tion between private practice and retirement or on a part-time basis while still working. What types of opportunities might there be for dentists in the Missouri area to teach or share their expertise at ATSU-Kirksville?
ATSU-MOSDOH relies on the support of many part-time/adjunct faculty members to impart their knowledge and expertise to D1 and D2 preclinical students in Kirksville, and especially to the D3 and D4 dental clinical students at the St. Louis Dental Center. Op- portunities to teach are available for dentists who are at different stages (early, mid, late or after retirement) of their private practice career.
There are formal programs nationally, and onboarding and developmental programs, to get interested dentists acclimatized to academia. Part-time dentists are needed to teach now more than ever. With the growing number of dental schools in the U.S. and the pandemic-induced workforce shortage, dental schools are experiencing the effects of a reduced labor market. Faculty shortage is a growing major threat to the future of dental education. As such, a great deal of empha- sis is placed on faculty recruitment and retention at ATSU-MOSDOH, and numer- ous resources are made available for faculty development within the dental school and at the university level.
The areas of greatest faculty shortage impact are within the dental specialties, mainly oral maxillofacial surgery, pediatric dentistry, endodontics and periodontics. Dentists and specialists in private practice should be cognizant that their support is vital to dental education as they bring a vast array of knowl- edge and experience to the classroom and clinic, ranging from practice management to innovative and contemporary approaches to clinical practice. I believe at some point in our dental careers, we should give back to the profession that has afforded us economic prosperity and respect within our communi- ty. A good place to start is helping to educate the next generation of dentists.
Dr. McLeod, in closing, are there any final thoughts that you would like to share with our readers regarding ATSU-MOSDOH or the challenges it faces?
30 focus | SUMMER 2023 | ISSUE 2
Like many dental schools across the U.S., the major challenge ATSU-MOSDOH is under- going is the recruitment of full-time faculty, especially in the dental specialties. Also, the recruitment of part-time dental specialists remains a major challenge.
As we tackle global warming and climate change, serious consideration should be giv- en to waste reduction and recycling in dental practices and dental schools. Reducing the carbon footprint is important for the future of the planet. This cause can be championed by dental students, employees and practitio- ners, and staff within the private sector.
Advocacy to increase the practice scope of dentistry, as well as for health equity and access to oral healthcare for disadvantaged populations, should be priority topics for discussion until those goals are achieved.
The increasing cost of dental tuition is a serious concern and not unique to ATSU-MOSDOH, but to all dental deans across the U.S. The high cost of dental sup- plies, salary and operational costs continue to impact increases in tuition, which is the primary source of revenue at all dental institutions.
Likewise, I would like to see more access to the dental profession representative of the communities in which we reside. Historically underrepresented groups are lowly repre- sented, and males of all races have declined nationally, especially African American males; now females comprise most enrolled dental students. While the new trend in enrolled female dental students is a welcome change, we must continue to encourage our male students, especially underrepresented males, to choose a career in dentistry. Our unique model creates many opportunities for our students, the communities we serve, and our employees; however, the distance between Kirksville and St. Louis does create challenges and adds to operating expenses.
Regarding the partnership, we continue to forge a strong partnership through commu- nication and messaging while endeavoring to achieve our independent strategic initiatives. I remain indebted to the excellent employees who dedicate their time and effort in sup- porting the mission and vision while ensur-
ing students receive the best educational experiences enabling them to be competent graduates who will have a significant impact in improving the oral health of the rural or urban communities they serve. I am thank- ful the students entrust us to serve them. These experiences are humbling. I am truly honored and grateful for the privilege to serve as dean.
DR. LINDA NIESSEN, KCU-CDM
As the founding dean of KCU-Joplin College of Dental Medicine (KCU-CDM) which accepts its inaugural class later this year, can you briefly outline your 5-10 year future vision for the dental school and its engagement with the community at large?
The KCU-CDM’s initial vision aligns with Kansas City University’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan and mission to improve the well-being of the communities. Initially, we will focus on implementing our innovative pre-doctor- al education program to address this mission. We have designed a program to integrate biomedical and clinical science concepts and patient care with interprofessional opportunities alongside our KCU medical and psychology students, and with dental hygiene students at Missouri Southern State University. As we begin patient care in our KCU Oral Health Center, we will partner with community organizations to address the oral health needs of various populations that have historically not had access to dental care in the four-state region.
In the next year, KCU plans to launch a Center for Population Health and Equity with an urban focus in Kansas City and a rural focus in Joplin. KCU will engage with local communities in both regions to identify community needs that will improve popula- tion health and work inter-professionally and across organizations to achieve solu- tions. Our partners also will help us identify additional oral health programs that may be needed by the Joplin community.
Perhaps the biggest news around KCU-Joplin today is the opening of a new, cutting-edge dental school in Southeast Missouri. Can you give us a current overview of that groundbreak- ing project?
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