•
BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE President Danielle Ripich discusses Maine healthcare workforce shortages on Maine Watch

University of New England President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., discussed Maine's healthcare workforce shortage on Maine Public Television's Maine Watch with Jennifer Rooks on March 20, 2009.

Earlier in the year, President Ripich also presented an "Issue Brief" on healthcare workforce shortages to  Maine legislators at a Policy Leaders Academy  in Augusta on Jan. 30, 2009.

On Maine Watch, President Ripich and Michelle Hood, president and CEO of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, discussed the shortage of physicians and healthcare workers in Maine. They also discussed  the implications of Governor John Baldacci's proposal to use $3.5 million dollars in one-time Recovery funds to  provide scholarships for Maine residents to support their medical education. The scholarships would be targeted to students at UNE's College of Osteopathic Medicine and other medical students in their 3rd and 4th years of  training at Maine Medical Center and Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems.

Both President Ripich and Michelle Hood agreed with Governor Baldacci that the more time medical students spend at clinical training sites in Maine during their 3rd and 4th years and during residencies, the more likely they are to stay and practice in Maine. 

At the January Policy Leaders Academy, President Ripich told legislators that affordable, quality health care is critical to Maine continued economic development and quality of life. Yet substantial shortages exist at almost all levels of the health care workforce in Maine.

Following a presentation on the University of New England's role in meeting that shortage, President Ripich presented the legislators with an "Issue Brief," summarizing the health care workforce issues facing Maine.

In the brief, President Ripich noted that these shortages can impact the cost and availability of care,  two areas of growing concern for everyone who relies on the health care system. 

"Maintaining a strong health care workforce is a serious challenge for the state of Maine," she writes.  "Understanding current conditions and needs throughout the state, and addressing the gaps through education, incentives and collaborative partnerships, will help to attract, build and maintain a strong and qualified pool of health care professionals to serve Maine population."

The Jan. 30th Legislative Policy Forum on Health Care was sponsored by the Policy Leaders Academy, a nonpartisan educational program for Maine legislators on the Maine economy.

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.