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Student Profile

No Other Place on Earth: Lacey McIntosh, MSII

Four hundred autumns ago Bartholomew Gosnold caught sight of the low-lying island with its brush-cut head and tumbling bluffs, thanked God, and dropped anchor to its lee. Sailors aboard the Concord probably let down a longboat or the captain’s gig, held it fast against the blue swell, then cast off with an iron belly full of armored English soldiers and Gosnold in the bow. Perhaps he stood. More likely he sat, scanning the beaches for natives as the sailors stroked their oars.

Gosnold was young – just 30 – but courageous, and he had pioneered a direct sailing route from the Azores off North Africa to the rock-ribbed coast of New England. The week before, he had arrived at Cape Elizabeth, Maine, then skirted the coast and anchored in York Harbor. After a few days, Gosnold proceeded south, where he christened Cape Cod and encountered the island now steadily rising before him with each pull of the oars. 

A bump and a scrape and the boat shuddered to a halt, beaching itself just a few feet from land. Gosnold probably leapt out with a shout as his men piled into the surf, splashing their way to the virgin shore. Of course, it wasn’t really virgin – it was inhabited by the Wampanoag tribe – but English explorers didn’t tend to view things that way. Gosnold quickly trekked the island, glimpsed some wild twists of grape, and promptly named it “Martha’s Vineyard” after his second child.

Martha would have been pleased, no doubt, to see such a fine island bearing her name, except that Martha never saw anything of the sort – she was dead. So much for island romance. Within five years, Gosnold himself perished from dysentery and scurvy - the diseases sucking the moisture from his body and torching him with fever - after helping to pioneer a colony on the malarial stretch of lowland in Virginia called Jamestown. The Vineyard, in retrospect, would have offered a better shot. Hindsight is always 20/20. 

A Finer Sort of Life

Take a map of the Eastern Seaboard. Five miles off the hard-scrabble coast of Massachusetts, Martha’s Vineyard appears like an upside-down, legless heifer; the town of Aquinnah (formerly Gay Head) forming its muzzle, and portions of Chilmark, West Tisbury, and Edgartown rounding out its back and haunches until a little tail of land tucks around toward Nantucket Sound. In the lee, the popular towns of Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven form the udder. 

In the late 1800s, the United States Board on Geographic Names went on a quixotic crusade to remove all possessive apostrophes from U.S. place names. Their zealous fires burned throughout the land, leaping even briefly to include the re-named “Marthas Vineyard,” until another Board thought better of it and sheepishly reinserted the singed apostrophe. Today, Martha’s Vineyard is one of the few place names in the country to bear that possessive punctuation.

The island is home to 11,000 year-round residents, but in summer that number swells to a happy 150,000 or more, with gingerbread cottages and sputtering mo-peds inciting a quiet culture war between hardy Vineyarders and their softer, sometimes-neighbors from “off-island.” Lacey McIntosh knows all about The Vineyard and its peculiar quirks. She also knows that it is her home and that she really doesn’t want to practice medicine anywhere else. There’s no other place like it in all the world.

Daddy’s Girl

A picture from Lacey’s childhood shows her and older sister Katie peering curiously at baby sister Amanda, all blond. “No love is like a sister’s love,” Lacey says. “Having these two people in my life who I never need to explain anything to is incredibly comforting. They are always on my team, rallying behind me for everything that I am and everything that I want to be.” Lacey’s father, Bruce, owns an auto body shop in Edgartown. Without boys, Bruce was never without sons, teaching his daughters to bat and field a ball from their earliest days. The Vineyard had few all-girls’ leagues, so Lacey found herself competing in co-ed matches that tested her skills and validated her ability. She could often out-throw the boys.

She was a Daddy’s girl – still is – but never the violet sort to blush and back away. She learned to fish for bluefish and striped bass, spent every summer day at the beach, or out on the boat with a rod and tackle. “I had to reel the fish in,” she remembers, “and carry it myself, no matter how big it was. At the annual bass and bluefish derby, my dad bought us the registration pins each year.” The Derby – in its 62nd Year – is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Bruce McIntosh won the bluefish division this year – Lacey beams and thinks it’s better than winning the White House. 
 
While she is her father’s daughter, Lacey knows that her mother gave her many gifts, as well. “My mother gave me passion with tranquility,” Lacey reflects. “She is a wonderful, bright, and committed woman with the sweetest disposition. She raised me to be a strong, independent-thinking woman whose goals are never out of reach. She is the supporting mainstay in my journey to medicine. She has an inner peace even under the most chaotic conditions. I hope that she has passed along not only a middle name – Joy – but also some of these traits that make her an amazing person.”

Truly composed people are content – that’s their secret. To a secure person, joy may be found in the unspectacular and the overlooked. Without the need for constant stimulation, a turning leaf or a trolling lure becomes the highlight of a season. Lacey McIntosh knows something about all this. “The Vineyard is so beautiful,” she says, trying to find the right words to describe what can only be felt and experienced. “It’s home. The people are like a huge family; everyone belongs, everyone is very secure. I never felt like I was different than other students in my high school; we were all friends and yet we were fine on our own. It’s a weird composure.”

Off-Island

Lacey learned in high school that she was very good at field hockey. The team was new, the whistles frequent, and the field pretty awful, but a great coach and good players helped The Vineyarders advance to the Massachusetts Division II championship. “I played defense,” she recalls, “and had lots of power from baseball; there were corner hits where I would just wind up and wail the ball.” Another girl was specially designated to stop the missile, and time after time they converted the play to a goal. They didn’t win the championship, but the trip to Worcester’s turf field gave Lacey a taste for what it might be like to live off-island.

“I had island fever when I was in high school,” she reflects. “I loved to take trips off-island and didn’t really appreciate how secure and lovely it was. Now, I feel like there’s no other place on earth like this – that’s how I want to raise my kids. I want to serve these people.” Her parents were excited for Lacey to go to college and she flirted briefly with UMass, but the relationship never went past the kissing stage. “Almost a third of the Island kids go to UMass,” she says, “and many of them tend to live together, hang out all the time, and create their own Island community off-island. With insecurity comes growth, so I felt that in order to grow up and truly get a taste of the real world, I would need to go and start a life of my own.” Her advisor recommended Holy Cross, and as soon as she visited the campus on a hill, Lacey was smitten. “It’s beautiful,” she says.

