Graduating UNE medical student seeks to fill the gap in rural mental health care

For Bethany Miles, graduating from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine this spring is more than a milestone — it’s a testament to perseverance and a deep commitment to rural Maine.

Miles (D.O., ’25), who is from Old Town, said her journey in medicine wasn’t linear. 

She first earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maine in 2013 while navigating new motherhood. After graduation, Miles worked in outpatient physician practices and participated in an accelerated nursing program at UMaine, completing clinical rotations at Eastern Maine Medical Center. 

“I loved the clinical side of nursing, but when my unit became a COVID-19 unit ... I realized I wanted to do more than what my role as a nurse allowed,” she said.

That drive led Miles to consider attending Maine’s only medical school in her early 30s — a nontraditional path, especially as a mother of three. 

“I knew whatever I chose for grad school had to be the right fit … and I wanted to work with both kids and adults,” she said. 

Miles said she was drawn to UNE for its strong track record of training health care professionals who stay in Maine. UNE is Maine’s No. 1 provider of health care professionals and, historically, 57% of UNE medical students who complete their third-year clinical rotations in Maine return to practice here after residency.

“I’d worked with a lot of UNE-trained D.O.s as a nurse,” she said. “Their whole-person approach is especially important in areas with limited access to specialists.”

Returning to school as a nontraditional student, Miles initially felt out of place. 

“Imposter syndrome was real. But anatomy lab and clinical skills sessions made it all click. I was learning this so that I can help real people,” she said, crediting UNE faculty and professional staff for helping her navigate the challenges of being a nontraditional student. 

Christopher Frothingham, D.O., UNE associate clinical professor, noted that balancing medical school with raising a family requires extraordinary dedication and perspective. 

“She balanced a rigorous curriculum while raising three young children, which speaks volumes about her commitment to serving rural Maine communities,” Frothingham said. “Her calm, positive nature will be a real comfort to her patients.”

Initially, Miles didn’t expect to pursue psychiatry, and it wasn’t until her third-year clinical rotations that she discovered it was her real passion. 

“Every patient is unique, and there’s so much we still don’t know. That excites me,” she said.

Miles credits her mentors during her psychiatry rotation for showing her how genuine, human connection can transform care. 

“I saw firsthand how being real with patients makes a difference. There’s so much hurt in the world and so much healing that needs to happen. In Maine, mental health care is especially hard to access,” she said, noting she feels drawn to filling that need.

That sense of responsibility led her to apply to the MaineHealth Psychiatry Rural Residency Program in Rockland, a rural psychiatry track for residency designed to train psychiatrists to aid the state’s most underserved communities. 

“I want to feel confident helping anyone who comes my way, regardless of their age or where they’re from,” she said. “In Maine, we need generalists who are comfortable treating a wide range of conditions.”

In March, Miles found out that she matched into the Rockland program — her first-choice program — a dream come true, she said. She is one of 25 medical students this year who will remain in the state for residency.

During the rural residency program, Miles will spend two years training in Portland, then two years working in Maine’s Midcoast region, where she will provide inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care, collaborate with interprofessional teams, and gain firsthand experience in the challenges and rewards of rural mental health practice. 

Beyond the clinical setting, Miles is committed to improving rural health care outcomes in Maine. As a Dirigo Scholar — a Doctors for Maine’s Future Scholarship recipient — she has been a vocal advocate for expanding opportunities for Maine students in health professions. 

“The scholarship made it possible for me to pursue medicine. Even with working through med school, I’m not sure we could have afforded it otherwise,” she said.

She has testified before state legislators about the importance of investing in local communities. 

“If you want providers to stay in Maine, recruit people who are already here,” Miles said. “The Doctors for Maine’s Future Scholarship lessens the burden just enough to make it possible for people like me.”

During her time at UNE, Miles also helped launch a cardiology club where she served as an education coordinator, and she continued to work per diem nursing shifts to support her family and stay connected to patient care. While it sounds like a lot, Miles said picking up shifts was validating for her and reminded her, during the difficulties of medical school, why she was pursuing this path. 

As she prepares to begin residency, Miles is excited to stay in Maine and serve communities in her home state.

“This journey has been so long for me, personally. I’m finally here,” she said. “I’m excited to feel settled, to start giving back, and to help fill the gap in rural mental health care.”