The University of Maine System and the University of Maine
Exploring the Feasibility of Medical Education in Maine
The Challenge
Maine faces significant and growing physician workforce shortages, particularly in primary care and rural and underserved communities. As the University of Maine System explored the possibility of establishing the state’s first public MD-granting medical school, leadership required an objective, comprehensive assessment to determine feasibility, sustainability, and alignment with statewide healthcare, workforce, and economic development goals. The initiative demanded careful evaluation of accreditation requirements, clinical training capacity, financial viability, and institutional readiness across a geographically dispersed public university system.
How We Helped
Tripp Umbach partnered with the University of Maine System and the University of Maine to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study examining multiple models for developing a public MD-granting medical school. Tripp Umbach completed an analysis that included physician workforce demand and supply projections; market and environmental scanning; clinical training and residency capacity assessment; financial and operating pro forma modeling; accreditation pathway evaluation; governance considerations; and projected economic impact.
The study was informed by extensive engagement with academic leaders, health systems, policymakers, and community stakeholders statewide, ensuring recommendations reflected Maine’s unique healthcare landscape and public mission.
The feasibility study provided the University of Maine System, the University of Maine, and state leaders with a clear foundation for evaluating whether to advance a public medical school in Maine. The analysis clarified strategic options, risks, and opportunities related to workforce development, access to care, financial sustainability, and long-term economic impact. As a result, decision-makers gained actionable insights to guide next steps, align stakeholders, and support informed planning for investments that could strengthen Maine’s healthcare workforce and improve health outcomes for communities across the state.