Portland mayor commends UNE students for chronic pain research and advocacy

Samantha Shepard with Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling
Samantha Shepard with Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling

Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling recognized September as Chronic Pain Awareness month in a ceremony at the University of New England’s Portland Campus. The event was one in a series of events that month sponsored by UNE’s student-run Pain Education and Advocacy Collaborative (PEAC), the Southern Maine Chronic Pain Support Group and Young People in Recovery.

Before reading the proclamation, Mayor Strimling thanked those who shared their personal stories of living with chronic pain and addiction. “I can’t imagine what it is like to live that way but I am inspired by your words and your willingness to tell others your story and the work that you do every day to try to survive.”

Similar proclamations were also signed in Saco and Biddeford. Samantha Shepard '17, PEAC facilitator, lives with chronic pain and expressed her gratitude for the support of all three municipalities.

"We are striving to make a deep impact in the lives of so many people, and we are very grateful for the support stemming from Mayor Strimling and the Cities of Portland, Biddeford and Saco,” she said. “The proclamation signing today gives us encouragement and hope that our messages will be heard and represented in our local and state government.” 

 

To learn more about the University of New England’s Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, visit www.une.edu/research/cen

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

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.