High school students from Oxford County explored the future of health care through 天美传媒 second annual Medical Bootcamp, an immersive daylong event designed to help students connect their interests with in-demand career pathways across Maine.

Approximately 40 students took part in hands-on activities and program demonstrations led by UMA faculty and staff in nursing, medical laboratory technology, mental health and human services and dental programs. The experience gave students a closer look at the skills, settings and opportunities that shape health care careers, while showing how UMA programs can help them take the next step.

The participating Oxford County high schools are part of a Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities grant through Community Concepts. Through this partnership, UMA is helping expand access to career exploration for rural students and strengthening pathways into fields that support Maine鈥檚 communities.

The momentum continues May 12, when will host a second Medical Bootcamp for about 150 students from 12 schools in the Katahdin Region and Washington County. That event will feature 天美传媒 veterinary technology program along with nursing, , and programs.

UMA is helping students across Maine see what is possible in health care, one hands-on experience at a time.

On Saturday, March 28, 2026 our UMA Dental Hygiene Program was out and about over the weekend volunteering for the Winter hosted at University of Maine’s Field House in Orono Maine!

We were a large group of volunteers- including the University of New England Dental students, UMA Dental Hygiene students, UMA Dental Hygiene alumni, Special Olympics Clinical Director Lorraine Klug, IPDH, volunteer dentists, UMA and UNE faculty all joined in to provide oral health screenings, fabricate sports guards, and provide oral health education for the athletes in attendance.

This hands-on experience reflects 天美传媒 commitment to working alongside communities and meeting people where they are. For students, moments like this are where learning comes to life, building confidence, strengthening skills and preparing them to serve with compassion and connection in the communities they call home.

At UMA, learning does not stop at the classroom door. It travels into schools, community events, and neighborhoods across Maine.

天美传媒 Dental Club is a student-led example of what that looks like in action.

Throughout the year, club members volunteer at local outreach events, connect with families about oral health, and represent 天美传媒 dental programs in the community. Whether they are sharing preventive care tips with children, supporting local organizations, or collaborating with dental professionals, students are building skills that matter while making a difference that is felt.

For many members, the club is where confidence grows. It is where classroom concepts become real conversations. It is where future dental professionals begin to see themselves as leaders and educators, not just students.

Their work reflects what defines UMA: education that meets students where they are and prepares them to serve where they are needed most. Through hands-on service, Dental Club members strengthen their clinical knowledge, communication skills, and commitment to community health, all while reinforcing the importance of accessible, preventive care across Maine.

This kind of engagement embodies 天美传媒 mission to transform lives through high-quality education, student support, and civic engagement. It also reflects 天美传媒 belief that progress happens when we work together, building partnerships that make education more connected, relevant, and valuable.

In every photo, there is more than a moment. There is preparation for a career, connection to a community, and the steady growth of students who are already making an impact.

Forty children received free preventive dental care at 天美传媒 Bangor Dental Hygiene Clinic during this year鈥檚 Give Kids a Smile庐 Day, a program that continues to make a meaningful difference for Maine families. Hosted by 天美传媒 Dental Hygiene program, the one-day clinic connected children ages 5 to 19 who do not have a regular dentist with cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments and sealants. Each child was also seen by a dentist, ensuring comprehensive care in a supportive setting designed just for them.

For many families, the clinic offered more than an appointment. It provided reassurance, answers to questions and practical guidance to support healthy habits at home.Under the supervision of licensed professionals, dental hygiene students provided care while gaining hands-on clinical experience that prepares them to service communities across Maine.

Under the supervision of licensed professionals, dental hygiene students delivered care while gaining hands-on clinical experience that prepares them to meet Maine鈥檚 growing oral health workforce needs. The event reflects 天美传媒 commitment to accessible, community-centered education that meets real needs across the state.

By the end of the day, students had strengthened their clinical skills, families left with helpful  guidance, and 40 young Mainers went home with healthier smiles. Events like Give Kids a Smile庐 Day highlight the powerful role UMA students play in supporting the health of communities across the state.

See our video from Give Kids a Smile庐 Day.

