UNE Dental Careers Exploration Camp covered by media

WCSH 6 and WGME 13, MPBN public radio, the Portland Press Herald, the Forecaster (Falmouth) and Journal Tribune;(Biddeford) ran stories on UNE's Dental Careers Exploration Camp on July 25, 26, 27, and 28, 2010. Working alongside Maine GEAR UP, a program working to get more kids into college, UNE is giving high students the chance to experience the healthcare profession first-hand at the Coleman Dental Hygiene Building. The teens put on masks, scrubs and goggles and even even got to practice their drilling skills on a patient simulator. Organizers call the camp a good chance for high school students interested in dentistry to see if it's right for them. It's especially important to encourage dentistry hopefuls in Maine since there is such a shortage of dentists in the state. All 16 counties in Maine have shortages of dental professionals, including dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and dental lab technicians. As a result, more than 200,000 Mainers don't have regular access to dental care in their communities. Kneka Smith, associate dean for planning, and Jessica Gellar, a dental hygiene instructor at UNE and camp coordinator, were quoted in the stories, as well as several high school students.

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.