The Consortium for Healthcare Education and Training (CHET) is a program of MaineHealth that advances initiatives to support the development of a competent, engaged rural healthcare workforce. Supported by federal, state-administered, and philanthropic funding, CHET works with Maine-based partners and programs to expand clinical education opportunities across rural Maine.
CHET joins the work of its founding programs, the Building-ME Network and the Maine Rural Graduate Medical Education (MERGE) Collaborative, to continue developing new and expanded access to rural clinical training. CHET welcomes collaboration with Maine organizations that share its healthcare education mission.
To advance the expansion, quality, and sustainability of healthcare education and training in rural Maine communities, supporting the development of a competent and committed rural healthcare workforce.
What we do:
EdD, MPH
Dr. Kneka Smith serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at MaineHealth with focus in medical education, research, and innovation. She has over two decades of health professions education and leadership experience in healthcare and higher education with medical, dental and advanced practice provider students. In 2023, Dr. Smith established the Building-ME Network, a partnership focusing on healthcare education and training in rural Maine and serves as the Principal Investigator. This grant funded initiative was established to support the spectrum of healthcare learners and educators from “phlebotomist to physician” by connecting learning programs with rural clinical sites across the state of Maine
MD, MSEd
Dr. Varaklis, in her role as DIO, oversees the graduate medical education (GME) for 38 residency and fellowship programs at MaineHealth, supporting more than 360 GME trainees. In addition to her work as DIO, Dr. Varaklis also serves as principal investigator for the Maine Rural Graduate Medical Education (MERGE) Collaborative, a state-wide effort across all ACGME Sponsoring Institutions to create more learning opportunities in Maine’s rural spaces, including focus on rural obstetrics training for Ob/Gyn and FM residents. Dr. Varaklis is from rural Ontario and has more than 30 years experience as a post-graduate medical educator.
CHET’s Executive Committee is an advisory body composed of representatives from across Maine’s healthcare and educational communities and from rural regions across the state.
MD, MPH, MBA
St. Joseph Healthcare/Covenant Health
PhD
Associate Program Director – Central Maine Medical Center Family Medicine Residency
MD, FAAFP
Director of Clinical Education, Northern Light Health
M.Sc
VP Workforce Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Maine Hospital Association
MPH
Director, Maine Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Senior Program Officer, Maine Health Access Foundation
Director of Strategic Planning Management
Maine Community College System
PhD
Vice Chancellor, U Maine System
MSW
Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Maine Primary Care Association
Founder and President, 3iHoME
PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Maine
MBA
Operations Manager
PhD
Program Manager - CHET Research and Education
MPH
Program Manager - The MERGE Collaborative
MA
Workforce Development Specialist