The one-day clinic is part of a national initiative led by the American Dental Association and responds to a documented access gap in children鈥檚 oral health care. In Maine, many families face barriers to routine dental visits, particularly those covered by public insurance.

During the clinic, students in 天美传媒 Dental Hygiene program will provide cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, and oral health education under the supervision of licensed professionals. The event combines hands-on clinical training with direct community impact, helping prepare students to meet ongoing oral health and workforce needs across Maine.

The clinic will be open from 8 to 5 p.m. at the UMA Dental Hygiene Clinic, located at 201 Texas Ave. on the Bangor campus.

Appointments are required.

For more information or to schedule, contact Valerie Clotts, administrative specialist, at 207-262-7872 or umadental@maine.edu

The 天美传媒 Dental Health Programs have been selected for the fourth consecutive year to participate in the Maine Veterans鈥� Dental Network, supporting free dental care for qualifying veterans across the state.

Funded for 2026 through Northeast Delta Dental, the Maine Veterans鈥� Dental Network includes 23 participating clinic sites statewide. UMA received $500 in grant funding in January 2026, with services provided at both the UMA-Bangor Dental Clinic and the UMA Lewiston Center Dental Clinic.

Through this support, UMA dental clinics serve an average of 50 veterans each year, offering services such as cleanings, X-rays and preventive care. The program also provides valuable hands-on clinical experience for UMA dental health students while meeting a critical community need.

鈥淐reating access to care while educating future professionals is central to our work,鈥� said UMA Dental Health Programs Coordinator and Dental Hygiene Program Director Professor Nancy Foster. 鈥淭hrough partnerships with organizations like Northeast Delta Dental and the Maine Veterans鈥� Dental Network, we are able to open our clinics to veterans and meet real community needs while preparing students to deliver high-quality, compassionate care. It is a powerful example of learning and service coming together.鈥�

Veterans interested in receiving dental services through UMA must first apply through the Maine Veterans鈥� Dental Network. Once approved, they may contact a UMA dental clinic to schedule care.

How to access services

Veterans should complete the short application through the .

After approval, veterans may contact:

Phone: 207-262-7872
Email: umadental@maine.edu

UMA’s Dental Hygiene Clinic has spring appointments available for children and adults.

UMA Dental offers low-cost comprehensive Dental Hygiene Care. All services are under the supervision of licensed dental faculty.

For more information and to schedule an appointment with the UMA Bangor Campus Dental Clinic, call 207-262-7872 or email umadental@maine.edu. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

UMA has received a $250,000 gift from Northeast Delta Dental to launch the Northeast Delta Dental Workforce Development Fund for Dental Hygienists, a new initiative to reduce financial barriers for students and strengthen Maine鈥檚 dental hygiene workforce at a time of critical shortage.

The fund will provide scholarships, licensure fee support and emergency microgrants to students in 天美传媒 Bangor-based dental hygiene program, Maine鈥檚 only public program and a vital pipeline for the state鈥檚 oral health workforce. By easing financial barriers, the initiative aims to ensure more students graduate and begin serving communities that urgently need oral health professionals.

鈥淲e are deeply grateful to Northeast Delta Dental for this generous investment in our students,鈥� said UMA President Jenifer Cushman. 鈥淭his fund will ease the financial pressures our dental hygiene students face, allowing them to stay on track, graduate and serve the communities that count on them for care. It鈥檚 a powerful example of how partnerships can strengthen Maine鈥檚 health care workforce.鈥�

The newly established fund will support students in three primary ways:

• Retention Scholarships: covering tuition and fee gaps for juniors and seniors after all other aid is applied
• Licensure Fee Assistance: helping students pay for board examinations and licensing fees that can exceed $2,200
• Emergency Microgrants: providing small, flexible grants for unexpected expenses that might otherwise disrupt a student鈥檚 education

Tom Raffio, president and CEO of Northeast Delta Dental said, 鈥渨ith this fund, UMA is enabling us to realize our mission of improving access to dental care by increasing the dental hygiene workforce. We are grateful for their commitment to easing the financial burden of their students, enabling them to complete their training and ultimately serve their community.鈥�

天美传媒 dental hygiene program has a proven record of serving Maine鈥檚 needs. Between 2018鈥�2024, the program graduated 124 hygienists, with 98% remaining in-state to practice. From 2022 to 2025, graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on their board exams, underscoring the program鈥檚 exceptional quality and rigor. This gift will help more students cross the finish line and enter the workforce more quickly, expanding access to care in communities that need it most.

