Vincente DeBack ’26
Why UNE
I chose UNE because of what it had to offer, including what the professors were interested in research-wise and the travel opportunities through my Physical Therapy [PT] program and service learning. There was a lot I could get into. My professors know exactly who I am, and it's easy to tell they are committed to our success. I’ve fallen in love with PT and am especially interested in pelvic floor, which is kind of a niche unit of physical therapy. I really enjoy working with people that have a story to tell.
Service Learning in Action
The ease of getting involved in a [service learning] program is the thing I enjoy the most. My first program was Reproductive Health Leadership, which stood out to me because I’m interested in public health. My group created birthing kits to send overseas; I crocheted baby hats and set up an event so others could learn how to crochet too.
I’ve also participated in UNE Meals for Maine and have worked with the Cumberland County Jail and the prison. For the Cumberland County Jail Wellness Expo, I hosted a booth focused on movement, where I shared exercises that could be done using just body weight while educating participants on the significant health and emotional benefits of movement. [Through service learning], I get to interact with many different populations who share the good, the bad, and the ugly of health care. I can see direct connections to my program, but even if something isn’t specifically about physical therapy, it’s still something I could learn from.
Service learning has allowed me to interact with students from other programs. I’ve found more friends, and it really connects you to campus and the community — especially for me, since I moved to Maine the summer before I started school. It’s really nice to talk to [people in] other professions and discover things I didn’t even know were possible. For example, Physical Therapy students will teach Dental students how to safely transfer patients, like helping someone in a wheelchair move into a dental chair safely.
[Through service learning], I found that there’s a lot of settings where I could work with different populations. It has tested my ability to see people as people rather than using the label that’s given to them.