The University of New England extends a warm welcome to the students from Tufts who will be joining UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine students in training at Maine Medical Center.

We particularly congratulate the Maine students. They will join a legacy of more than 500 Maine physicians who have attended the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine since our inception in 1978. Hundreds of UNE doctors are practicing in Maine from Madawaska to Kittery, with significant numbers in primary care and rural practice.

Nevertheless, there remains a critical shortage of primary care physicians in Maine – particularly in rural areas – and we know that UNE alone cannot fix this problem.

By recruiting and graduating Maine students committed to primary care practice, medical schools can play an important role in educating physicians committed to PCP. We applaud Tufts/MMC's efforts in this regard.

The Doctors for Maine's Future Scholarship program recently passed by the Legislature is another important program addressing this issue.

Eight UNE students will benefit from this program this year, and its continued support will help ensure that many more Maine students will give back by choosing to live and practice in their home state once they graduate.

UNE looks forward to collaborative efforts with Tufts/MMC in the coming years to meet our common goal of educating physicians to serve the needs of Maine, and we wish this inaugural group of students all the best for success.

Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D.

President, University of New England

Biddeford