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Husson University and University of New England Announce New Strategic Healthcare Education Collaboration

Published on: January 24, 2025

Multiple people walking outside through Husson University's campus.

BANGOR, MAINE and PORTLAND, MAINE — January 24, 2025 — Two Maine universities are creating a strategic healthcare education collaboration that will ensure more Maine students are educated to work in patient care settings in the Pine Tree State into the future.

Husson University and the University of New England will collaborate on a variety of initiatives to enhance programs and ensure students are well prepared for careers in healthcare with the University of New England offering professional pharmacy education and Husson enhancing its undergraduate pathways to healthcare careers. 

Husson University President Lynne Coy-Ogan, Ed.D., and University of New England President James D. Herbert, Ph.D. jointly announced the collaboration, calling it an important step forward for Maine healthcare education.

“Demand for PharmD programs has been in decline nationally for several years, but we recognize the critical role these programs have in ensuring qualified, board-certified pharmacists enter the workforce each year. By creating a pathway for Husson students to potentially attend the University of New England’sPharmD program, we are contributing to a pipeline of well-prepared pharmacists to meet the growing healthcare needs in Maine in the coming years,” said Coy-Ogan. 

Following Husson’s decision to no longer offer the PharmD program, all of Husson’s current pharmacy students can choose to continue their education in UNE’s School of Pharmacy. Further, Husson and UNE will also collaborate on their pre-pharmacy programs and will provide access to qualified Husson and UNE undergraduates to apply to the UNE School of Pharmacy.

This new strategic healthcare education collaboration will bring enhanced options to both universities. Well-qualified Husson students will also now have the opportunity for a guaranteed interview in UNE’s medical and dental schools. Students in Husson’s health and science programs will have access to pursue UNE’s Physician Assistant program due to a new articulation agreement between Husson and UNE aimed at increasing the number of primary care providers in Maine.

“At UNE, we are well aware of the shortage of healthcare professionals across Maine, and our students are learning and ultimately working in healthcare settings in every corner of the state,” said UNE President Herbert. “We are proud to collaborate with Husson on these new initiatives that, together, will provide more pathways for Maine students to pursue careers in healthcare and to alleviate the severe shortages the state is facing.”     

ABOUT HUSSON UNIVERSITY

For more than 125 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders for the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degree programs. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson offers quality educational programs in areas including emerging technologies; business; finance; education; animal care; legal studies; healthcare; science and humanities; and communication. With a picturesque campus in Bangor, Maine, and a growing portfolio of online degree programs, Husson is meeting the needs of learners of all ages from around the United States and the world. For more information about educational opportunities, visit Husson.edu.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind  study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online  offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts. Visit www.une.edu for more information.

Contacts:

Sarah Walker Caron — Director of Communications, Husson University

O 207.992.4925 | C 207.649.4647 | caronsa@husson.edu

Sarah Delage (she/her)  — Associate Vice President of Communications, University of New England

C 508.733.2293 | sdelage@une.edu