Maine AHEC Network

Our Maine AHEC Network team enjoyed hosting our annual summer Health Careers Exploration Camp with our academic partners at University of New England! Interactive sessions focused on dental medicine, dental hygiene, nursing, physician assistant, public health, occupational therapy, nutrition osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, and athletic training.

https://www.une.edu/news/2026/une-mentors-maine-high-school-students-annual-health-careers-exploration-camp

Our Northern Maine AHEC at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center is excited to be able to offer new simulation opportunities with their new Mobile Simulation Training Ambulance as a part of their youth health career exploration activities!

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center has received a new Mobile Simulation Training Ambulance, thanks to a $35,000 grant from the Consortium for Healthcare Education and Training in partnership with the Building-ME Network.

Rolling out (quite literally!) this summer, the unit will expand hands-on emergency services training, especially in obstetrical and newborn care, for EMS responders and healthcare professionals across central, eastern, and northern Maine.

“This mobile unit lets us deliver realistic training directly to the communities that need it most,” said James Jarvis, MD, director of Clinical Education at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

It will also support workforce outreach to inspire future healthcare professionals.

Visit our website to learn more! https://ow.ly/nygU50ZepEI

We are thrilled to see the medical students from our AHEC Scholars Program matching with residency programs here in Maine!

https://www.une.edu/Maine-matched-physicians-graduating-from-UNE-reflect-on-making-a-difference-through-in-state-residencies

We are always excited to share the stories of our AHEC Scholars! Read more at this link about Ryelyn Brown D.M.D who graduated this spring with an Honors Distinction for her participation in the CUP AHEC Scholars Program, and her intentions to work in a rural Maine community!

https://www.une.edu/news/2026/une-college-dental-medicine-graduate-wanted-work-rural-healthcare-day-one

The Maine Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network is a statewide healthcare workforce development program.

Maine AHEC Network's mission is to prepare and support Maine's healthcare workforce by creating healthcare learning opportunities for youth, students, and professionals to foster healthier communities and expand access to care across Maine.

We fulfill our mission by: 1) Encouraging and supporting Maine youth to pursue careers in the health professions, 2) providing didactic and community-based education to health professions students to prepare them to provide care for rural and medically underserved communities in Maine; and 3) offering continuing education programs to practicing health professionals.

Our central program office is based at the University of New England with three regional AHEC Centers located throughout Maine at Healthy Acadia, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital, and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Western Maine AHEC Director Jolene Luce joined Maine Public Health Association for their latest Healthy Maine Talks podcast to discuss the important role that Maine AHEC Network plays in addressing the healthcare workforce needs in Maine. Please listen to the episode to hear why this federally funded program is so critical to our state.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rNpAVByvdDUBOtQdjpLyQ?si=4O79T_F9QaCZWiEhYNMe-g

Area Health Education Centers: Tackling Rural Maine's Health Care Workforce Shortage Healthy Maine Talks · Episode

Learn more about AHEC Scholars completing their clinical rotations in rural Maine! Maine AHEC Network oversees the rural clinical rotation stipends that are awarded by M&T Bank.

UNE Grows Ranks of Rural Health Care Providers with grant from M&T Bank M&T Bank has pledged $125,000 in grants over five years to aid the UNE in its mission to grow the health care workforce in rural Maine communities.

We hosted our annual AHEC Scholars Case Competition this past weekend. The event, planned and coordinated by AHEC Scholar Program Manager Micaela Maynard, M.Ed., is designed not only to prepare students for the complexities of health care in underserved populations but also to generate actionable solutions.

“The Case Competition pushes students to think beyond individual patient care and toward broader, systemic solutions that can impact entire communities,” Maynard said. “Our goal is for participants to leave not only with clinical knowledge but also with the skills to address health disparities and advocate for those in underserved populations so that they can make a real difference in Maine’s health care landscape.” Click the link to read more! Congratulations to our AHEC Scholars!

Students Tackle Health Care Challenges of Maine's Asylum-Seeking Families With increasing numbers of asylum seekers arriving in Maine, the event brought timely focus to the complex web of barriers these families face when accessing essential health services, with a focus on maternal health.

On June 24th - 26th Maine AHEC Network at the University of New England partnered with New Mainers Public Health Initiative and Maine Access Immigrant Network to host the 2023 Health Career Exploration Camp. Thirty students attended the camp to learn about a variety health career opportunities. This camp was made possible with funding from Martin's Point.