Off-island was definitely different. She was surprised by the psychosis many young women off-island seemed to have with their appearance. “It was eye-opening to see the insecurity and self-esteem issues that so many had,” she recalls. “It was a culture shock, really. It just wasn’t like that at home; most girls I knew felt comfortable in their own sun-kissed skin. At college, girls would take forever dressing themselves and putting on makeup before going to dinner. I’d be like, ‘Come on, we’re going to dinner… at the Dining Hall; we’re not going out to eat.’ It was just totally different than what I was used to.” That first September, she went to the mall in Worcester and picked out a winter coat. “My friends were like, ‘You can come back, you know. You don’t have to buy that yet!’ But I was always used to hoarding things!”

“I Wouldn’t Take My Car Anywhere Else.”

Entering college, Lacey hadn’t put all the pieces together in what turned out to be an obvious puzzle. “I love science,” she smiles, “and I love people, but I didn’t realize yet that I would become a physician. I entered Holy Cross as a physics major, then switched to history and earned a B.A. I loved writing, and I loved dissecting other people’s writing, and I wouldn’t have changed that part of my undergrad at all.” Lacey is articulate and writes very well, and her communication skills are obvious in even casual conversation. Still, she hadn’t yet found her calling, until a recurring theme developed in conversations with other Vineyarders.

“People would always tell me, ‘Lacey, your dad is so honest, I would never take my car anywhere else,’” she says. “And I began to realize that my dad was providing a critical service to the entire community, and that they all respected my dad and trusted him with their vehicles, which, in a way, is sort of like patients entrusting themselves to a doctor. After all, most people don’t know much about engines or how to fix their own vehicle, so it is very much a relationship based on trust. I realized that I want to have the same relationship with my community and provide a service to them.”

Armed with her newfound vocational goals, Lacey got an internship at Massachusetts General in a nuclear medicine lab and continued with pre-med classes. The lab was more rewarding than she had hoped. “I was able to design my own experiments and see them through from start to finish,” she says. “We had plenty of funding, and we were doing cutting-edge research studying neuroblastoma tumors in infants. Our goal was to find a non-invasive way to detect tumors in infants, and we were successful. That really introduced me to the whole non-invasive approach to medicine.” The experience prepped her for osteopathic medicine. [As an aside, Lacey’s research for this project was just published on 10/30/07.]

Hard Ball

The only downside to Lacey’s B.A. track at Holy Cross was a perceived lack of clinical experience, which her pre-med advisors decided would cripple her chances to get into medical school. Lacey fumed. “They had plenty of time to tell me that before my senior year,” she says, “and no one did. I was pretty irritated with the whole situation.” Fortunately, she was able to continue her work at the radiology lab, and in the meantime, she looked for something to brighten her spirits. It had to be a passion. But far from the clean beaches and friendly security of The Vineyard, Lacey didn’t see how she could thrive. Then she Googled “women’s softball or baseball leagues,” and one of the first hits was the NAWBL, the North American Women’s Baseball League. With one click she had found her passion.     

The NAWBL is a professional league with four divisions, one of which is based out of Lynn, Mass. “I didn’t really know if I had a chance,” Lacey admits, “so I went with no expectations. But when I arrived at the first of three tryouts, I gauged myself against the other women.” She found that her skills and power were quickly polished, and before she knew it, she’d been invited back for the next round. And the next. Before she knew it, she was drafted to play shortstop for the North Shore Spirit. She was delighted. “I’m not gonna lie to you,” Lacey laughs, “about the only spectators were family members, but it was still professional ball and it was competitive.”

Movement on the ball was different than in softball, but there was also more time to react. Lacey started most innings and batted well. Her red and black uniform with white pants looked downright mean. “It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had!” she laughs. “Games were in the afternoon or evening, since everyone had day jobs, but it got me through that year.” The League continues to grow and improve, and the ultimate goal of the women is to gain entrance into the 2008 Olympics. Lacey, though, had other goals.

Easy to Complain If You Want To

With a year of clinical experience under her belt, Lacey applied to medical school. “I applied to both osteopathic and allopathic schools,” she says, “but the more I researched, the more I thought that osteopathy fit my mindset and values. Plus, the Island has a really holistic sort of feel to it with an appreciation for many types of healing and an expanded definition of health. There are no D.O.s on the Island, but I think that one would be well-received.” After she interviewed at UNECOM, Lacey didn’t want to go anywhere else. “I love it here!” she says. “This is where I want to be.” The beautiful campus, vast ocean, and friendly people made it a place like no other. Well, almost like no other.

“I love medical school, but it is difficult,” Lacey confesses. “It is easy to complain if you want to. You have to remember that studying so much isn’t who you are as a person. I tell myself, ‘It’s not me, but it’s something I do. I fought for this; it’s a difficult journey to get here, and there are hundreds of people who would want my spot.’” The perspective keeps her grounded and humble, and her optimism and love for people keeps her cheerful. Plus, she’s been able to direct some of her passions into the many opportunities afforded her. After a year of involvement in the Student Government Association, co-editor of the yearbook, and membership in various clubs, Lacey ran for the SGA presidency and won.

“I love the SGA!” she says warmly, with a sincerity that makes a listener smile. “I love learning more about our profession, then sharing that information with my classmates. It can be a challenge trying to get other people to care, but they should care. They need to care. We can make a difference. I love the opportunities we are given to get involved in leadership positions.” Lacey is a member of the Dean’s Search Committee, and has also traveled to the national COSGP meeting (Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents) and the AOA. She participated in the recent UNECOM Strategic Planning Retreat, and gives well-reasoned and carefully articulated student perspectives on a wide range of issues.

The Wind and the Sea

At times, the load of leadership can seem overwhelming when combined with a healthy burden of academics, but Lacey remembers the words of wisdom given by last year’s SGA President, Jake Budny. “Jake gave an honest assessment of the position and the time involved, as well as some of the frustrations that come along with it,” Lacey says. “He said, ‘If you’re in it for the wrong reasons, you’ll hate it.’ And I can see how true that is. But I love it, and I try to keep a balance. I have to learn to say ‘no’ to other things, and pick and choose what’s most important.” Lacey is president of the Student Radiology Association and plays intramurals to keep herself sane. She is also involved with the research club on campus – “Just to keep my toes in the water!” – and loves to travel home to The Vineyard on school breaks or long weekends to spend time with her dad and fish for stripers and crab.

Though nothing’s written in stone, Lacey likes immunology and radiology and figures that rotations will help sort out any future specialty. “I’d like to do research,” she says, “to help contribute to the whole of medical practice and treatment. I’d like to make medicine better overall, and be part of a bigger thing.” In five years, Lacey will be “poor but happy,” and getting closer to the day when she can return to The Island to raise a family and serve the people she grew up with. If only he’d had more forethought, Gosnold would have called it “Lacey’s Vineyard.”

There’s no other place on earth she’d rather be.

- Steve Smith, RSAS

Lacey and her Dad. Photo courtesy Lacey McIntosh, MSII.