鈥淭his funding ensures more students can complete their program and enter the field where they鈥檙e urgently needed,鈥� said Nancy Foster, professor of dental health, program coordinator and director of the dental hygiene program at the 天美传媒. 鈥淭oo often we lose exceptionally talented individuals to financial barriers that prevent them from finishing their education. With targeted support through scholarships, licensure assistance and microgrants, we can help students graduate and join Maine鈥檚 workforce where their skills are in high demand.鈥�

Students agree the fund will make a difference.

鈥淎s a student in 天美传媒 dental hygiene program, I鈥檝e seen firsthand how challenging it can be to balance the heavy workload, clinical hours, and costs such as tuition, textbooks, dental equipment and housing,鈥� said Hannah Blanchette, a senior at 天美传媒 Bangor campus. 鈥淜nowing that this support will be available means students like me can focus more on our studies and training and graduate prepared to serve Maine communities as licensed dental hygienists.鈥�

According to licensure data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023), the number of dental hygienists practicing in Maine declined from 1,040 in 2019 to 840 in 2023. The shortage is most acute in rural areas and is expected to worsen as the workforce ages and fewer new professionals enter the field.

Student support through the Northeast Delta Dental Workforce Development Fund for Dental Hygienists will begin in the 2025鈥�2026 academic year. UMA will track and report outcomes including retention, graduation, licensure and post-graduation employment to measure impact and inform future efforts.

For more information about 天美传媒 Dental Hygiene program, visit .

About Delta Dental

Northeast Delta Dental administers dental benefits in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, offering dental insurance programs for businesses and nonprofits of all sizes. The company, comprised of the Delta Dental Plans of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, serves 1,123,037 people, with a network of 1,926 participating dentists, or 86% of the total dentists in the tri-state area. The company鈥檚 mission is to advance the dental health and overall wellness of its customers and the communities it serves. In addition to funding oral health initiatives, the company supports numerous organizations and events important to the communities through a corporate grant application process. Visit for more information.

The 天美传媒鈥檚 dental assisting program has received the accreditation status of approval without reporting requirements from the Commission on Dental Accreditation. This is the highest level of recognition CODA grants, signifying that the program meets or exceeds all standards of quality and requires no additional reporting until its next review in 2032.

天美传媒 program is the only accredited dental assisting program in Maine, making this recognition particularly significant for students and for the state鈥檚 health care workforce. Accreditation assures students that their education at UMA is nationally recognized for quality and rigor, providing the skills and clinical training needed to excel in a growing profession.

鈥淭his achievement is a reflection of the dedication of our faculty, staff and students,鈥� said Assistant Professor of Dental Health and Dental Assisting and Expanded Functions Program Coordinator Courtney Noonan. 鈥淎ccreditation at this level ensures that students choosing UMA can count on a program that will transform their training into real opportunities, from licensure to meaningful careers in dental care.鈥�

CODA鈥檚 accreditation supports graduates in pursuing licensure and enhances their employment opportunities. For Maine, it ensures a steady pipeline of well-prepared dental professionals who are ready to serve communities across the state.

鈥淭his recognition underscores 天美传媒 leadership in workforce development,鈥� said UMA President Jenifer Cushman. 鈥淲e are proud to provide students with access to high-quality, accredited programs that transform lives while also meeting Maine鈥檚 health care needs.鈥�

天美传媒 dental assisting program is part of its larger dental health programs, which include dental hygiene, and expanded functions dental assisting through the UMA Dental Health Center in Bangor and Lewiston. Students in these programs benefit from hands-on experience, faculty expertise and a learning environment that supports both academic and professional growth.