UNE in the News

David Smith to be guest on MPBN's Maine Calling Thursday, May 16th

David Livingstone Smith, Ph.D., UNE associate professor of philosophy, will be a guest on MPBN radio's Maine Calling on Thursday, May 16th  from 12:15 - 1 p.m. on a program that asks "What Does It Mean to Be Kind." He will join host Keith Shortall and Michael J. Chase, author, founder of The Kindness Center, and a Southern Maine resident. Find out more. 

Posted on: 05/15/2013

Commercial Fisheries News reports on research presented by James Sulikowski at the Maine Fisherman’s Forum

The May 2013 issue of  Commercial Fisheries News features an article about the Maine Fisherman’s Forum session titled “Our Changing Ocean—What Factors May Be Inhibiting Groundfish Recovery.”  James Sulikowski, Ph.D, associate professor in the Department of Marine Sciences, attended the forum, and the research about spiny dogfish that he shared at the forum was highlighted in the article.

Dogfish often prevent successful catches of ground fish because the sheer number of them clog nets.  They are also aggressive feeders, ripping through nets to devour fish that have been caught.  Fishermen have long suspected them as a major culprit in dwindling ground fish numbers.

Sulikowski has worked for several years with fisherman to debunk some of the myths surrounding spiny dogfish.  Using satellite tags, he has collected depth, temperature, and migration data about the species. 

One assumption about dogfish that Sulikowski reported as untrue to the session attendees is the belief that dogfish, as a rule, come north in the spring and head south for the Mid-Atlantic waters in the fall.  Actually, according to Sulikowski, the vast majority of spiny dogfish that were tagged in the Gulf of Maine appear to remain in New England waters year-round, moving in a circular pattern.

Sulikowski’s research has also shown that the range of temperature and depth of water in which dogfish swim is more variable than once thought.  In addition, he has found that the species’ reproductive cycle is shorter than previously assumed.

Some of the new evidence about spiny dogfish behavior that Sulikowski’s research has uncovered indicates that previous surveys of dogfish numbers were likely inaccurate.  The article states: “Many fishermen, especially those who have long suspected that dogfish were being missed by trawl surveys, say they feel vindicated by much of this latest research.”

Posted on: 05/08/2013

Dental Hygiene Program’s 50th year celebration featured in 'Dentistry IQ Network' article

The Dentistry IQ Network published an online article on May 2, 2013, about UNE’s Dental Hygiene Program’s 50th anniversary celebration, which was held on May 1st on the Portland Campus.

The article features photographs of Program Director Bernice “Bunny” Mills, a 1976 graduate of the program, who served as host for the event; as well as Darryl Geer, a 1964 program graduate; and members of the graduating class of 2013.

The article also stated that the event featured a video researched and coordinated by Lauren Cummings ‘13.

Read the article

Posted on: 05/02/2013

Journal Tribune features UNECOM students' adoption of local park

The Journal Tribune on April 29, 2013 ran a story on UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine students and Knights of Columbus members who have adopted the upkeep of Mechanics Park in Biddeford.

The story notes that Maia Martinez-Heath, MSII, current president of UNE’s Sigma Sigma Phi, has been involved in park cleanup efforts since last autumn. With the days getting warmer, she’s been busy recruiting volunteers to shore up the college’s numbers.

The story explains that "the UNE contingent oversaw their corner of Mechanics Park for about seven weeks in October and November before winds and weather became prohibitively cold; Saturday, the group – with a few more students in tow – picked up where they left off."

Martinez-Heath said that, aside from helping to beautify a public space, the activity also lets students spend some quality time outside, which is not always an easy feat when hitting the books. Sam Moss, MSI, was also quoted in the story. Read the entire story.

Posted on: 05/01/2013

Journal Tribune and Courier feature Saco Museum Civil War exhibition mounted by UNE history class

The Journal Tribune on April 27, 2013 ran a story on an exhibition, titled "John Haley's Civil War," opening May 3rd at the Saco Museum that is being mounted by a class of 17 UNE undergraduate students.

The Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier on April 25th also ran a column about the exhibition by Leslie Rounds, executive director at Dyer Library and Saco Museum.