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UNECOM News and Events

Participants in the UNECOM Strategic Planning Retreat at the Nonantum Inn. Photo by Jeani Reagan, Web-CT Specialist.

Strategic Planning Retreat Enjoys High Level of Participation

UNECOM is currently in the midst of a Strategic Planning Process to consolidate its historical core values and cast a vision for future development and strength. Led by Jacquelyn Cawley, D.O., ’89, interim Dean, and Ken Johnson, D.O., ’92, Associate Dean for Planning and Development, the process has included all members of the Deans’ Leadership Team; appointed faculty, staff, and clinicians on the Steering Committee; and an invitation to all faculty, staff, clinicians, alumni, students, and many outside stakeholders to contribute their input to help shape the future of UNECOM.

On October 24, nearly 60 members of the UNECOM community met in the Decary Function Rooms to listen to a presentation on emerging trends in healthcare by Hershey S. Bell, M.D., an expert in Medical Education from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania. Dr. Bell presented 37 trends that medical educators need to factor in as they think about incorporating technology and restructuring curriculum to most effectively prepare medical students for the new healthcare paradigm.

The following day, 80 members of the UNECOM community met at the Nonantum Inn in Kennebunkport to work on updating the College’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values. Breakout sessions alternated with presentations by consultant Rich Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., and Drs. Cawley and Johnson. Small groups brainstormed core strengths of the College, picked apart and edited several mission statements, and contemplated the unwritten rules that currently govern UNECOM culture. The afternoon session saw a surprising amount of zest as groups took a stab at identifying impediments to change and how to correct them.

Deans Cawley and Johnson will follow up with the various sub-committees to summarize the results of the Retreat and kick out a document to elicit further feedback from the UNECOM community. Dr. Fitzpatrick counseled patience and perseverance as Strategic Planning Processes usually take several years to really evidence a positive change in culture. Dean Cawley reaffirmed that the entire UNECOM community needs to be actively engaged in the process, and she is hopeful that everyone will be able to subscribe to the updated Mission Statement and see their important role in making the College great.   

 

 

Joan Goulet's retirement party after 18+ years of service. RSAS staff include from L-R Joan Goulet, Tracie Purcell, Steve Smith, James Gaffney, and Dean Kelley.

Joan Goulet retires from Recruitment, Student and Alumni Services Office

After eighteen plus years of experience with the student services office of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Joan Goulet has decided to retire. Through her tenure in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Joan has seen the introduction of computers, e-mail, and voicemail. She’s seen the advent of the White Coat Ceremony, the growth of clubs and organizations to more than thirty in number, and a large growth in class sizes. Joan says, “ I’ll miss working with the students and alumni, and I’m not sure what I’ll do with all my time, but I’ll figure something out!” Joan and her husband Richard are now in Texas where they are working on a house they recently purchased. The house is located near their son Ricky, who is stationed with the Air Force.

Thank you, Joan, for all of your hard work, cheerful wisecracks, and dedication to the welfare of UNECOM students and the College. You will be sorely missed, and we wish you the best of success in your retirement!

 

 

UNECOM AMSA Hosts Regional Conference

Nearly 200 students have signed up so far for the AMSA Regional Conference in Portland. This year’s conference is entitled “People Treating People,” and features an amazing line-up of speakers and programming. Representatives of medical schools covering the territory from Virginia and Pennsylvania to Maine will be in attendance. Your very own UNECOM MSII students, Amanda Staples, Jeremy Force, Patrick Hohl, Rob Levine, Andy Ray, and a number of first-year medical students, have spent the last six months organizing this conference.

The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn By the Bay from November 9th-11th. The program will include a host of local and regional doctors, including our own Drs. Willard and Gugliucci, as well as casting, suturing, and OMM workshops. UNECOM students will have the most discounted rate of any students attending the conference, at $40 for the weekend. This includes two breakfasts and one lunch, access to all programs and the exhibition hall.

This is a great chance to network with other medical students from across the east coast, meet residency program coordinators, and learn more about critical issues that our profession faces in the years to come. We hope to see you all there. Please stay tuned for further announcements regarding registration.

- Andrew Ray, MSII, UNECOM AMSA president

 

 

L-R Namesake Owen Pickus, D.O., Dr. Peter Morgane, and Erin Peck at the Pickus Biomedical Research Building Groundbreaking Ceremony. Photo by Jeani Reagan, Web-CT Specialist.

UNECOM breaks ground for biomedical research center

UNECOM broke ground for the Pickus Center for Biomedical Research at a ceremony held on October 7. The Pickus Center is UNE's first building dedicated exclusively to research.

Addressing more than 100 attendees at the groundbreaking, Maine’s Governor John Baldacci spoke about the research center’s importance in helping to build a foundation where the people of the State of Maine will have better work opportunities within the state, and he congratulated the University and encouraged them to continue such efforts.
 
John Richardson, Maine's commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, also spoke at the event about the public and private partnership and the bipartisan efforts put forth in making the center a reality. “The Pickus Center for Biomedical Research is important to the community and the region – there’s an opportunity in the biosciences field to make something really special happen in the state,” he said.
   
The new $6.16 million, 22,086-square-foot Pickus Center will house a state-of-the-art research facility. It will eventually house ten or more teams conducting important biomedical and other research. This will allow UNECOM's faculty to dedicate themselves to educating physicians and advancing the practice of medicine, while giving students greater opportunities to experience research as part of their medical studies. Construction has begun with planned occupancy in 2008.
 
The center is named in recognition of Owen Pickus, D.O., trustee of UNE, and his wife Geraldine Ollila-Pickus '88, D.O. '93, whose $1 million challenge grant got the campaign started and made the prospect of this important facility a reality.
 
Another significant donor is Peter Morgane, Ph.D., a researcher and professor of pharmacology at UNECOM. Dr. Morgane presented the University with a gift of $1 million, along with an additional $300,000 fundraising challenge that must be met by the end of 2007. The gifts are both given in memory of his late wife, Cécile.
 
UNE President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., acknowledged Drs. Pickus and Morgane, and others, for their support in bringing the Center into reality. Thanking everyone in attendance, President Ripich said, “The new building will help us to build upon the strong base of research that is already occurring at the College of Osteopathic Medicine.”
 
Examples of research already underway at UNECOM include that of:
- Ian Meng, PhD., who was recently awarded over $1.25 million from the National Institutes of Health to study how chronic exposure to painkillers may lead to increased frequency of headaches;
- Edward Bilsky, Ph.D., who is conducting research on a new family of safe, non-addictive drugs that could replace morphine for treatment of severe pain;
- Amy Davidoff, Ph.D., who is studying the relationship between diabetes and heart disease; and –
- Peter Morgane, Ph.D. and David Mokler, Ph.D., who have been collaborating with researchers at several institutions, including Boston University and Harvard. They recently secured a five-year, $1 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, which will fund their research on the effects of protein malnutrition on the prenatal brain.

