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PORTLAND, Maine

UNE cohosts occupational and physical therapy conference with Maine Medical Center

M.S.O.T. 2017 students Calley Rock, Arynne Siple, Kelcey Briggs, Kelly Dolyak and Alexandra St. Clair
M.S.O.T. 2017 students Calley Rock, Arynne Siple, Kelcey Briggs, Kelly Dolyak and Alexandra St. Clair

The University of New England's Westbrook College of Health Professions, in partnership with Maine Medical Center, held a conference on Saturday, June 4, 2016 titled, “Emerging practice opportunities for Physical and Occupational Therapy.” The event was open to students, faculty and local practitioners. More than 120 participants were able to interact with presenters that included Elizabeth Francis-Connolly, Ph.D., O.T.R., F.A.O.T.A., dean of the Westbrook College of Health Professions, who highlighted the challenges and opportunities in the current health care climate.

Presentations from Maine Medical Center physicians covered a variety of topics including the work of rehabilitation professionals in the emergency room, the role of P.T. and O.T. in the Geriatric Fall Initiative and the importance of early mobility in the Intensive Care Unit. In addition to these presentations, an interprofessional poster presentation was coordinated by UNE students Hailey Johnston, O.T. (M.S.O.T., ‘16) and Elizabeth Inscore, P.T. (D.P.T., ’18). The 17 posters highlighted areas of emerging practice, which included the work of 54 students, eight faculty members, two adjunct faculty members and the dean. 

The successful and well-attended conference was part of the ongoing MMC/UNE partnership that includes Mike Sheldon, P.T., Ph.D., director of Physical Therapy, Kathryn Loukas, Interim Program Director of Occupational Therapy; Sally McCormack Tutt, PT Director of Clinical Education; Elizabeth Crampsey, OT Assistant Clinical Professor and Coordinator of the Community Therapy Center (CTC) and several talented health care professionals from Maine Medical Center. The group plans to do more collective work to educate students, provide service to the community, and support interprofessional efforts in the future. 

 

To learn more about the University of New England’s Westbrook College of Health Professions visit www.une.edu/wchp

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.