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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 2 3 F O C U S H E A L T H C A R E / W E L L N E S S college in Biddeford, began discussions with the New England Foundation for Osteopathic Medicine. at led to the founding of the New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. St. Francis and the College of Osteopathic Medicine then combined to create the University of New England. e medical school has grown to include its original home, Stella Maris Hall, which now houses offices and vari- ous departments. e Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences houses laboratories and lecture halls, the Pickus Center for Biomedical Research houses research teams, the University of New England School of Pharmacy has dedicated research space, and Leonard Hall is one of the largest interactive classrooms of its kind in the country. e Clinical Performance Center is mod- eled as an outpatient health center and houses a patient simulator program. But in recent years the med school outgrew its Biddeford location. "e new building will be much larger and designed for the way medical school is taught today and how we anticipate it will be taught in the future," says Herbert. For example, the gross anatomy lab, currently in cramped basement quarters, will double in size on the new build- ing's top floor with lots of natural light. Telehealth infrastructure, currently a piecemeal affair, will be purpose-built. e facility itself is intentionally designed to encourage relationships, both formal and informal, between the health professions. "We don't want to create a building that's just for medical students and they never come out and our nursing and pharmacy and other health care students never go in," says Herbert. Stay connected! Receive news, information, and analysis about Maine's business community through e-newsletters that provide a quick update on the most important statewide business news. Sign up for Mainebiz email newsletters Stay informed on statewide real estate and development news with the Real Estate Insider. Catch up on the most talked about Maine business news with our Weekly Report! Don't miss the top business news in Maine with the Daily Report! SIGN UP TODAY AT MAINEBIZ.BIZ/ENEWSLETTERS C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » UNE's Biddeford campus T he med school's move will allow UNE to repurpose and expand space in Biddeford for the new College of Business and programs such as criminology, media arts, marine sciences and the humanities. R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y O F S M R T C O U R T E S Y O F S M R T The College of Osteopathic Medicine building, designed by SMRT Architects and Engineers, features a hybrid steel and wood framing system. SITE PLANS: The new College of Osteopathic Medicine build- ing (in blue) and new quad link to the historic quad. The front door of the new building lines up with the front door of Proctor Hall, one of the original buildings on the campus. Features de- signed with ease of teaching and collaborative learning in mind include smaller pods, allowing faculty to work with specific groups of students; and interac- tive classrooms for teamwork. A glass walkway connects the center with Innovation Hall. Fast facts on the Alfond Center for Health Sciences Estimated cost: $93 million Funding sources: $30 million Harold Alfond Foundation gift, $5 million in federal funding, donor pledges 110,000 square feet 200 students per class (800 at any given time), versus 165 In 2023, 98.2% of students matched to residencies in 15 specialties The whole person: Osteopathic medicine is a "whole person" approach to hands-on care — looking beyond symptoms to understand how lifestyle and environmen- tal factors impact well-being. Osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest-growing health care professions. S O U R C E : American Osteopathic Association

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