Attendees represented supporters from around the state: Board of trustees, faculty, staff and students from UNE, several Maine state legislators, Biddeford Mayor Wallace Nutting, and Sandra Featherman, UNE president emeritus, whose leadership in the early stages was important to the center’s success.

- Adapted from University Relations

Ryan Smith, MSII, student-trustee for UNE, enjoys smashing the ceremonial bottle of champagne on a girder during the Pickus Biomedical Research Building Groundbreaking. Photo by Jeani Reagan, Web-CT Specialist.

 

 

UNE's biomedical research featured in Portland Press Herald

The Portland Press Herald published a front-page story on Oct. 15, 2007 focusing on UNE's new Pickus Center for Biomedical Research and the University's expanded role in biomedical research. The Pickus Center, the first building at UNE dedicated exclusively to research, is scheduled to have between four and six laboratories up and running by fall 2008. The story featured interviews with Jacquelyn Cawley, D.O., interim dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine; Amy Davidoff, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology; and Ian Meng, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology. The story was also published in the Oct. 15th Kennebec Journal in Augusta.

- University Relations

 

 

MSI students feed the fire at the 2007 Post Gross Toast on October 26. Photo by Steve Smith, RSAS.

UNECOM Annual Post Gross Toast Held October 26

Sigma Sigma Phi hosted their annual Post Gross Toast Ceremony on Friday, October 26th, in the Campus Center multi-purpose rooms. The event is designed as a time of congratulation and catharsis after the end of Gross Anatomy, widely considered the most challenging class in medical school. It was co-sponsored by the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), the Student Government, and the RSAS Office.

On a clear and mild evening, the first year class celebrated the completion of their final Gross exam with a reception, speeches, and the requisite burning of their scrubs at a post-ceremony bonfire.

Highlights of the ceremony included words from Deans Cawley and Kelley, reflections from the RSAS Office, comments from SOMA president Mike Dominello, MSII, side-splitting remarks from Anatomy Fellows Jim Andriotakis, Sarah Shepherd, and Cindy Norton; a well-written poem by Fellow Kendra Emery; and a speech and toast by Dr. David Koester, chair of the Anatomy department.

Second-year student Christina DeMatteo, SSP President, emceed the event, which ran smoothly and on time. Students enjoyed platters of crackers, cheese, and fruit, then raised glasses of champagne and sparkling cider as Dr. Koester congratulated them for three months of hard work and perseverance in Anatomy.

Following the ceremony, Mark Umphrey, MSII, lit a bonfire down by the river, and MSIs chortled as they fed the flames with scrubs still reeking of formaldehyde. MS IIs Dan Miller, Dallas Rindfleisch, John Matulis, and John Robinson helped Umphrey contain and extinguish the fire, and clots of students disengaged from the group to attend another celebration at Union House Café in Biddeford.

Congratulations to the Class of 2011, and best wishes as you continue to follow your OsteoPATH here at UNECOM!

-Steve Smith, RSAS 

L-R MSIs Nick Padavano, Carol Bernier, Scott Gruarin, Priyesh Mehta, Sean Stanhope, and Chris Palmer at the Post Gross Toast. Photo by Steve Smith, RSAS.

 

 

Dean’s Search Update From Dr. Jane Carreiro

The committee spent August and early September reviewing the applicants, nominees, and their references. EFL, the search firm hired to help us, spent this time “chasing prospective leads,” nominees, etc. On October 12 and 13, we interviewed candidates in very short (1-hour) sessions and determined which of the candidates would be of greatest interest to the community for on-site interviews. The candidates were contacted, and with the tremendous help of Mary Spang in the OMM department, we have been trying to coordinate the on-site visits.
 
The candidates will spend 2 ½ days on-site. The candidates will spend the first day at UC and the second at the Saco site. In general, the on-campus faculty and students will have opportunities to question the candidates on the first day, and the off campus faculty, GME, and non-D.O. programs will have opportunities on the second day.

The candidates are:

John Gimpel, D.O., November 1 & 2
Bruce Dubin, D.O., November 5 & 6
Michael Murphy, D.O., November 7 & 8
Ken Johnson, D.O., November 14 & 15

The candidate’s CVs can be viewed at /com/deansearch/cv 

- Jane Carreiro, D.O., '88, Chair of Dean's Search Committee

 

 

Dr. Francis Kleeman wins Mary Rines Thompson Award

Francis J. Kleeman, M.D., founder of the Biddeford Free Clinic, won the United Way's Mary Rines Thompson Award for community service. The clinic is designed to serve uninsured patients living with limited incomes. Many UNECOM students are involved at the clinic and volunteer with prescription writing, taking H&Ps, and counseling diabetic and respiratory patients. Many other volunteers come from Southern Maine Medical Center and private practice. According to a recent article on WGME's website, "Dr. Kleeman is personally involved as a caregiver every week. The Clinic serves patients in the midst of an acute health incident, but their greater goal is to promote community wellness and healthier livestyles. Joan Gordon, Director of the Clinic, says that 'Dr. Kleeman exemplifies the finest in the medical profession, using his energy and passion for his work to ensure that medical care is available to all who need it.'"

 

UNE awarded $650,000 in federal funding for Maine Geriatric Education Center
 
The University of New England has been awarded a $650,000, three-year grant by the Health Resources and Services Administration to support activities of the UNE Maine Geriatric Education Center (UNE-MGEC). Holly Korda, Ph.D., UNECOM's associate dean for community programs is principal investigator for the new grant. 

Under the grant, health systems and professional networks will partner to develop, implement, disseminate, and evaluate evidence-based best practice geriatric education, training, curricula, and resources throughout Maine. The MGEC will address priority health education needs of Maine’s health workforce, health professions faculty and students, community organizations, and older adults and their families.
 
MGEC Activities
Among the activities of MGEC are: education on community resources, geriatric assessment, care giving, health promotion, prevention of abuse and financial exploitation of older adults, oral health and health literacy. A newly developed Interdisciplinary Team Work Institute will train health professionals to care for patients with common and complex geriatric issues. 
 
The UNE-MGEC also draws upon talented staff and program innovations developed throughout UNE, which has long been recognized as a leader for its commitment to geriatrics programs, and for training at state and national levels.
 
Staff
Judith A. Metcalf, APRN, BC, MS, UNE’s previous geriatric education director and state leader in the field, will direct MGEC activities, including development of training programs to be implemented with health systems and practices statewide. 
 
