ECU, WesternU move forward with plans for dental schools

For the past several years, new dental schools have been in the works at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., and Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif.

Searches for several key faculty positions are well under way at the East Carolina University School of Dentistry, said Dr. James R. Hupp, dean, including associate deans of academic, clinical and student affairs, and assistant dean for dental education and informatics.

“Funding for our building and equipment has been fast tracked because it is considered a shovel-ready project,” said Dr. Hupp.

The school plans to identify its first two community service learning centers soon, and will then begin construction and hire full-time faculty members for the sites.

“We are working with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry Dean John Williams to identify ways the two schools can work collaboratively to accomplish our missions and improve access to dental care throughout North Carolina,” said Dr. Hupp. “And we are also working with the North Carolina Dental Society leadership on access to care solutions.”

Later this year, ECU will launch a self-study in preparation for the accreditation process.

At its January meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation granted initial accreditation to the Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine in Pomona, Calif. Dr. James Koelbl, dean of the College of Dental Medicine and current chair of CODA, recused himself from the discussion of Western University of Health Sciences at that meeting.

“At this time, we are very busy planning two new facilities on campus,” said Dr. Koelbl. “The first is an educational and research building, the Health Education Center; the second is a new patient care facility. Both facilities will be shared by students in medicine, dentistry, optometry and podiatry, and will be designed to facilitate interprofessional education and patient care.

“Our plan is to accept the inaugural class of approximately 64 entering students in the fall of 2009,” he said.

In January, WesternU celebrated two milestones: the completion of the installation of steel on the Health Education Center, and a $5.1 million gift to support university programs. The donation from benefactors Drs. Daljit and Elaine Sarkaria will provide $1 million for the new dental school.

“The Drs. Daljit and Elaine Sarkaria Professorship in Dental Medicine will allow us to attract and support an additional high-quality faculty member to further our goal of providing competent, caring health care professionals for the future,” said Dr. Koelbl.