Episode Description
Community Voices for Change - 30 mins - First Aired August 24, 2026
WMPG-FM. Univ of So. Maine - Weekly - Mondays - 7:00 PM
Producer & Host: Richard Rudolph, PhD.
The program is an interview with Margaret Reynolds who is the cofounder of the Miles Delivers Action Coalition which was formed in May 2026 to convince Maine Health to keep open the Birth Center in Damariscotta, Maine. Since its founding it has reached out to the larger community and has over 10,000 supporters. Margaret talked about Maine Health's rationale for closing the birthing center and the impact it will have on women who will have to drive over an hour to get help delivering their babies. Closure would redirect births to neighboring hospitals and would increase additional demands on EMTs, emergency departments and affect interfacility transportation systems. She pointed out that leading experts in rural healthcare have warned that evaluating maternity programs through narrow financial lenses risks overlooking their broader contribution to hospital sustainability, workplace recruitment and long term health vitality of communities they serve. Her organization has reached out to the governor and members of the Maine State Legislature and remains optimistic that the center will ultimately continue to keep open.
WMPG-FM. Univ of So. Maine - Weekly - Mondays - 7:00 PM
Producer & Host: Richard Rudolph, PhD.
The program is an interview with Margaret Reynolds who is the cofounder of the Miles Delivers Action Coalition which was formed in May 2026 to convince Maine Health to keep open the Birth Center in Damariscotta, Maine. Since its founding it has reached out to the larger community and has over 10,000 supporters. Margaret talked about Maine Health's rationale for closing the birthing center and the impact it will have on women who will have to drive over an hour to get help delivering their babies. Closure would redirect births to neighboring hospitals and would increase additional demands on EMTs, emergency departments and affect interfacility transportation systems. She pointed out that leading experts in rural healthcare have warned that evaluating maternity programs through narrow financial lenses risks overlooking their broader contribution to hospital sustainability, workplace recruitment and long term health vitality of communities they serve. Her organization has reached out to the governor and members of the Maine State Legislature and remains optimistic that the center will ultimately continue to keep open.