 40-hour work week took its toll, and Max sometimes nodded off on the night shift. Co-workers had no idea that Max was a full-time student: “Some thought that I was lazy,” he recalls. That changed when Max applied for a machine set-up mechanic position. “There were five other applicants, but I received the highest score,” he says, “I worked three 12-hour shifts on weekends after that.” During this time of working in the automotive industry, he volunteered in the ER at Miriam Hospital and patented a transparent sun-visor for vehicles, once again applying science to everyday life.    

“You Might Consider Osteopathic Medicine”

Physicals always seemed to change Max’s life. “The first doctor I saw when I had my immigration physical was a UNECOM alum, Dr. Joseph Grande,” Max chuckles. “He asked why I was in America, and I said that I really wanted to go to medical school. He said, ‘You might consider osteopathic medicine.’” When Max had completed his pre-medical requirements at Providence, he went back to Dr. Grande to talk about the application process to medical school. “He recommended UNECOM, since that is where he went, and I thought it wise to apply,” says Max.

He is glad that he did. “I had a good interview,” he says, “and when I look around at the environment and see the open space and the grass and the trees, it gives me a sense of hope and serenity.” While there are no mango trees in Biddeford, the Atlantic Ocean swells the Saco River only a few feet from campus. It is strange to think that Ghana lies somewhere on the other shore.

Max was elected secretary/treasurer of the class of 2010 by his peers, and he likes his classmates and the friendliness of everyone he meets. He believes in working hard and having fun, and the rigor of academics has whetted his love of learning. When asked if medical school is sometimes overwhelming, Max replies with undisguised passion, “Every day I like it more. Every day is a new challenge. Every day of medical school is like falling in love with the prettiest girl in high school; but she is playing hard-to-get, and that makes you love her even more.” There is little doubt he has found his calling.

The Fruit of His Labor

Though he is now in the States, Max does not forget his life in Ghana. “I want to wear my white coat with humility,” Max says about his future, “that is what I pray for all the time.” He plans to practice in Providence when he graduates, hopefully serving those who can’t afford healthcare, whether through primary care, surgery, or even medical education. When he is a doctor, Max intends to return to Ghana each year to give free medical services to the villages. His strong character has not changed since the days as a boy when he shook the mango trees to give fruit to the poor.

“I returned once to Ghana for one month before medical school,” Max says, “and I never saw my mother so happy.” His mother knows that she helped Max to achieve the education she could never afford, and the whole family – aunties, uncles, cousins and siblings – is very proud of their sojourning son. When the days and nights are long and studies burden, Max still exerts himself on behalf of those who will need his help. The cost of becoming a doctor is great in many ways, but he does not regret the path he has taken.

For just ahead lie the mango trees.

-Steve Smith, RSAS

UNE/COM News and Events

Wood Harbor Light, on a bad day. Photo by Steve Smith, RSAS
 
UNE College of Pharmacy to be established in innovative private/public partnership with University of Maine and other healthcare partners

To address the critical shortage of pharmacists in Maine and to expand its biomedical research capacity, the University of New England in an innovative private/public partnership with the University of Maine has crystallized and accelerated its plans to build a College of Pharmacy.

Clinical training and research partnerships have also been established with Maine Medical Center in Portland, Mercy Health Care Systems in Portland, Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford and Maine General Health and Medical Center in Augusta and Waterville.

The new College’s significant emphasis on research is expected to provide a major economic stimulus to southern Maine while enhancing people’s health throughout the state, the region and the nation.

UNE and UMaine are planning to work collaboratively on academic programming. All of the cooperating institutions will participate in shared faculty appointments and collaborate on clinical and research opportunities in pharmacology. The participating hospitals will provide opportunities for student internships and residencies.

The City of Portland is working aggressively to assist with the development of infrastructure to support the College. The state of Maine, through direct appropriations and bonds, has strongly supported increased research capacity throughout the state, and Gov. John Baldacci has made research one of the cornerstones of Maine’s economic development initiatives.

UNE officials plan to locate the new College of Pharmacy on the University’s Westbrook College Campus.

The College’s founding dean will be John Cormier, Pharm.D., former dean of the College of Pharmacy at the Medical University of South Carolina. Cormier served as a principal consultant to UNE during the University’s most recent exploration phase of this initiative.

