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Tackling the physician shortage in Maine

 From the Chief Healthcare Execute October 2026 Tackling the physician shortage in Maine by Ron Southwick MaMaineHealth and Tufts University School of Medicine are working to train more doctors to practice in the state. Maine has justifiably been nicknamed “Vacationland,” with its parks, mountains, forests and seaside communities luring visitors to the state for outdoor adventures or relaxing getaways. But like many other states, Maine is facing a glaring shortage of physicians. The state also has the highest median age and highest percentage of residents over the age of 65 in America. “We have greater demand for healthcare services, and so we're going to see an explosion in demand for healthcare services in the state of Maine,” says Dr. Andrew Mueller, chief executive officer of MaineHealth , a nonprofit system operating 10 hospitals. MaineHealth has been partnering with the Tufts University School of Medicine to help train more doctors to work in Maine, with the hopes that they’l...

How democracy depends on science — and must protect it

Thanks to Joe Nadeau for this contribution!  Nature News How democracy depends on science — and must protect it Verified information from trusted experts is crucial to help the public and governments navigate rapid changes and increasing complexity. By   Martin Kahanec ,  Naomi Ellemers ,  Adam Izdebski ,  Rafal M. Łukasik ,  Dimitra Simeonidou ,  Rémy Slama  &  Mangala Srinivas For scientists, thoughts about democracy can feel distant from their work. Yet, around the world, governments are limiting academic freedom and interfering with decisions about what research is funded and who performs it 1 . Some scientists are also facing  politically motivated interference and attacks 2 . As members of the European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, we feel it is urgent to address this concern and that we have a responsibility to make scientists’ voices heard. Science and democracy are often viewed as distinct — science as a s...