Media cover UNE's celebration of Patient Care Center construction and College of Dental Medicine

MPBN public radio, the Bangor Daily News, WCSH6 TV and WGME13 TV covered UNE's Aug. 30, 2012 celebration of the construction of its $14.5 million Patient Care Center and the dedication of the renovation of Goddard Hall as the home of UNE's College of Dental Medicine.

Also celebrated was the recent announcement that the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation has granted initial accreditation status to the College of Dental Medicine which will begin classes in fall 2013.

More than 100 dentists, hygienists and other supporters came to the event held on the Portland Campus. Speakers at the event included Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew, Northeast Delta Dental President and CEO Thomas Raffio, UNE College of Dental Medicine (CDM) Founding Dean James Koelbl, UNE Board of Trustees Chair Mark Doiron, and UNE President Danielle Ripich.

MPBN noted in its story that Maine has a shortage of dentists, particularly in rural areas. The Pew Center for States found that last year, nearly 40 percent of the state population lived in areas federally designated as having a shortage of dental health professionals.

President Ripich explained that "the dental school is really about students and patients.  What makes this a bit different from other dental school stories is the untraditional model.  Rather than training for all four years on site, by their 4th year UNE’s students will be practicing in community-based clinics throughout Maine and New England."

The media noted that despite a delay in funds from a voter-approved state bond referendum, UNE is moving forward with its plans to open the College of Dental Medicine in 2013.

Commissioner Mayhew told WCSH6 that Governor Paul LePage is simply delaying borrowing, and that he believes the dental school is important to improve the oral health of Mainers across the state. Mayhew said, "The governor is committed to ongoing support of this project and the issuance of the bond. It is simply a matter of timing."

The Bangor Daily News interviewed UNE Dental Hygiene alum Audra Boynton '08 who has been waiting for the dental school to open so that she could apply. “I have roots here,” Boynton said. “For me to move to Boston right now would be major upheaval in my life. I don’t plan on living in Boston, I plan on living here.”

Read the Bangor Daily News story, listen to the MPBN story, and watch the WCSH6 video.

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.