The announcement was made Nov. 16, 2006 at a press conference held on UNE’s Westbrook College Campus that included the presidents from four principal institutions (UNE President Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D., UMaine President Robert Kennedy, Ph.D., MMC President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent S. Conti and Ed McGeachey, president and CEO of Southern Maine Medical Center), Governor John Baldacci, Portland Mayor James Cohen and representatives from the other supporting hospitals.

The College will offer students a choice of doctoral degree options that will prepare them to be pharmacists and/or pharmaceutical scientists. Approximately 100 pre-pharmacy students will enter the program in fall, 2007. The pre-pharmacy phase is the first two years of the six-year degree program. The four-year professional program will enter its first class as early as fall, 2008 and no later than fall, 2009, depending on facilities completion and external funding support. 

“The College’s research orientation – its strong discovery piece – will make us very different from most other pharmacy schools in the country and any other pharmacy school in northern New England,” noted UNE President Danielle Ripich. “Our goal is to be one of the top ranked pharmacy schools in the nation.”

She continued, “The University of New England is operating from three distinctive strengths. First, research strength in pharmacology in our College of Osteopathic Medicine, Maine’s only medical school and a regional leader in biomedical research. Second, excellent clinical practice is a key strength of both our medical school and our College of Health Professions. And third, our focus on research initiatives that will investigate the relationship between the ocean and human health, which includes the discovery and development of valuable medicines from the sea. This new college will build on these core strengths of the University of New England and take us even further in our goal to become a pre-eminent university.”

“Add to these diverse assets first-rate undergraduate and graduate science faculty at both universities, some of the world’s top medical researchers at UNE, UMaine and Maine Medical Center, superior clinical sites at some of the state’s finest hospitals, and you have the formula for an innovative, outstanding school of pharmacy, one that will well serve the people of Maine in a variety of important ways,” President Ripich said.

(Press release issued Nov. 16, 2006)

New UNE Parking Lots to Open Saturday December 2nd at 8:00 A.M.  

The new Resident Lots, located between the LAC lot #18 and the Facilites Mgt. Building,will be ready Sat. morning. Please note certain areas will no longer be available for Resident Parking after Saturday

UNE's New Parking Lots to Open Saturday December 2nd at 8:00A.M.

At last the 2 new parking lots will open for use beginning at 8:00 AM Saturday morning.The new lots, designated as lot 28 and 30 are for Resident Students. Commuters may use these lots if there is no other space available in a regular Commuter lot.

The following lots will no longer be available for Resident Students after Saturday. Resident Students Parking in these lots are asked to move their cars into the new lots to avoid being ticketed and towed.
Lot 14, The Lower Marcil Lot
Lot 8, The lot across from he main entrance to Marcil Hall.
Residents may continue to park in Marcil lots along the single row of spaces facing the banking overlooking Lot #16, The Gregory Lot.

Important Notice about Parking Lot Enforcement:
Please note that ALL of the universities parking polices will be enforced Saturday. No parking will be permitted anywhere on the grass or on any surface not specifically lined as a parking space. Resident Students parking in Lot #15, The Housing Park, should take special note of this policy to avoid being towed.

Winter Parking Ban
The Winter Parking Ban will go into effect Saturday Dec. 2nd.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while our lots were under construction.
UNE Safety and Security.

Art Gallery presents 'Americans Who Tell the Truth' by Robert Shetterly

The University of New England Art Gallery presents 'Americans Who Tell the Truth: Portraits by Robert Shetterly,' on display starting Nov. 29, 2006 to Feb. 4, 2007 on the Westbrook College Campus, 716 Stevens Ave., in Portland.

An Exhibition Reception will be held on Tuesday, December 19 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

An Artist's Talk on Martin Luther King, Jr. will be held on Wednesday, January 24 at noon.

The exhibition, as well as all events, are free and open to the public.

Americans Who Tell the Truth
 
Americans Who Tell the Truth is an exhibition created by Maine artist Robert Shetterly of 50 oil portraits of people such as Martin Luther King Jr., Noam Chomsky, Margaret Chase Smith, Mark Twain, Chief Joseph and Samantha Smith with accompanying biographical material.

