The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) has begun construction of its Advanced Care Clinic (ACC) on its Alton campus. The $11.5 million facility has an anticipated completion date of June 2021.
The clinical space will provide state-of-the-art accommodations to facilitate treatment of children who require general anesthesia to complete care, SDM said. The ACC also will allow SDM to expand and enhance its postdoctoral specialty programs.
“We are thrilled to be embarking on this next great phase in the growth of the School of Dental Medicine. The Advanced Care Clinic, created in response to recent challenges in the provision of healthcare, underscores our dedication to patient care in our region,” said SDM dean Bruce Rotter, DMD.
“By adding general anesthesia capabilities in two medical operating suites, the SDM will be able to offer more comprehensive, predictable, and safe treatment, allowing for the timely completion of care, particularly for children and patients with special dental care needs,” Rotter said.
Rotter extended his gratitude to Delta Dental of Illinois and the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation for their financial support. He also thanked Poettker Construction and other supporting construction service providers for their contributions to the project’s success.
“The SIU School of Dental Medicine is preparing future dental professionals who will shape a changing world through their important work as clinicians and service to the community,” said SIU Edwardsville chancellor Randy Pembrook.
“The new Advanced Care Clinic will allow our students to develop their skills in a top-level facility, with important focus placed on the care of vulnerable patient populations,” said Pembrook.
The project involves demolishing the former Multidisciplinary Lab Building 283, which is no longer in use. The ACC will be built on that site, serving dental students and residents. It will serve a comprehensive range of patient dental needs through existing, expanded, and new postdoctoral programs.
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