The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) is a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, M ...
in
Biddeford, Maine
Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the 2020 census. The twin cities of Saco and Biddeford include the resort communities of Biddeford Poo ...
. Founded in 1978, the college is part of the
University of New England and grants two degrees: the
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO or D.O., or in Australia DO USA) is a medical degree conferred by the 38 osteopathic medical schools in the United States. DO and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees are equivalent: a DO graduate may become licens ...
(D.O.) degree and a Master of Medical Education Leadership. According to ''U.S. News & World Report'', UNECOM graduates the 6th most physicians of any U.S. medical school that go on to practice in a primary care specialty.
UNECOM is accredited by the
Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
The American Osteopathic Association's (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) accredits medical schools granting the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree in the United States. The US Department of Education lists the Co ...
(COCA) and by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the
New England Commission of Higher Education
The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit membership organization that performs peer evaluation and accreditation of public and private universities and colleges in the United States and other ...
.
History
The college was founded in 1978 by the New England Osteopathic Foundation.
The following year, 1979, the New England College of Osteopathic Medicine merged with St. Francis College to create the University of New England. The medical school was originally housed in Stella Maris Hall, but in 1996, with the opening of Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences the majority of classwork for the first and second years were transferred to the Alfond Center while Administration and Faculty Offices continued to be housed in Stella Marris Hall.
[ In August 2013, UNECOM opened Leonard Hall, a new classroom space for first and second year medical courses.]
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Mission
To educate "health care leaders who advance patient-centered, high-quality osteopathic primary care, research and community health for the people of Maine, New England, and the nation."[
]
Academics
The first and second years of the DO program consist of the basic sciences, along with structured, standardized patient encounters, while the third and fourth years consist of clinical clerkships
Clinical clerkships encompass a period of medical education in which students – medical, nursing, dental, or otherwise – practice medicine under the supervision of a health practitioner.
Medical clerkships
In medical education, a clerksh ...
in hospitals and clinics throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic States.
Each third year student is required to complete 6-week rotations in Family Medicine
Family medicine is a medical specialty within primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, genders, diseases, and parts of the body. The specialist, who is usually a primary ...
, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (also spelled as Obstetrics and Gynecology; abbreviated as Obs and Gynae, O&G, OB-GYN and OB/GYN) is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics (covering pregnancy, childbirth, and t ...
, Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions. See glossary of psychiatry.
Initial psych ...
, Surgery
Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...
, and Pediatrics
Pediatrics ( also spelled ''paediatrics'' or ''pædiatrics'') is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, paediatrics covers many of their youth until th ...
, as well as a 12-week rotation in Internal Medicine. Fourth year students are required to complete 4-week clerkships in emergency medicine
Emergency medicine is the medical speciality concerned with the care of illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Emergency physicians (often called “ER doctors” in the United States) continuously learn to care for unsche ...
, osteopathic manipulative medicine
Osteopathy () is a type of alternative medicine that emphasizes physical manipulation of the body's muscle tissue and bones. Practitioners of osteopathy are referred to as osteopaths.
Osteopathic manipulation is the core set of techniques in ...
, a surgical subspecialty, a subspecialty of pediatrics or internal medicine, and rural health, through Maine's AHEC program. Students are then free to complete 19 weeks of electives in any specialty they want. Students are free to do all of their fourth year rotations throughout the United States.
In addition to the DO degree, students at UNECOM may complete Masters in Public Health
The Master of Public Health or Master of Philosophy in Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH), Master of Medical Science in Public Health (MMSPH) and the Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.), International Masters for Healt ...
or a Master of Science in Medical Education Leadership (MMEL). The college also offers fellowships in anatomy and osteopathic manipulative medicine.[
]
See also
* List of medical schools in the United States This list of medical schools in the United States includes current and developing academic institutions which award the Doctor of Medicine (MD), or the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) a professional level of education, either of which is requir ...
References
External links
UNECOM website
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Universities and colleges in York County, Maine
Osteopathic medical schools in the United States
Educational institutions established in 1978
Education in Biddeford, Maine
University of New England (United States)
Medical schools in Maine