Last month, the University of New England hosted a dental hygiene clinic for middle and high school students, giving them a real peek into the field of dentistry.
And, last week, Franklin Memorial Hospital hosted its annual Scrub Club, a camp for high school students to get an insider’s view of a career in medicine.
These programs, and others like them that give students more than a job description as they consider their career futures, are terrifically helpful for a couple of reasons: They can truly inspire students to pursue the demonstrated career, or convince students — before years of study — to spend their energy doing something else.
There is a serious shortage of dentists now practicing in Maine, and there is a growing need for health care workers as Maine continues to age, so it makes sense to introduce Maine students to careers in the medical professions early because, just maybe, they’ll decide to study and practice in Maine, easing the exodus of young people from our state.
In both programs, students really got a chance — although brief — to experience different professions.
The dental students practiced cleanings, tooth extractions and filling cavities on patient “simulators.” The medical students practiced giving shots on “patient” oranges, and learning how to tie sutures and set casts on broken bones.
Both programs were presented in partnership with GEAR UP, a program that supports students in pursuing postsecondary studies, and we can only hope that some of the students who attended these camps will become dentists, nurses and doctors.
Cheers to all who do. We hope to see them practicing in Maine.
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A hearty cheer to Lewiston Public Works employee Mike Danforth who found, and returned, a wallet stolen from 80-year-old Edith Ryder on Tuesday.
Ryder had been walking down a hallway where she lives at Oak Park Apartments when a stranger lifted her wallet from a basket on the front of her walker and ran off. Inside the wallet was Ryder’s Social Security card, her Medicare and MaineCare cards, $40 and some family photos.
Danforth found the wallet close to Oak Park, and promptly reported the discovery to police. His decency is matched by that of others who have offered to help Ryder, including an anonymous donor who has offered a $500 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
Cheers to all of the Samaritans who have offered money to Ryder, and jeers to the 20-something man who thought he could victimize this grandmother for the pittance in her wallet.
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If you happen to find yourself in Oquossoc on Tuesday, check out the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day event at the Rangeley Guides and Sportsmen’s Association clubhouse on the Old Skiway Road. More specifically, check out the fly-tying skills of young Sam Kenney, an 11-year-old award-winning tier from Dixmont.
Combining art and science — crafting the beauty of the fly with the precise materials to bait fish — Kenney’s skills are a celebration of Maine’s sporting heritage.
So, if you’re in Oquossoc, check out his considerable talent. And then maybe get outside and fish a little.
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