Shetterly has written of his subjects that they "allowed me to draw strength from this community of truth tellers, finding in them the courage, honesty, tolerance, generosity, wisdom and compassion that have made our country strong." These historical and present-day Americans have dared to speak out about important subjects such as democracy, war and peace, the environment, the rights of women, racial injustice, media and our country’s role in the world. This exhibition offers us an opportunity, using an artistic lens, to study history, to debate timely issues, and to remind us of the importance of patriots in our midst.

Robert Shetterly

Robert Shetterly was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Harvard College in 1969 with a degree in English Literature. It was at Harvard that he learned to draw, changing the direction of his creative life. During this time he also became active in the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements.

In 1970, Shetterly moved to Maine where he taught himself drawing, printmaking and painting, and illustrated widely. For 12 years, he did the editorial page drawings for the Maine Times newspaper, illustrated National Audubon's children's newspaper, Audubon Adventures, and approximately 30 books.

His paintings and prints are in collections all over the U.S. and Europe. He is well know for his series of 70 painted etchings based on William Blake's Proverbs of Hell, and for another series of 50 painted etchings reflecting on the metaphor of the Annunciation. His painting tends toward the narrative and the surreal, and he has not been, until this time, a portrait painter.

For more information on the exhibition or on the upcoming series of educational programs, please visit www.une.edu/artgallery/ or call (207) 221-4499.

To view all of Robert Shetterly's portraits, please visit www.americanswhotellthetruth.org 

(News release issued Nov. 20, 2007)

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND CLASS & WORK CANCELLATION/DELAY POLICY

A decision to delay the opening time or to cancel school at the University due to inclement weather (snow or ice storms) will be made by 6:30 a.m. for day classes based on conditions at the University (each campus) and the immediate surrounding area after consulting with the weather service. The University's decision to cancel school or activities later in the day, evening, or weekends due to inclement weather will be made at least two hours prior to the class or event.

It is understood that a decision to either delay school opening or to close down the school early impacts classes as illustrated in the following examples and protocols:
1.) One-hour delay - 8:00 a.m. classes are canceled. Attend 9:00 a.m. class if applicable.
2.) Two-hour delay - 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. classes are canceled. Attend 10:00 a.m. classes or remaining portion of a scheduled class not ended by 10:00 a.m.
3.) School closing at 3:00 p.m. - Students will be excused at 3:00 p.m. and all remaining classes will be canceled.
4.) Use these examples as a guide to delays or cancellations that may take place any time other than those designated above.
5.) Academic Deans will coordinate the rescheduling of finals, if applicable, that may be impacted by cancellations or delays.
6.) Student interns who have clinical responsibilities outside of the University or in University clinics should follow protocol established by the clinical site.

Announcements will be made for each campus as follows:
1.) INTERNET/TELEVISION - WCSH-TV Channel 6 - www.wcsh6.com WMTW-TV Channel 8 - www.wmtw.com, and WGME-TV Channel 13 - www.wgme-tv.com .
2.) TELEPHONE BULLETIN BOARD - Call 602-2211 or 797-7688, x2211. Please do not call the switchboard or answering service because you cannot access the appropriate message since they are set up to handle emergency calls only.
3.) myUNE – http://my.une.edu

During work cancellations/delays, only ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL are required to report to work at their normal starting times or at times arranged by their supervisor including Facilities Management Staff, University Health Care Personnel, Food Service Personnel, Security and Safety Personnel.

The University switchboard or answering service will be in operation at all times.

Faculty and Staff:  Consistent with the University's mission, faculty and staff are expected to be available to meet student needs when the University is open. In extreme circumstances where faculty elect, for their own reasons, not to attend work on storm days when the University is open, should follow college protocol for notifying students by placing an appropriate announcement on their voice mail at UNE, and/or for those that have Internet access on a home computer, sending a message to their class group on myUNE. Faculty are reminded that some students leave their homes very early to attend classes, so messages should be timely. Similarly, staff should notify their immediate supervisor. Employees working on any shift other than the day shift will be notified of a delayed starting time or cancellation of their shift by the Department or Division Director. Employees who elect, for whatever reason, not to attend work when the University opens late, or leave early when the University does not close, will have time charged against the appropriate leave category.

Generally University Health Care will only be closed on rare occasions when public safety alerts are issued. The VP for Health Services will consult with the President, make the decision and communicate to UHC staff. UHC staff will make Media or personal announcements to patients.

