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Portland, Maine and Burlington, Vermont

UNE and University of Vermont forge collaboration to enhance rural health care

Medical students examine an x-ray in a lab
A new agreement between the universities provides a pathway for qualified UVM students to pursue a medical education at UNE's College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The University of New England and the University of Vermont (UVM) have announced a collaboration aimed at expanding access to medical education for qualified students, particularly those interested in bolstering rural health care in Maine and New England.

The new agreement — between UNE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and UVM’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical program — provides a pathway for qualified UVM post-baccalaureate pre-medical students to pursue a medical education at UNE COM.

UVM’s Post-Bacc Pre-Med program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with the necessary health prerequisite requirements and advanced science courses needed for acceptance into medical school and other graduate health professions programs. The program is uniquely targeted to students seeking career changes or who are returning to school later in life. UVM’s Post-Bacc Pre-Med program sees students matriculate into medical school at high rates, with 83% of students on a pre-med track entering into an M.D. or D.O. program, well above the national average of 43%. 

“We are experiencing a health care workers shortage across New England and the country,” said Maggie Lambert, UVM Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program director. “This collaboration between UVM and UNE will allow our students more opportunity to pursue osteopathic medicine and, in turn, increase access to health care in underserved regions. We look forward to working with UNE and expanding medical education access.”

Under the UNE-UVM agreement, students who successfully complete the rigorous requirements of UVM’s program are guaranteed an interview for UNE’s highly selective Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree program, streamlining the process for aspiring health care providers to transition into medical school.

The agreement highlights UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine’s mission of preparing physicians who are committed to shaping the future of rural health care, said Jane Carreiro, D.O. ’88, vice president for Health Affairs at UNE and dean of UNE COM.

“This collaboration between UNE and UVM reflects a shared commitment to enhancing health care access and outcomes in rural areas,” Carreiro said. “By increasing access to medical education and emphasizing the importance of retaining physicians in underserved regions, this partnership aims to make a meaningful impact on the future of health care in Maine and New England.”

UNE COM graduates are historically more likely to return to Maine for their clinical practice, with 57% of those completing third-year clinical rotations in-state choosing to work in Maine following out-of-state residencies.

The Class of 2024 at UNE COM achieved remarkable success, with a residency placement rate of 99%, surpassing national averages for both allopathic and osteopathic medical schools. Over half of the graduating class pursued primary care specialties, including pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, and OB-GYN, demonstrating UNE COM’s dedication to cultivating health care professionals who address the diverse needs of rural communities.

Learn about UNE COM and its programs at une.edu/com.

For more information about the UVM PACE Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical program, visit go.uvm.edu/post-bacc-pre-med. 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.