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Biddeford, Maine

Four UNE medical students awarded prestigious substance use disorder fellowship

COM students
Four University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine students were awarded the prestigious Hazelden Betty Ford Summer Institute for Medical Students fellowship to receive specialized substance use disorder training.

Four medical students in the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM) have been selected for the highly competitive Hazelden Betty Ford Summer Institute for Medical Students (SIMS) fellowship program. 

Class of ’27 students Rachel Glasser, Kacper Iwanowski, Bethany Santo, and Chase Sisk were selected among just 16 students nationwide to attend an immersive substance use disorder (SUD) training program in Palm Springs, California, this May. 

The SIMS program equips future physicians with the skills to prevent, identify, and comprehensively treat addiction. Fellows attend lectures, interactive seminars, and clinical experiences focused on developing expertise in SUD screening, intervention, treatment, and recovery.  

Earlier this year, UNE received word that it was one of five medical schools to be selected for the SIMS application process.  

“We are incredibly proud to have been selected as a flagship medical school,” said Marilyn Gugliucci, Ph.D., professor and director of Geriatrics Education and Research at UNE COM. “It is fabulous that four of our osteopathic medical students have been selected for this valuable educational opportunity.” 

According to the 2022 Maine Community Health Needs Assessment, substance and alcohol use was identified as a top priority among all counties across the state. The report stated that in 2020, the rate of overdose deaths in Maine per 100,000 residents was 37.3 when compared to the national rate of 21.5. The lack of preventative services, including trained professionals, were a factor.  

“This fellowship has the potential for long-term local and regional impact,” Gugliucci said. “And our students’ commitment to this important area of medicine will undoubtedly make a positive impact on countless lives.” 

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.