By Gillian Graham
Staff Writer

Standing in Portland’s Monument Square on a rainy Saturday afternoon before a rally to support University Health Care clinics, Dr. Stephen Goldbas shook his head in frustration.
Goldbas, an osteopathic doctor at the University Health Care clinic in Saco and assistant professor at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, said he was “surprised and dismayed” to receive a termination letter in August that said the clinic would close Nov. 2.
“We had pulled together to get our unit in Saco to be free standing. We paid our expenses and were in the black in June,” he said. “We were very proud of that.”
Other doctors, students and patients at the rally last weekend echoed Goldbas’ frustration over news the university would close six clinics that serve about 20,000 patients and provide daily clinical training for UNE students.
University president Danielle Ripich earlier this month said the university can no longer fund the clinics, which she says collectively lost about $2 million last year. Though she initially said the clinics in Biddeford, Saco and Portland would close, Ripich now says they will stay open until another group can assume clinic services.
Though Goldbas said the Saco clinic was operating in the black, Kathleen Taggersell, director of communications at the university, said the clinics collectively continue to operate at a loss.
“The trend hasn’t changed,” she said, noting the Saco clinic loses money.
Closing the clinics would affect employees, including 20 doctors, 12 nurse practitioners, four licensed social workers and two physician assistants. It also could force medical students to look elsewhere for clinical training, according to school officials.
 The university and Southern Maine Medical Center currently are examining whether the Biddeford hospital can take over all or some clinic services. The SMMC Board of Directors is expected to receive a recommendation from a senior management team at its Oct. 5 meeting.
Goldbas, who joined by about 100 doctors, students, patients and health care workers at a rally supporting the clinics, said the letter was “demoralizing” after feeling “so elated to be doing well.” Clinic patients are frightened by the announcement and are seeking reassurance Goldbas will still be their doctor, he said.
Goldbas said he is able to reassure his patients to some degree by telling them he still expects to practice in the area, he just can’t say where. He said his commitment to provide daily clinical training for medical students will be compromised if the clinics close.
Dr. Owen Pickus, a professor of medicine at the school and the namesake of the Pickus Center for Biomedical Research on the school’s Biddeford campus, said he is not convinced the clinics will stay open despite statements to the contrary from Ripich. He said his greatest concern is for clinic patients.
“The local community depends heavily on the health care provided at UHC,” he said. “We must have proper care for those who are unable to find care elsewhere.”
Pickus said he also is concerned for medical students who rely on clinical training to prepare for careers as osteopaths. He said training reinforces osteopathic principles to provide compassionate health care to the community. Medical students pay “extraordinary high tuition” of more than $40,000 a year to attend the university and need assurances they will continue to have these educational opportunities, he said.
“We can’t break those promises to the students,” he said.
Third-year medical students Erin FitzGerald and Allison Beckler attended the rally together, huddling under an umbrella while listening to professors talk about the medical school. Both said they were frustrated with the university’s decision to discontinue its association with the clinics and worry what will happen to patients.
“I felt frustrated and a little bit helpless because you put so much hard work, time, money and faith in the institution you choose,” FitzGerald said. “When the powers that be aren’t backing you, you feel like there’s nothing you can do.”
Beckler said she was “angry and shocked” by the announcement and wants to see the medical school keep osteopathic medicine at its core. She said she is not satisfied with the information provided by school officials – who she said have a new story every week – and instead relies on classmates for information.
Several medical students said they did not want to comment using their names because they feared retribution from school officials for speaking out against the plan.
In a prepared statement released Monday following a meeting with the board of trustees, Ripich said discussions are ongoing and focused on developing a “management plan that will be in the best interest of our patients, our students and our faculty.”
“We are deeply committed to the principles of osteopathic medicine and to our College of Osteopathic Medicine,” she said.
Mike Morel, chairman of the board of trustees, said the board has told Ripich and Marc Hahn, the new medical school dean, to continue discussions regarding the new management structure. The board will review and take actions on their proposals at its regular November meeting.
Dr. Chuck Radis, who led the rally, said at the rally the jobs of 90 people and health care of 20,000 patients continue to be in jeopardy, despite reassurances from university officials they are trying to avoid gaps in care.
“If there has been some small change in the original decision, there is much more to be done,” he said.
Janet Jones of Portland said she has two children and is a patient at one of the clinics. She said she is mad at the university’s decision to shift management of the clinics to another provider and doesn’t know if she can trust what officials are telling her.
“Where is UNE’s commitment to the community of Maine?” she asked while receiving applause from the crowd.
Pickus said during the rally he has enjoyed every minute of his 30 years at the university and feels strongly the school should maintain its osteopathic principles while keeping the clinics open. He said everyone associated with the clinics needs to be able to trust university officials and that the clinics will continue to serve patients.
“We need to keep UHC clinics open and we need to keep them uniquely osteopathic,” he said. “If you lose trust, everything else falls apart. We have a commitment to our patents and students.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.