The School of Dentistry has announced a gift of $1.15 million from to support the school鈥檚 vision of transforming dental education.
Under Dr. Joel Berg, who became dean on Aug. 15, the has launched a wide-ranging plan to revamp its clinical education and curriculum. The goal is to produce the 鈥渄entist of the future鈥� 鈥� an oral health practitioner on the leading edge of technology, research and best practices in patient care.
鈥淎t Delta Dental/Washington Dental Service, we strongly support and his compelling vision for the future of dental education and what dentistry can be,鈥� said Jim Dwyer, president and chief executive officer. 鈥淲e believe his plan will help ensure that the people of Washington will continue to receive the highest standard of patient care, and we fully share that goal.鈥�
Delta Dental/Washington Dental Service聽is part of the nation鈥檚 largest dental insurance network, Delta Dental, which has more than 50 million members. Its gift will help Dentistry fund the initial phase of its undertaking in the current academic year.
鈥淔or years Delta Dental/Washington Dental Service has been a valued and loyal supporter of the School of Dentistry, and I鈥檓 thrilled with their new contribution, which could not come at a better time,鈥� Berg said. 鈥淥ur school has historically been a national leader in dental education. However, our continued leadership depends on implementing a new model that incorporates advances in science and technology, a greater emphasis on prevention, and the integration of oral health into overall health.
鈥淭heir investment in our vision greatly enhances our ability to deploy the people and resources we need to bring about these needed changes. Their scope demands that we implement them not in a piecemeal fashion, but with a unified strategy. With Delta Dental/Washington Dental Service鈥檚 help, we can do just that.鈥�
The gift will facilitate the addition of several critical faculty and staff positions and also support the work of several task forces appointed by Berg shortly after he became dean. These include a curriculum renovation task force and a clinical systems task force.
While the School of Dentistry is committed to major changes, Berg said, it will continue to emphasize a high standard of excellence in restorative dental education. 鈥淥ur school has always been known as a standard-bearer in restorative dentistry, and that will not change as we move forward,鈥� he 聽said. 鈥淩estorative dentistry will always be at the heart of our training.
鈥淎t the same time, far-reaching changes are coming to dentistry. New accreditation standards demand that we place more emphasis on interprofessional education and evidence-based dentistry. We must also continue to continue to train dentists with the highest ethical standards and cultural sensitivity 鈥� dentists who are fully prepared to serve all parts of the community.鈥�
In addition to its enhanced partnership with Delta Dental/Washington Dental Service, Berg noted that the School of Dentistry has already begun reaching out to other partners for expertise and support in the school鈥檚 transformation. Recently the school hosted several corporate executives for a three-day brainstorming session on updating and streamlining the school鈥檚 clinical operations. The school has also initiated a collaboration with the to help Dentistry revamp its business operations.
鈥淎t the end of the day, it鈥檚 all about producing the best dentists and the best patient care,鈥� Berg said.
鈥淒ean Berg often says, 鈥楪ood patient care is the best education,鈥� and that鈥檚 a big reason why we find his vision so appealing,鈥� Dwyer said.
Delta Dental/Washington Dental Service, a 91探花Presidential Laureate, also supports Dentistry scholarships, and in 2007 gave a $5 million gift that provided the impetus for the school鈥檚 , which opened in September 2010. A partnership with Seattle Children鈥檚 Hospital, the $21 million facility at Magnuson Park in Seattle is a center of research and education as well as pediatric oral health care.