Charlotte Paolini, D.O., interdisciplinary geriatrics training expert, will continue as medical director and trainer at the UNE-MGEC.
 
Sue Stableford, MPH, MSB, director of UNE’s Health Literacy Institute, will collaborate in the development of a Geriatric Health Literacy initiative for health professionals to increase health literacy awareness, develop curricula, and create plain language geriatric products for health professionals. 
 
Other initiatives are The Older Adult Resource (OAR) Tool Kit created by Judith Metcalf and Ann O’Sullivan, OTR/LSW, family caregiver support program specialist for the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging; and the Nursing Home Experiential Learning project developed by Marilyn Gugliucci, Ph.D., director of geriatric education and research in UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine's Department of Family Medicine.  
 
The MGEC is based in UNE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, home of the Division of Community Programs. UNECOM Associate Professor Kathryn Thompson, Ph.D., will serve as technical advisor for the MGEC’s online courses and curricula.
 
For more information, contact: Judith A. Metcalf at jmetcalf@une.edu or 207-602-5961.

- University Relations

 

 

Maine Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) awarded $260,000 grant for improving healthcare access in Maine

UNECOM’s Maine Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network, has been awarded a three-year grant from the Federal Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration to support initiatives to improve access, quality and availability of the primary care health workforce in rural and underserved areas of Maine. Holly Korda, Ph.D., associate dean of community programs and director of the Maine AHEC Network, serves as principal investigator and reports that the Network will receive $260,000 in its first year.
 
Maine AHEC’s initiatives include projects such as their "Kids into Careers" program, which provides early educational experiences for middle and high school students, including the http://www.mainehealthcareers.com/ web portal, launched in May linking health careers, and educational, training and mentoring opportunities statewide. “Maine’s AHEC Health Careers Web Portal Project is a wonderful tool for students to learn about health care professions, internships, and mentors,” said Jane Ham, director of the Maine Recruitment Center, Maine Hospital Association. “This new internet resource as well as AHEC’s health careers exploration opportunities for high school and college students are great initiatives to help direct and motivate students into careers in health care.”

Maine AHEC’s Program Office is housed within UNECOM’s division of community programs and public health, and the Network includes three centers throughout the state. These centers include the Acadia Health Coalition AHEC in Bangor; the Maine Center for Public Health AHEC in Augusta; and the Franklin Community Health Network AHEC in Farmington.
 
In addition to funding provided by the Federal government, the Maine AHEC Network receives funds from UNECOM (the second highest funder after HRSA), Maine Center for Disease Control's Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, and Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), which makes loans and scholarship assistance available to Maine residents seeking medical and dental career training. The federal funds are leveraged with our AHEC centers and other state partners and stakeholders in Maine.

The Network supports more than 90 practice settings for UNECOM student rotations in rural medicine, health promotion and disease prevention, and 55 sites for physician assistant clerkships. UNECOM requires that every student have experience in rural medicine and underserved areas of Maine. AHEC Director and UNECOM Associate Dean Holly Korda said, “AHEC hopes that by exposing students to rural clinical settings, many will remain there to continue their practice.”
 
In addition to their activities promoting health careers and encouraging rural practice, the UNECOM AHEC Program Office also provides geriatrics training for providers and caregivers, and administers an oral health contract for geriatric and pediatric populations. The AHEC centers provide distance-based programs for nurse training and continuing education and public health training and internships. The Maine AHEC Network addresses health workforce issues throughout the state’s rural areas, working with key leaders in the education and health industries, provider groups and payers.

- Adapted from University Relations

 

 

University Health Center Updates

This past summer UHC consolidated Primary Care services to the Saco site in an effort to enhance efficiency and operations of UHC, as well as to improve patient access. Since last July, Physical Therapy services have been provided in the Petts Health Center, segmented from the bulk of the UHC providers and their patients. To better meet the needs of patients and providers, UHC leadership has been working diligently with COM and CHP to develop a plan for Physical Therapy services, so that they can be offered in both the Biddeford/Saco and Portland communities.

As of October 31, 2007, PT services will no longer be offered at the Petts Health Center, but will instead be provided for an interim period through Scarborough Family Physical Therapy, located in Scarborough, Maine. Over the next several months UHC will work with CHP leadership to provide PT services in Saco, and will study how best to provide PT services in Portland. Despite changes in staff and location, please know that PT is an important service for our patients, providers and local communities, and will continue to be an integral part of UHC moving forward.

Jacquelyn Cawley, DO
Dean College of Osteopathic Medicine/
VP of University Health Services (interim)

 

 

Barry Butler, DPT, moving on after 17 years at UNE

Please join me in saying thank you to Barry Butler, DPT, for almost 17 years of service to UNE and UHC.

Barry is leaving UNE as of October 31, 2007 to take on a new challenge as the Lead Physical Therapist for US HealthWorks in Scarborough. Barry has provided excellent patient care as well as educational opportunities to countless students in multiple disciplines through his roles as a faculty member and UHC provider.

We wish Barry well on his next adventure.

Jacquelyn Cawley, DO
Dean College of Osteopathic Medicine/
VP of University Health Services (interim)

 

 

UNECOM launches online master's degree in medical education leadership

UNECOM recently added a new online master of science in medical education leadership degree (MMEL) to its programs. Developed jointly by UNECOM and the Office of Medical Education at Maine Medical Center in Portland, the program will prepare medical and health professionals to grow as educators and leaders in academic settings.

The first online course of the program will begin in January 2008. The 33-credit hour curriculum is designed to enhance students' skills in a variety of areas through professional application and scholarship including curriculum, instruction, assessment, personnel development, organizational development, leadership skills, research and evaluation. In addition to academic courses, students will develop an electronic professional portfolio as evidence of their competence in eight medical educational leadership standards

 

A sailboat just off University property on the Saco river. Photo by Steve Smith, RSAS.

 

Alumni and students gather in San Diego for AOA Convention

UNECOM alumni, students, faculty and staff gathered in San Diego September 30 through October 3 for the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Convention. More than 75 attended the UNECOM Alumni Luncheon on Monday, October 1. Dr. Jacquelyn Cawley, ’89, interim dean and Vice President for Health Services, hosted the event. Following her remarks, a pre-recorded greeting from UNE’s President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., was shared. (President Ripich was that day hosting former president George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush for a groundbreaking ceremony for UNE's George and Barbara Bush Center.)

Those recognized for their position or accomplishments included:
Steve Shannon, D.O. ’86, president of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM);
Carol Monson, D.O., AOA liaison to UNECOM;
Peter Bell, D.O. ’84, president of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP);
Guy DeFeo, D.O. ’88, president-elect of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO);
Doug Jorgenson, D.O., president of the Maine Osteopathic Association (MOA);
Joel Kase, D.O., president-elect of MOA; and
Jack Ginty, executive director of the MOA.

