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The on Sept. 30, 2011 ran a story on a conference in Bar Harbor titled “Growing Our Own,” during which state officials and health professionals explored ideas for attracting young Mainers into health care fields and retaining them to serve in the state’s rural communities.The story focuses on a guest speaker's belief that the key to the problem is to place health professions students in rural practices during their professional educations and in their post-graduate clinical residencies.

Marc Hahn, D.O., dean of ɫ����Ƶ's College of Osteopathic Medicine (photo), quoted in the story, explained that ɫ����Ƶ students from many health disciplines find placements in rural hospitals and medical practices and that ɫ����Ƶ’s new dental school also is partnering with federally subsidized health centers around the state to place students in clinical practices.

Since its founding in 1978, Hahn said, ɫ����ƵCOM has been a primary educator of the medical work force in Maine and New England.

Of the 124 students starting their osteopathic training at ɫ����Ƶ this fall, 23 are from Maine. ɫ����ƵCOM Associate Dean Kenneth Johnson, D.O., said ɫ����ƵCOM gives some preference to Maine applicants who express an interest in primary care and have some work experience in a health care setting.