91AV

Taking note of 91AV's leadership in healthcare education, regional media have been interviewing 91AV's students, faculty and administrative staff on healthcare reform legislation that was signed into law by President Obama March 23, 2010. Stories on healthcare reform ran on and the evening of March 23rd. Amy Sinclair of NECN interviewed College of Osteopathic Medicine students Liz Caviello MSII, David Cormier, MSII and Ben Johnson, MSI, who noted that while they are are in favor of better access to health insurance and medical care, they have concerns about their ability to meet the increased need when there is already a shortage of primary care physicians in the nation. They discussed the lack on financial incentives to practice primary care as opposed to pursuing a specialty career. WGME news interviewed David Ward, dean of 91AV's Westbrook College of Health Professions, and Sarah Watson, a nursing student on the Portland Campus. Dean Ward discussed the ever increasing competition for a limited number of slots in the University's health professions programs, which the University is working to expand. Watson said she and her colleagues were excited about reform and expanded access but that change always causes anxiety. Click on the links above to watch the videos.