That same evening, UNECOM sponsored a reception for all alumni, students and friends of the college. Surrounded by the sounds of a jazz guitarist, alumni spent time catching up with each other and the students took the opportunity for networking. They appreciated hearing stories from the earlier days of the college, and developed contacts for future rotations.

UNECOM alum Col. William Bograkos presented an educational session on the critical role primary care physicians play in coordinating the care of patients returning from military service. He noted that 24% of survivors have head injuries, and all returning military service personnel are screened for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Dr. Bograkos is stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

At the UNECOM booth in the exhibit hall Sunday through Tuesday, alumni and other supportive physician colleagues were able to view an artist’s rendition of the Pickus Center for Biomedical Research and the architect’s floor plans. The site is now under construction and the building is expected to be completed by November 2008.

Also on display at the exhibit booth were recognition posters highlighting recent alumni accomplishments. Drs. Jane Carreiro, ‘88, chair of the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine department and Ken Johnson, ’92, associate dean, were recognized for their work with the World Health Organization. Dr. Carreiro and recent alum Dr. Joy Palmer, ’05, were recognized on a second poster for their recent osteopathic manipulative medicine research grants. The third featured Drs. Bell and DeFeo for their national leadership positions (see above). A fourth poster featured a first-year class picture of UNECOM’s first class, the class of 1982.

- James Gaffney, Coordinator of Recruitment and Alumni Services

The UNECOM Class of '82. Photo courtesy 1982 Synapse Yearbook.

 

 

Maine’s Healthcare Providers Step Up to Mentor Youth Statewide

Healthcare professionals throughout Maine are responding to the call for e-Mentors to support the http://www.mainehealthcareers.com/ web portal, a web site that introduces Maine students and others to a variety of health professions career options. Launched in May 2007 by the Maine Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network, the web portal offers students, guidance personnel, teachers and others online opportunities to learn about the broad spectrum of health professions careers, education and training requirements, scholarships and loans—and links individuals to live experiences with career mentors in medicine, nursing, dentistry, physical therapy and other allied health professions in their communities. The site URL is currently being disseminated throughout Maine on the lap top computers provided to 7th and 8th grade students.

Providers statewide have been enthusiastic and eager to help.  E-mentors are signing up in all areas of the health professions to answer students’ questions online, and in some communities to meet with students or enable job shadowing experiences so students can come to know “What it means to work as a ….”  For some students, the web portal may be the first exposure they have to health professions careers.

“Mentors can make all the difference in helping our young people explore and choose careers,” says Holly Korda, Maine AHEC Network Director at University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. “This program helps raise the aspirations and opportunities for Maine youth—helping to “grow our own” in meeting critical health workforce shortages throughout the state.” 

One of the first to register as an E-Mentor was Shelley Ryan, RN, BSN, Pediatric Nurse in Bangor, Maine. “This gives me a chance to share my career experience with students...a chance to give back.” Shelley started her health career training at the University of Maine in Orono in the Nursing Department. Shelley’s passion for caring for children led her to the Pediatrics Unit and the Pediatric Specialty Clinic at Eastern Maine Medical Center, but her greatest joy comes from her involvement in Nursing Education. Shelley is a Pediatric Clinical Nurse faculty member for the UMO Nursing Department and is the primary instructor for United Technologies Center’s Certified Nurse Assisting program for high school juniors and seniors. “Encouraging Maine’s youth to pursue a career in nursing not only provides excellent employment opportunities for my students, but it promotes a sense of accomplishment and success that leads them to aspire to excellence."

E-Mentors are asked to fill out an application that asks about their interests and motivations for selecting their profession, their training and current areas of practice. Carolyn Dorrity, Executive Director of the Acadia Health Education AHEC in Bangor, notes that E-Mentors go through a screening process before being selected for the program. “We’re excited to see the response so far,” Dorrity notes, “but we have ongoing need for mentors in every profession.” The AHEC has started implementing a statewide roll out of the web portal with the support of partner organizations and schools statewide, she added.

The http://www.mainehealthcareers.com/ web portal was adapted from the highly successful program developed in NY State by the Acadia Health Education Coalition AHEC, in Bangor, and the Maine AHEC Network Program Office at University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Maine’s AHEC is one of 49 programs funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to assist states in their efforts to develop the health workforce in rural and underserved areas. The web portal also receives support from the Maine CDC’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care and the Finance Authority of Maine.

Providers, students and others interested in the web portal can check out the site online at http://www.mainehealthcareers.com/ Providers interested in serving as E-Mentors should email Arlene Luzzi, web portal coordinator, at the Acadia Health Education Center AHEC in Bangor.

For further information contact Holly Korda, 207-602-2353.

 

 

Library and Campus Center Hours During the Week of Thanksgiving Break

The Jack Ketchum Library on the Biddeford Campus will definitely be closed Thursday-Saturday, November 22-24, due to the Thanksgiving Break. Hours Monday-Wednesday will be posted soon.

The Campus Center on the Biddeford Campus will close at 5pm on Wednesday, 11/21, and will be closed Thursday and Friday. It will open for limited hours on Saturday.

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Current Students
 
Matt Lucas, MSI, savors his first MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) at a field exercise at Fort Devens, Massachusetts in October. Photo by Pete Lapen, MSII.

UNECOM 16th Annual "Student D.O. of the Year" Selection Process

All Students, Faculty, and Staff may nominate any Osteopathic medical student. The primary focus of this award is to acknowledge students’ commitment to their school, their community, and the osteopathic profession.

Nominees Have to Submit CV & Essay:
“Cultural competence is increasingly important in America’s diverse society. How would you define cultural competency, and as an osteopathic physician, how would you improve your skills in this area?” (1000 words max)

"Student D.O. of the Year" Will Be Considered for COSGP "National Student D.O. of the Year" Award - $1000 Scholarship & Plaque.

Submissions have been posted to each class page on myUNE, and are also available upon request.

Nominations due to SGA Officers by December 22, 2007. Please email Lacey McIntosh, MSII, SGA President, with any questions, at lmcintosh@mail.une.edu.

 

 

Second-year student wins SOMA research award at AOA Convention

Second-year osteopathic medical student Ryan Smith received first place in the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) research poster contest at the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Convention in San Diego. Smith was the primary author on the study “Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Novel Derivatives of the Opioid Antagonist 6-beta-Naltrexol, and In Vivo Screening of Structurally Related Opiates.”

