Press Herald publishes Maine Voices column by Dora Anne Mills

The Portland Press Herald on July 28, 2011 published a Maine Voices column by Dora Anne Mills, M.D., MPH, with the headline "Maine is at risk for a heat-wave disaster unless preparations are made." Mills, former Maine director of public health, will become UNE's vice president for clinical affairs in September.

Mills notes in the column that "over the last 30 years, more people have died in this country from heat than from all other weather events combined, including snowstorms, ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, lightning and earthquakes."

Mills outlines a four-point action plan for Maine, adding that "during the winter storm season, Mainers know to keep informed about the forecast. We know to prepare for storms by stocking up on supplies and laying low inside. We know to check on neighbors. If the situation worsens, our communities have warming centers and heated shelters. Maine needs analogous strategies for summer heat events."

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.