Athletic Training program welcomes renowned Maine physician as new medical director
The Master of Science in Athletic Training (M.S.A.T.) program at the 鶹ý is pleased to announce the addition of Michele LaBotz, M.D., as its new medical director.
As medical director, LaBotz will strengthen the M.S.A.T. program’s curriculum by ensuring students are receiving the most up-to-date training in accordance with current trends in sports medicine while providing expert instruction to students in support of their clinical education.
Housed in the Harold Alfond Forum on UNE’s Biddeford Campus — the home of 鶹ýAthletics — the M.S.A.T. program has long been recognized for its robust curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and commitment to producing skilled and compassionate athletic trainers. With a strong emphasis on hands-on clinical experience and evidence-based practice, the program equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in a rapidly evolving health care landscape.
A resident of Yarmouth, Maine, LaBotz received her medical degree from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. She performed her pediatric residency at both the University of Wisconsin and Maine Medical Center in Portland before completing a sports medicine fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and additionally holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.
LaBotz most recently worked as a physician partner at InterMed Physician Associates in South Portland and Yarmouth for nearly 20 years. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a member of the Safety Advisory Committee of the National Council of Youth Sports.
“The combination of Dr. LaBotz’s rich clinical experience in sports medicine and her interests in teaching, advocacy, mentorship, and research will serve our students extremely well,” said Wayne Lamarre, M.Ed., clinical professor and director of UNE’s M.S.A.T. program. “We look forward to consulting with her to make our curricular and clinical offerings even stronger both here in Maine and nationally.”
Graduates from UNE’s athletic training program go on to work in a variety of settings including strength and conditioning, occupational health, sports medicine, and public safety, among others. Many have gone on to work in major league franchises including Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association, while faculty have been tapped to treat athletes at the Olympic Games, most recently in Beijing in 2022.
Lamarre said the program’s strengths lie in breadth of health education resources available to students.
“UNE’s unique, interprofessional landscape — in which our students work alongside their peers in osteopathic medicine, physician assistant, nursing, and dental medicine — grants our students access to faculty and equipment that no other programs in Maine can offer,” he remarked. “I look forward to welcoming Dr. LaBotz to campus as we work together to ensure that our curriculum meets current best medical practice.”