UNE Library Holiday Hours

The library will be closing at 5pm on Friday, December 22. It will reopen for Wednesday and Thursday, December 27-28, from 8am-5pm, then close again until January 2. The library will open on January 2 for regular hours.

Current Students

UNECOM first year students pose for a group portrait at the Biddeford Free Clinic 5K on November 11. Photo courtesy Kim Salaycik, MSI.

A Trot to Remember

On a day when cities and towns across America paused to remember the sacrifices of their veterans, a group of younger Americans trotted up to make sacrifices of their own.

Over a dozen medical students from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) in Biddeford, Maine, organized a 5K Turkey Trot on November 11 to benefit the Biddeford Free Clinic. On a chilly but sun-soaked morning, more than 85 runners completed the race to raise $1700 for the BFC. Medical student clubs and local businesses covered all race expenses.

The Biddeford Free Clinic is a non-profit 501 (C) 3 tax exempt organization established in 1993 to provide medical care for the uninsured in York County in Southern Maine.

Sigma Sigma Phi, the UNECOM club responsible for organizing the event, spent several months acquiring permits, advertising the race, and planning race particulars. Since the race route meandered through active streets and thoroughfares, student organizers had to work closely with the Biddeford Police and Public Works departments to ensure the safety of all participants.

The top three female finishers were Lindsay Davis, Christine Snow-Reaser, and Suzanne Hussey. The top three male finishers were Chris Kirste, Marc Halverson, and David Tomany. The first UNECOM finisher was first-year student Ethan Abbott.

Race director Suzie McGrorty, a second-year student from Twenty-Nine Palms, California, was thrilled with the large turnout and smooth execution of the race. “I couldn’t believe that we had so many people from the community register for the race,” McGrorty said, “we had no idea that we would be able to raise so much money for the Clinic.”    

The Turkey Trot is not the first time medical students have offered their time and talents to the Clinic. Dozens of students have volunteered several evenings a month to help conduct patient histories and check vital signs under the watchful eyes of physician volunteers. Other students volunteer in the Clinic’s pharmacy, gaining a practical knowledge of pharmaceuticals as they help to fill prescriptions. Still other students started a SugarBusters program to help diabetic patients manage their illness, and several more students designed a Smoking Cessation Program to assist addicted smokers.

Still, the Turkey Trot was a highlight in the long-standing relationship between the BFC and UNECOM, and it helped pour a bit of gravy on an already good cause. Students would like to see the race become an annual event, though planning for it gobbles away at club finances and time otherwise spent in study. The sacrifice is worth it, say students, as helping others less fortunate is why many chose to become physicians in the first place.

It is a sacrifice worth remembering. 

-Steve Smith, RSAS

Notes: Contributing sponsors to the event include the UNECOM chapter of the American Medical Students’ Association (AMSA), the UNECOM chapter of the American Medical Association (AMA), Dube-Lewis Builders, Wonderbar, Nest & Co., Panera, Sportshoe Center in Saco, and Starbucks. Thanks for your generous support!

Students and community members rush out from the starting line at the 5K. Photo courtesy Pat Hohl, MSI.

Annual Chili Bowl Adds Spice to November

The 2006 Annual Chili Bowl was held on November 18 at Redmond Field in Rotary Park. It was a beautiful day for football, and after a couple of weeks of what felt like never-ending rain, the weather broke and it felt like a warm September afternoon. When I sat down to write this, I realized that I had no clue of the final score, and after asking around it became evident that neither did anyone else. Win or lose, everyone enjoyed the game, and of course Dr. Cross’s world famous chili was as incendiary as ever. Thankfully, Hank’s cornbread was close by to put out the flames.

The 2006 Chili Bowl was a special one, as it was the last one for Dr. Cross. We took the opportunity to honor the man who has played such a vital role in our education and development as future physicians. He was presented with gifts from the class of 2010 and the Sports Medicine Club, thanking him for his years of selfless service and dedication to the students. 

We ran into a couple of snags in planning this year, and I would like to recognize the efforts of a couple of people who made it all possible. Andrea Berry, MSII, after doing all the dirty work for the t-shirts, planning, and picking up the last minute supplies, was still on the field by 9:00 AM with D&D in hand, painting lines on the field. This year’s Chili Bowl also wouldn’t have happened without assistance from the RSAS office. Thank you to everyone who made it out for the afternoon, better luck next year Class of 2010!