The course is taught by Elizabeth A. De Wolfe, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of History & Philosophy, and Camille Smalley '08, collection and research manager for the Saco Museum.

The exhibition, which celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, will feature a treasure trove of artifacts related to the Civil War—prints by Winslow Homer, decorative arts, Civil War weaponry, uniforms, and much more.

During this spring's course, the students have been using the journal kept by Private John Haley (1840-1921), a Saco native, to explore various aspects of the Civil War.

The Journal Tribune story notes that for the past week, UNE students were on hand at the museum, readying the museum’s back gallery for the exhibit they designed, and for which they have written text using pre-selected artifacts.

Student Stephen Snyder '13, a liberal studies major, told the Journal he’s always been enamored with history, and this class gave him a different perspective on the subject.

Political science major Katie Labbe '14 said at first the task to create a museum exhibit seemed daunting, but the class has been a good learning experience. She said she feels like she’s making a difference in the community by providing something they can enjoy and learn from.

“It’s definitely been a rewarding experience,” she said.

Read the Journal Tribune story and the Courier column. The exhibit opens on Friday, May 3, with a free reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Posted on: 04/30/2013

Toledo Blade covers Gayle Brazeau's induction in Sylvania High School's Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame

The Toledo (Ohio) Blade ran an April 29, 2013 story on Sylvania High School's 22nd Annual Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which honored Gale Brazeau, Ph.D., dean of the UNE College of Pharmacy.

Brazeau was one of five Sylvania alumni honored by the Sylvania Academic Excellence Foundation and the Sylvania Schools.

The Blade story notes that "as the dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of New England in Portland, Maine, Mrs. Brazeau is committed to using the latest research in genomics and applying it to personalized care."

The Hall of Fame Induction citation for Brazau notes that: "Gayle set the stage for her career while in high school developing an independent study in Advanced Calculus to prepare for college. Since graduating in 1975, Gayle has devoted her life’s work to blending her love of research and teaching of pharmacology." Read the entire citation and read the Blade story.

Posted on: 04/29/2013

'Journal Tribune' features story on Biddeford Middle School students’ trip to UNE for study of neuroscience and marine science

The April 25th issue of the Journal Tribune featured a front-page article on a field trip that seventh-grade students at Biddeford Middle School (BMS) took to the University of New England to study neuroscience and marine science.

Eighty BMS students, who are part of teacher Ann Putney’s science classes, had a hands-on learning experience that involved dissecting a sheep’s brain and handling marine life.

The article reported that the field trip coincided with new science standards that are being adopted by 26 states, including Maine—standards that seek to make schools take a more integrative approach to science.

Associate Professor James Sulikowski, Ph.D., of the Department of Marine Sciences, extolled the benefits of bringing young students to UNE for hands-on lessons in science in which “everyone is engaged.”  He noted that such experiences can show the children that “this is something they can attain if they work hard for it.”

Posted on: 04/26/2013

'Press Herald' story on Saturday's drug take-back event looks at UNE College of Pharmacy's study of wasted prescription drugs

The Portland Press Herald on April 26, 2013, published a story on a program of UNE's College of Pharmacy that has been tabulating prescription drugs that are collected during drug take-back events in Maine.

The story explains that "When Mainers turn over thousands of pounds of unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, a small army of University of New England pharmacy students will be at several of the drop-off locations to count every type of medication to determine which ones are wasted most often."

"If you can look at the percentage of waste, then you start asking why," said Heather Stewart '14, who is earning her doctor of pharmacy degree at UNE. The answers, she said, could lead to medical practices that reduce waste and save money.

The story discusses that the UNE study, however, could be in jeopardy because of a loss of funding and a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration rule that is under consideration. Read the entire story.

Posted on: 04/26/2013

Tonight's poetry reading by Eamonn Wall featured in the Portland Daily Sun

A poetry reading scheduled for tonight (April 24th) by poet Eamonn Wall at UNE's Biddeford Campus was featured in the Portland Daily Sun, which quoted Eric G.E. Zuelow, Ph.D., UNE assistant professor of European history, at length.

