The University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine held its annual Match Day last week, connecting 166 budding doctors with residency programs.
Thirteen have been placed in Maine hospitals and a total of 69 were placed around New England.
UNE’s Match Day ceremony in Portland was the first at the Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences, which opened for the current school year.
Of the 166 students matched, 84 students accepted residencies in primary care and 28 will work in emergency medicine.
“You have chosen one of the most noble callings to pursue … and it’s needed, and our world needs more physicians, especially the kinds of physicians that are trained right here in Maine,” said UNE President James Herbert.
“The Bibby,” as medical students call UNE’s new medical education building, is expected to help UNE ease the national shortage of medical professionals. The school has seen a 21% increase in enrollment at the new facility, equating to 200 medical students expected to be enrolled each year.
The College of Osteopathic Medicine consistently is ranked among the country’s top medical schools and is considered a leader in primary care, rural medicine and geriatric health care. UNE medical students’ match to residencies are at rates above national averages, according to the university.