-Josh Morrison, MSII, Sports Medicine Club President

The following is a montage of pictures from the Chili Bowl. All pictures are courtesy Josh Mularella, MSII.

For more Chili Bowl Pictures, see the "Clubs and Organizations" Section on Page 2.

Students Win Honors at State and Regional Level

Terri Williams, MSII, and Joanna Rulf, MSII, both participated in the Bingham Scholars/Search Program during the summer of 2006. Sponsored by the Maine Primary Care Association, the Family Medicine Residencies in Maine, and the Maine Rural Health Centers, the 4-6 week program involves clinical experience and research.

At the end of the program, students presented their projects, and Terri and Joanna were declared co-winners, earning all-expenses paid trips to the Northeast Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (NESTFM) in Danvers, Massachusetts, in late October.

Judges reviewed 53 posters presented at the Society, and Terri Williams won 2nd place for her research. Deborah Taylor, Ph.D., Poster Contest Coordinator for NESTFM, says, “This is an outstanding accomplishment given that many of the posters were presented by accomplished Family Medicine residency faculty (in other words, the competition was stiff!)”

In a letter written in early November, Dr. Taylor notes, “We wanted you to be aware of the wonderful accomplishment by Terri at a regional level and Joanna and Terri at a state level… We are very impressed with the caliber of your students.”

2006 Flag Football Results - University of New England Intramurals

The men’s final placed the #1 seed of the South Division Bone Breakers, captained by Sam Tri a first year medical student versus the #1 seed of the North Division Brownie McBrownerson, captained by Farhan Israr a second year medical student. The Bone Breakers pulled through in the end to defeat Brownie McBrownerson 13- 6. The game went down to the wire and was decided on the final play.

The women’s final matched up the undefeated Blitzin Beavers captained by undergrad Ashley McDonald versus the Masseters captained by second year medical student Ellen Bursch. The undergrads took an early lead and never looked back. The Masserters tried to mount a comeback but it was to late. The final score was Blitzin Beavers 32 and the Masseters 6.

-Kasey Keenan
Coordinator of Recreational Sports
Men's Golf Coach

COM Students Attend Scholarship Reception

Several COM students attended the University-wide Annual Scholarship Reception in the third floor lobby of Alfond on November 14. They were:

Brian McElhinney, MSII
Joshua Mularella, MSII
Eva Nunlist, MSIII
Sara Richmond, MSIII
Daniel Sheps, MSII
Noelle Sherrets-Ratigan, MSIII
Jayne Tarkleson, MSII
Lisa Wuerdeman, MSII
Shehzaad Zaman, MSII

Second-year student Daniel Sheps represented the entire University student body when he thanked the scholarship donors for their generosity and compared attending college to competing in a NASCAR race. "It takes an entire team to win the race, not just a driver," Sheps noted. He likened each square on the checkered flag to a different member of a student's "team," recognizing that every member shares a part of the victory.

Many COM students receive some sort of financial aid from scholarship donors, and donors represent an integral part of the University team.

First Year Student Runs New York City Marathon

Dante Leven, a first year student at UNECOM, ran the New York City Marathon on November 5, 2006. The 31-year old Leven, a native of Vermont, completed the 26.2 mile event in a respectable 3:30:59, averaging 8:03 per mile. His half-marathon time was a brisk 1:41:42. Nice job, Dante!

First "International Food Club" feast! 

A group of MSI's got together this past Thursday for Greek Night at Nick Nikolopoulos's house to enjoy lamb enfused with fresh garlic and herbs, homemade cheese spanakopitas, 100% sheep's milk feta cheese, dolmas (herbs and rice wrapped in grape leaves), baklava,  kalamata olives and pure olive oil all the way from Greece, just to name a few!  We had an evening with delicious food and wine, laughter and friendship, and were ready to hit the books the next morning!  (Photos taken by and courtesy of Ahmad Yassin.)

Our next meeting will be in January and will be themed Cuban Night, and hosted by our own Maria Aguilo-Seara!  Future events include Ireland/Great Britain evening, Indian Cuisine, and more.

- Shaun Opperman, MSI

For page two of the COMmunicator, click here.

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Please send comments, suggestions, submissions, or warm chocolate chip cookies to Steve Smith at ssmith12@une.edu