Sun Life Renews Funding for Program That Placed 80+ in Maine Health Jobs
The renewal, framed as a tribute to retired president Dan Fishbein, keeps money flowing to a program easing Maine's rural health care shortage.
Sun Life U.S. will keep funding a Roux Institute program that places recent college graduates in front-line health care jobs across Maine, the company said in a release distributed by PR Newswire.
The insurer framed the continued support as a tribute to Dan Fishbein, M.D., who recently retired after 11 years as its president and had championed the effort. Sun Life has backed the Pre-Clinical Healthcare Gap Year Program since Northeastern University's Portland-based institute started it in 2023.
Now in its third year, the program has placed more than 80 people in hospitals, clinics, specialty care sites and dental offices, including in rural and underserved parts of the state, to help ease staffing shortages. Nearly all participants who finish say they plan to stay on a health care career path, according to the release. One early participant, Jillian Fitzpatrick, worked at the Knox Clinic and is now in dental school.
Aileen Huang-Saad, who directs life sciences, health and engineering at the Roux Institute, said the funding has helped put more providers in areas with limited access to medical or dental care. She said she hopes universities in other states adopt similar models.
The two organizations have worked together since 2020, starting with actuarial training for Sun Life employees.
This story was first reported by PR Newswire.
