GRAND CHALLENGE: WELLNESS IN THE UPPER SAINT JOHN RIVER VALLEY WELCOMES YOU
Under Construction
The Upper Saint John River Valley of Maine is predominately populated with individuals who are of French-Canadian ancestry and identify as Acadians. Acadians have settled to this region of Maine after having been deported from Acadia and have remained generally isolated from outside cultural and medical influences (Earle Lockerby, 1998).  There is ample evidence in the literature which identifies several inherited forms of spastic ataxia in French-Canadians with Fredericks Ataxia being the most common (Vingolo, et al, 2011). Ataxia is linked with progressive spastic paraparesis, and axonal sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy in patients which are not typical in other ethnicities (Levasseur, et al, 2019). Symptoms of ataxia include but are not limited to dysarthria, lower limb spasticity, and distal weakness impacting lower limb movement and gait (Levasseur, et al, 2019; Vingolo, et al, 2011).
THE DETAILS
About the project
The nursing program of the University of Maine at Fort Kent is an undergraduate and graduate program with students on both the Fort Kent and Presque Isle Campus. The College of Professional Programs at the University of Maine at Presque Isle is an undergraduate program with programs in exercise science and physical therapy.  There is an existing and long-standing history of collaboration between the two campuses and the implementation of this project resolves to reinforce and build upon the positive momentum realized thus far. The long-term learning opportunities for students on both campuses stand to be significant and extend well beyond the immediate impact on patient safety and wellness.  Students will become engaged practitioners prepared to be active participants within the evolving multidisciplinary collaborative healthcare delivery model focused on preventing falls, improving the patient experience, and delivering improved patient outcomes.
IN THE PRESS
All the Latest Updates In One Place
$1,000 STIPENDS FOR 15 STUDENTS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