Student doctor Smith described his research as the “Chemical design and synthesis of new compounds used to treat opioid (morphine, cocaine, heroine) overdose. These compounds are hoped to function at the cellular-level as neutral antagonists, meaning less withdrawal and dependence side effects than the currently available compounds. This will lead to greater patient compliance and a broader spectrum of use.” Other researchers in the project included Ryan Paolino (UNECOM),Wolfgang Sadée (The Ohio State University), Edward J. Bilsky (UNECOM) and Amy M. Deveau (UNE College of Arts and Sciences).
                 
Third-year D.O./Ph.D. student John Lowery and first-year osteopathic student Tyler Raymond also presented research posters in which they were the primary researcher/author. Lowery’s poster was “Assessing the effects of opioid inverse agonists and neutral antagonists in vivo.” Raymond’s research and poster was titled “Pharmacological Characterization of the Novel Phenylethylmorphan ACH.1.132: A Putative Opioid Mu Agonist/Delta Antagonist.”

- James Gaffney, Coordinator of Recruitment and Alumni Services

 

 

Pete Tilney, MSIV, presents paper at ACEP Conference

Pete Tilney, MSIV, was the only medical student from Maine and the only Osteopathic Medical student in the country to present a professional abstract at the Annual Conference of the American College of Emergency Physician (ACEP) in Seattle, Washington on October 9. The title of the paper he presented was “Pre-Hospital Blood Administration in an Air Medical Program.” The purpose of his research, which focused on the helicopter service in Maine, was “to examine whether giving packed red blood cell to critically ill medical and trauma patients by flight crews made a difference in their overall outcome. This paper also examined the indications for giving blood, and lastly examined the criteria that flight crews used to determine whether transfusing packed red blood cells was, in fact, necessary.” The abstract was published in the September volume of the Annals of Emergency Medicine. He plans to submit the entire manuscript later this fall.

The work Pete presented in the paper is one of several projects that he is working on that relate to a region of transport medicine that includes helicopter emergency medical services and helicopter operations. Pete says, “It is my eventual goal to use my previous experience as a flight paramedic and then build upon this training as an emergency physician to work as a medical director in critical care air transport. While at the ACEP conference in Seattle, I also attended several smaller meetings of groups involved in critical care transport and emergency medical services. I am active with these groups and plan to continue my involvement into the future.”

 

Nine Students Earn TOUCH Awards for 50+ hours of Community Service

Eight current third-year students, and one current second-year student each accrued more than 50 hours of documented volunteer service over the 2006-2007 Academic Year at UNECOM, thus earning a “TOUCH” award. Some examples of service included working at a Soup Kitchen, organizing 5K benefit runs, working at the Biddeford Free Clinic, and volunteering at nursing homes.

The TOUCH Awards are national recognition awards presented by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in alliance with the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP) to medical students who volunteer approximately 50 hours of their time during an academic school year. “TOUCH” stands for “Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health.”

Last year’s awardees were: MSIIs Myra Cyr, Stephen Kelly, Beth Grimaldi, Katie Wetherbee, Suzie McGrorty, Meg Grant, Natalie Maida, Peter Y. Kang, and MSI Mark Umphrey.

The citation on their certificates reads:

“Dedicated medical philanthropist, who has generously supported humanitarianism locally, nationally and internationally. Through your responsibility to improve the health and/or well-being of those in our communities, you have accumulated an excess of fifty volunteer hours over the course of an academic year. Your professionalism, competence and selfless service reflects great credit upon yourself, the ‘Fighting Nor‘Easters’ and UNECOM.”

For more information about how to document your hours of community service and fill out TOUCH Award papers, contact Ahmad Yassin, MSII, chair of the UNECOM SGA Professionalism Committee.

 

 

Morning of the Ironman Triathlon race in Hawaii. This is the medical tent. Photo by Anne Newbold, MSIII

A View from the Ironman Triathlon Medical Tent

[Editor’s Note: Anne Newbold, MSIII, served in the medical tent at the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii in October. Here is an account of her experience.]

The Ironman trip was AMAZING. I do have some pictures, but I am waiting for the Ironman charge nurse to send more, since I wasn't really allowed to take pics in the medical tent due to patient privacy and being really busy. I did take a few though.
 
I went on the trip because it sounded like such a unique and rewarding experience. I don't know of any other world-wide sporting event where medical students get the opportunity to assess and treat professional athletes of this caliber and who are representing 45 different countries. Also, it is unique in the fact that these athletes are exercising anywhere from 8-17 hours straight. Therefore, I knew there would be a large patient volume due to the immense stress these athletes endured. To give you an idea, the race starts off with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a grueling 112-mile bike across lava fields where the wind has been known to lift athletes and their bikes up off the road. Finally, the race ends with a 26.2-mile marathon in the blazing sun. I also knew that this would be a setting where technology was limited and importance was placed on good histories and physical exams. So, in that regard, it was a great way for me to fine-tune my H&P skills. 
 
I ended up working 12 hours in the ICU (intensive care unit) portion of the tent with a lot of residents from Tripler Army Medical Center and docs from all over the country. We were stationed in teams, in which there was a charge doctor, nurse, and student. It was such a unique experience because some of my patients were world-renowned professional athletes. I remember at one point looking over and seeing Normann Stadler in my section of the tent. He won Ironman last year, and was supposed to win this year, and is probably one of the best athletes in the world right now. It was surreal. 
 
Some of the things I was able to do included taking accurate histories from the athletes, obtaining vital signs, performing physical exams, interpreting EKGs and Chemistries, and OMT. I worked with some of the physical therapists, too. The charge doctors were great about teaching, as were the residents. The day started off slow, and we only had a few patients from the swim portion of the race. However, as the day progressed, the medical tent became a very popular spot. I would be caring for three patients at a time during the busiest portion of the day.

Overall, I would recommend to anyone to volunteer at this race. I had such a great experience and learned a lot. Also, a lot of the physicians and therapists wanted to know more about OMT and had me teach them some techniques. So as an osteopathic student, I felt that I had an advantage in what I could offer some of the athletes for treatment.  
 
I hope this gives you some insight into my trip. I can go into more detail if you want, or if you have any more specific questions I would be more than happy to answer them. I am also putting together a presentation for the staff/students here at Kent Hospital sometime in the next few weeks. I am still waiting on an EKG and some labs from Hawaii to complete my presentation, and some more pictures. If you need any more info you can also look at the Ironman website at http://www.ironmanlive.com/
 
- Anne Newbold, MSIII

Part of the Ironman finish chute in Hawaii. Photo by Anne Newbold, MSIII.

 

Newly Commissioned Officers Participate in Fort Devens Field Training Exercise

[Editor’s Note: The following is a brief description of a field training exercise at Ft. Devens in Massachusetts, in which several members of the UNECOM AMOPS club participated.]

