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PORTLAND, Maine

Maine LEND celebrates graduation of latest cohort of trainees

Maine LEND trainee graduates and core leaders
Maine LEND trainee graduates and core leaders

The Maine LEND program celebrated the graduation of 11 trainees from its program on May 3. Andrew J. Imparato, executive director of the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD),  served as the keynote speaker.

Organized by Lianne Lissauer, the Maine LEND administrative assistant, the event was kicked off by Maine LEND Program Director Eileen Ricci, PT, D.P.T., M.S., PCS, who welcomed friends and families of the trainees and introduced Imparato. Kathryn Loukas, O.T.D., M.S., OTR/L, FAOTA, Maine LEND training director, and Valerie Jones, LMSW, family interprofessional team coordinator, awarded graduates certificates of completion and yellow roses.

With mentors in each of their disciplines, the trainees have completed elective projects, family-led programs, observations at medical and diagnostic sites, interprofessional practice initiatives, community events, and leadership/advocacy. According to Loukas, “The graduates move forward with distinct knowledge, skills, leadership, and dedication toward community inclusion and full participation of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.”

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.