UNE students work alongside Maine Medical Center professionals to provide free health care

Nursing student Elizabeth Alvin administers a flu shot to a health fair visitor
Nursing student Elizabeth Alvin administers a flu shot to a health fair visitor

The University of New England partnered with Maine Medical Center (MMC) and the Portland Public Library for a Community Health Fair on Tuesday, October 2.

The clinic was open to everyone, with a focus on homeless individuals, new Mainers and other underserved patients.

“It’s great to pair students with colleagues from Maine Medical Center, the Portland Public Library and all of our community agencies to serve these really vulnerable communities that need better access to health care, resources and information,” said Trisha Mason, M.A., director of the WCHP Service Learning program.

UNE students and MMC professionals provided visitors with free flu shots, blood pressure and diabetes screenings, oral health education and connections to local health and support agencies.

The clinic gave 20 students from six different UNE programs hands-on experience working with professional nurses from MMC, while also providing valuable health screenings and education to people who otherwise may not have access to them.

“Not only did our students provide information and resources, they also had the opportunity to learn from peers, colleagues and other professionals in the field,” explained Mason.

Lydia McIntire (Nursing, ’19) says it was an opportunity to apply the skills she learned in the classroom. It also gave her experience working collaboratively with other health providers.

“As a nursing student, I think it's really important to work as part of a team with professionals,” she stated. “Getting ahead of that and jump starting it in a work environment is going to help me in the future.”

Students from Nursing, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, College of Pharmacy, College of Dental Medicine, and Social Work volunteered their time to the health fair.

The Community Health Fair was featured on WGME.

A visitor to the health fair checks for bacteria on his hands using the “Bug Light”
A visitor to the health fair checks for bacteria on his hands using the “Bug Light”
Nursing students Lydia McIntire and Stephanie Kerrigan applied skills they learned in the classroom at the health fair
Nursing students Lydia McIntire and Stephanie Kerrigan applied skills they learned in the classroom at the health fair
College of Dental Medicine students Adam Gray and Yalda Rostamnezhad gave oral health advice to visitors
College of Dental Medicine students Adam Gray and Yalda Rostamnezhad gave oral health advice to visitors

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.