It was a real honor to be a part of the newly commissioned officers’ (MSIs 2LTs Matt Lucas and Marc Bouchard) first exposure to the military, as well as to see familiar faces who are still a part of WPI's training battalion, from my days on campus. 

Participating in the training exercise was a real honor as well, since I was able to take part in training the U.S. Army's future officers, even if it was just as OPFOR (opposition forces: the “bad guys” participating in the war games), or taking Matt and Marc down to Devens RFTA (Reserve Forces Training Area). Just by spending the weekend doing “Army Stuff”, they will be way ahead of their counterparts at officer basic camp this summer at Fort Sam Houston, simply because it won't be the first time they've seen the course material that they will be responsible for learning.

The new officers got their white coats on October 4 (at the UNECOM White Coat Ceremony in Portland) and I helped them purchase and assemble their new Army digital camo uniforms (ACU's) and pin on their gold bar officer rank. It was a big weekend for them, and I'm glad to have been a part of it. I also have to mention that we owe a special thanks to the Commanding Officer, all of the training cadre, the MSIV leadership, and the Cadets of the WPI Army ROTC Baystate Battalion for allowing us to participate in their training program.

The training program consisted of the following:
 - Customs and Courtesies
 - Land Navigation
 - Operation of the AT-4 antitank weapon
 - Utilization of the M18 Claymore mine
 - Basic Squad tactics including raids, ambushes, etc.
 - Operation of the M16-A2 weapon. 

Not all of the skills listed above are particularly useful to a physician, but physicians in the military are still officers wearing a U.S. uniform, and in asymmetric warfare (i.e. insurgencies like in Iraq and Afghanistan), there is no telling if they will need to use a weapon to defend themselves, their patients, or any other personnel under their care or command. 

 - ENS Pete Lapen, MSII, UNECOM AMOPS co-president

2LT Matt Lucas, MSI says: 

“I knew that spending part of the weekend at Ft. Devens would be a good excuse to get away from the books. The last time I slept outside I was probably 12. I had a tent then. This time, all I had was a sleeping bag. It didn’t rain or get too cold; it was actually quite pleasant.

Under the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), students have little in the way of military obligation until they are finished with med school. This was a good opportunity to learn some Army customs and courtesies before attending Officer Basic Course in the summer. Mark and I learned some field navigation techniques and I had my first MRE (Meal Ready-to-Eat). They get a bad rap, but mine was actually pretty good. They are definitely better than most products in the frozen food section at the supermarket.

Apart from that, the day was a good reminder of why I made the decision to join the Army: I met some motivated young men and women with high leadership potential. The knowledge and experiences some of the junior officers, seasoned non-commissioned officers, and previously enlisted cadets display at such a young age is incredible. Hopefully, we will have some down time in our schedules during the next field training exercise because I would like to attend another one.”

2LT Marc Bouchard, MSI says:

“I really enjoyed our training exercises down at Ft. Devens. It was more or less my inaugural military experience, because to be quite frank, prior to that I didn't know anything. I think I speak for both Matt and myself when I say that we felt out of place among all those young cadets. Sure, they hadn't finished college yet and were about two or three years younger than us, but when it came to simple military common sense, we, the future doctors, were the green ones. We kept joking, saying that we felt like a couple of jokers parading around in our newly purchased ACU's having all those cadets call us “sir,” even those of them who knew about 18 times as much stuff as we did. Still, we couldn't have asked to be treated better or with more respect.
It was so neat to be shown how to hold and operate an AT-4 (anti-tank weapon). Having that thing propped up on my shoulder - and walking through how to fire it - was crazy. I mean, it was the real thing, just not loaded. The M-16 was awesome as well. I've fired a muzzle-loader before, but the M-16 was just gorgeous. They may have been blanks, but it was a rush to put it up to my shoulder, throw it on burst, and unload the magazine.”

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Maine Times

Lobster Boats in Kennebunkport. Photo by Jeani Reagan, Web-CT Specialist.

Is Your Car Ready for a Maine Winter?

As winter approaches, there are a few things to check to ensure that you are not stranded one snowy morning. Check you windshield wipers and the washer pump. Are your wipers cracked or even brittle? Consider replacing your wipers with winter blades that prevent freezing to the windshield during ice storms. Are all of your lights working? High and Low beams, including turn signals? Check to make sure that your major belts and hoses are not cracked. Are they original equipment with a lot of miles? Check your serpentine belt. Make sure your battery voltage and CCA (cold cranking amps) are sufficient. Are your battery terminals and cables free of corrosion? Check to make sure that your radiator coolant is clear and not dingy. Make sure your exhaust system is securely attached without leaks. Check your tires for tread depth, air pressure, and cracks or irregular wear.

UNE medical students can receive special discounts on tires and installation charges at several local service stations. Simply identify yourself as a UNE medical student and ask if there is a special when you drop off your car. One local business I go to is Haley’s, which is a family-run business that started in Biddeford. Now there are four branches throughout the state of Maine. Darren Yorkey, son of Don Yorkey, D.O., runs the Haley’s Tire that his grandfather first opened.

I shadowed Don Yorkey, D.O., a family practitioner in Westbrook Maine on a couple of occasions. Dr. Yorkey has an interest in medical examination, and on one occasion I shadowed him functioning as a medical examiner for the State of Maine. We drove in his small pickup truck to the funeral home where we examined the deceased and drew blood for laboratory testing. Dr. Yorkey is also involved in a pilot program to treat addiction issues. He operates out of a small office in Westbrook with a secretary who helps with appointments and assists during pelvic exams. Dr. Yorkey is actively involved at UNECOM,
taking in first- and second-year medical students on preceptor assignments and reviewing applications of incoming students.

Maine is a small state where it is easy to get to know people, and it is an enjoyable place to live and study.

- Dan Sheps, MSII

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Photo Albums

In typical med student fashion, this visitor to the University is packing away as much free lunch as possible during a noontime lecture. Photo by Steve Smith, RSAS.

For photo albums, click on the following links:

White Coat Ceremony on October 4, at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland. Photos by Jeani Reagan, Web-CT Specialist.

Autumn on the Saco. The University fronts portions of the Saco River, but in the crush of academics, students sometimes forget how beautiful the location really is. Photos by Steve Smith, RSAS.

For page two of The COMmunicator, click here, or click on the link below to access the table of contents.

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Copyright © UNECOM Office of Recruitment Student and Alumni Services. All rights reserved.

11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005.  (207) 602-2329
Please send comments, suggestions, submissions, or warm chocolate chip cookies to Steve Smith at ssmith12@une.edu