Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Members of the BOT:

      Over the past ten years, UNE/COM has seen rapid growth and an equivalent rise in its national prestige.  Alumni support has been instrumental in contributing to this success.  Remarkably, our Osteopathic physician graduates have been a cornerstone of healthcare in Maine participating in student education and fund raising for COM.  Recent change and instability at UNECOM (as outlined below) has raised serious concerns from our valued alumni and Osteopathic physician graduates that must be critically evaluated and challenged.  

    * Potential closure of UHC, 100+ jobs at risk, loss of student education sites, 20,000 plus patients displaced.  Potential acquisition by Maine Health resulting in an uncertain future for UHC.
    * COM Dean turnover, local and nationally respected Dr. Boyd Buser passed over for Dean.  Dr. Jackie Cawley appointed interim Dean with significant local controversy over ties to Maine Health.  Dr. John Gimpel appointed and resigned within one year. Dr. Cawley reappointed as Dean, accepted position, withdrew within 48 hours.  COM Dean position remains unfilled contributing to further uncertainty.
    * Loss of longstanding Osteopathic residency, displacing desperately needed local Osteopathic physicians.
    * Unprecedented number of UNE/COM senior staff/management turnover (Dean of COM, VP Financial Affairs, Dean of Students, and other VP’s of the University).
    * Pursuit of a Dental school in uncertain financial times with excessive expenditures in the exploration process with no success to date.
    * Turmoil at COM has resulted in a significant drop off of student applicants of 2.8% (the largest decline in the country) while nationally the application rate to other Osteopathic medical schools has risen by 8.9%.

I implore you as Board members to independently evaluate these events raised by our valued alumni and osteopathic physician graduates.  These decisions may have permanent impact on UNE/COM. 

Thank you for your time and consideration at these critical times.

Sincerely,

Geraldine Ollila D.O., P.T.,  UNE’ 88, COM 93