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Kirksville to St. Louis: Missouri’s newest dental school is on its way to increasing access to oral healthcare


T


he newest school at A.T. Still University (ATSU) has had an eventful first year. Since receiving initial accreditation in August


2013, the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOS- DOH) welcomed two new classes, ushered in a new environment encouraging interprofessional education (IPE), and hired new staff and faculty for the dental clinic under construction in St. Louis.


In October, the inaugural class began its school year. De- spite having a compressed schedule, the students wasted no time getting actively involved in the community. Throughout the year, the students provided dental sup- plies to children in need and educated classrooms about the importance of oral health. They also participated in the Missouri Mission of Mercy in St. Louis to provide dental services to underserved populations in the area.


Now in its second year, ATSU-MOSDOH welcomed an additional 42 students—the class of 2018. This brings the total student body to 84. While the School’s curriculum continues to focus on clinical training inside community health centers (CHCs), a strong focus remains on interprofessional education.


The IPE Building has ample space to accommodate ATSU’s MOS- DOH and KCOM students, plus there’s room to grow. Having both the dental and osteopathic medical professions under one roof to promote collaboration afforded the building its name and played a key role in its design.


“Students work alongside one another to better simulate real-world patient encounters and emphasize whole-person healthcare,” says Christopher Halliday, DDS, MPH, dean of the dental school. “Oral health is integral to overall health.”


In addition, students from both schools work together in human patient simulation labs in the IPE Building and share human sciences faculty. Dental students receive a better understanding of primary care, and medical students receive a better understanding of oral health.


To further enhance their education, CHCs provide dental students more in-depth clinical training. ATSU’s most comprehensive CHC relationship lies with Grace Hill Health Centers Inc. in St. Louis. The 79,000-square-foot, 92-operatory St. Louis Dental Education and Oral Health Clinic held its groundbreaking on April 25, and the facil- ity is on pace to be finished with classes underway in spring of 2015.


TOP IMAGE: Throughout the year, ATSU students provided dental supplies to children in need and educated classrooms about the importance of oral health. BOTTOM IMAGE: Through the schools’ interprofessional education design, dental students receive a better understanding of primary care, and medical students receive a better understanding of oral health.


Kim Perry, DDS, MSCS, was brought on as associate dean and clini- cal operations director for the St. Louis clinic. Bringing more than 25 years in leadership and clinical care in oral health experience, she is joined by two other faculty members: Marco Rouman, DDS, MFDS RCS (Ed.), MFDS RCPSG, associate dean, clinical education and com- munity partnerships, and Dr. Patricia Inks, RDH, MS, associate direc- tor, dentistry in the community and integrated community service partnerships. Together, the three bring a distinguished educational background to the clinic.


The mission of ATSU-MOSDOH remains the same: Transform the scope of dental education by graduating community-minded dentists to help increase the access of oral healthcare providers among un- derserved areas and populations.


ATSU FACULTY TOWN HALL MEETING, NOVEMBER 4 — SEEKING ST. LOUIS FACULTY // A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) will be opening its St. Louis-based Dental Education and Oral Health Clinic in partnership with Grace Hill Health Centers in late spring 2015. Dean Christopher G. Halliday, DDS, MPH, invites you to attend an informational meeting to discuss potential opportunities for faculty involvement with the school’s St. Louis-based clinic on Nov. 4, 2014, at 7 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel in Chesterfield. You do not need to RSVP to attend.


22 focus | SEP/OCT 2014 | ISSUE 5


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