A native of Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, Wall is the author of six collections of poetry. His next collection, New and Selected Poems, will be published in 2014. From the Sin-e Café to the Black Hills, a collection of essays, was awarded the Michael J. Durkan Prize by the American Conference for Irish Studies.

"He's working with the challenges we find with identity," Zuelow told the Daily Sun. "He'll be doing a reading. One of the major themes will be the question of immigrants — being neither here nor there — not quite of one place or another." Read the entire story and attend the event, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Ketchum Library's St. Francis Room.

Posted on: 04/24/2013

Sun Chronicle features Saco Museum Civil War exhibition mounted by UNE history class

The Sun Chronicle on April 17, 2013 ran a story on an exhibition titled "John Haley's Civil War" opening May 3rd at the Saco Museum that is being mounted by a class of 17 UNE undergraduate students.

The course is taught by Elizabeth A. De Wolfe, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of History & Philosophy, and Camille Smalley '08, collection and research manager for the Saco Museum.

The exhibition, which celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, will feature a treasure trove of artifacts related to the Civil War—prints by Winslow Homer, decorative arts, Civil War weaponry, uniforms, and much more.

During this spring's course, the students have been using the journal kept by Private John Haley (1840-1921), a Saco native, to explore various aspects of the Civil War.

"Haley's Civil War" will be the third Saco Museum-UNE course and exhibit collaboration during the past five years.

Smalley, a 2008 UNE alum, told the Sun Chronicle that it’s her hope the new exhibit will start a conversation about how the Civil War still affects us so many years later. “There were a lot of firsts during that war, which we still struggle with now, such as the support and care of veterans,” she said. Read the story.

Posted on: 04/22/2013

Bangor Daily News story draws on UNE's Interprofessional Education Symposium for story on chronic pain

The Bangor Daily News published an April 18, 2013 story on chronic pain, drawing in part on UNE's Spring Interprofessional Education Symposium, "The Science of Pain and the Art of Healing," that was held on April 4th.

The story quotes Paula Orecklin, 25, of Winnipeg, Canada, who spoke at the symposium about how she has suffered with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome since age 13, when a twisted ankle quickly devolved into a nightmare of agony and revolving doctor’s offices.

The story also mentions UNE's recent $10 million award from the National Institutes of Health to fund the UNE Center of Biomedical Research Excellence for the Study of Pain and Sensory Function.

Ed Bilsky, Ph.D., UNE associate provost for research and scholarship and director of the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, is also quoted, describing the symposium as only part of what UNE is doing to transform the nature of pain treatment education.

"We have created much of the content needed to highlight chronic pain as one of the most serious health issues facing the country," he said. "With fresh perspectives I think we are making huge progress in better educating future health professionals as well as making positive impacts on the communities we live in, and the state of Maine."  Read the entire story.

The symposium was coordinated by the UNE Westbrook College of Health Professions' InterProfessional Education Collaborative: Shelley Cohen Konrad, Ph.D., director, and Kris Hall, program coordinator.

Posted on: 04/20/2013

Press Herald publishes Dean Gayle Brazeau's column on UNE's first graduating class of pharmacists

The Portland Press Herald on April 18, 2013 published a Maine Voices column by UNE College of Pharmacy Dean Gayle A. Brazeau, Ph.D., titled "New era in patient care coming with pharmacy class graduation."

In discussing UNE's first graduating class of pharmacists, Dean Brazeau writes: "The Class of 2013 has already provided over 80,000 hours of supervised care through their introductory pharmacy practice and advanced pharmacy practice experiences to patients in Maine and beyond.

"Our students in this class are innovative and creative leaders and entrepreneurs. They have started new professional and fraternal service organizations, raised $1,800 for the Make A Wish Foundation and taken key leadership roles in coordinating drug take-back programs in and around the greater Portland area, to name just a few of their many achievements."

She adds: "Pharmacists working closely with other members of a patient-centered health care team play a role in the three key elements we are striving for in the contemporary health care environment, specifically to improve patient care outcomes, increase patient access to health care and reduce health care costs." Read the entire column.

Posted on: 04/18/2013