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The University of Maine could become the second location in the state for a medical school if Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, has his way. Martin wants the state to reassess the possibility of incorporating a UMaine medical school that would concentrate on training primary-care physicians.
Currently, Martin is trying to get the state to fund a study that was abandoned in the mid-1970s. The study showed that Maine was in need of a medical school. In 1975 the bill for a medical school passed through the legislature but was vetoed by then-Gov. James Longley.
Twenty-six years have passed since that decision was made, but Martin feels the same problems occur in Maine today.
“We need to create a medical school that not only attracts students to rural areas but makes them want to stay,” Martin said in a recent interview with the Bangor Daily News. “And that will only happen if it’s in a rural area.”
Martin visited the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine last year as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and found medical students there were sent to rural areas to do their clinical work. The visit prompted him to reintroduce the study in Maine.
“If we’re going to save rural America, we have to stop people from having to run to the cities for medical care,” Martin said.
The state needs to acquire federal money in order to start the program. Consequently, the medical school would need to work in conjunction with an area hospital like Eastern Maine Medical Center or St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor. EMMC had shown enthusiasm in the 1970s when the idea was last introduced.
Peter Hoff, UMaine president, said the idea is worth exploring but “careful considerations” must be taken before the university can make any commitment.
Opponents of the study include Sandra Featherman, president of the University of New England in Biddeford, which is currently Maine’s only medical school. In an opinion column published by the Bangor Daily, Featherman expressed concern over Martin’s proposed medical school.
“We need more doctors for rural Maine,” she wrote. “We do not need another medical school at this time. Three basic initiatives will make a real difference: reduce the debt load for medical students, fund the programs we have and create training opportunities in Maine.”
Currently, the state reserves 20 seats at medical schools throughout New England including: the University of Vermont with 10 slots, five at the University of New England and five at Dartmouth College.
Martin said he wants a medical school in rural Maine and hopes students will do their residencies and eventually work in the area where they study.
Bangor Daily News