The AT Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) will increase its entering class size by 21 seats effective July 1, 2019. Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), the move will permanently increase classes from 42 to 63 students in the university’s predoctoral education program.
“Expanding the school’s class size will assist with alleviating the shortage of dentists in underserved communities,” said AT Still University president Craig Phelps, DO. “I congratulate ATSU-MOSDOH dean Dwight E. McLeod, DDS, MS, and everyone involved with the vision, development, and continued success of ATSU-MOSDOH.”
ATSU-MOSDOH was founded in 2013 to address oral healthcare disparities in Missouri and across the nation. Students spend their first and second year studying basic sciences and principles of patient care in the classroom, along with dental simulation exercises, on the university’s campus in Kirksville, Mo. During their third and fourth years, students move to a clinical environment and serve at the St. Louis Dental Education and Oral Health Center.
“ATSU-MOSDOH is committed to its social mission of addressing the urgent, comprehensive needs of underserved St. Louisians at its Saint Louis Dental Center and Missourians through integrated community service partnerships with 21 of the 29 community health centers in Missouri,” said McLeod. “The additional 21 students per class will enable us to further advance our mission to reduce the disparity in access to oral healthcare regionally and statewide.”
By graduating dentists who have an in-depth understanding of and a desire to serve populations in need, the school reports, ATSU-MOSDOH believes it will help increase access to and services for vulnerable populations. ATSU-MOSDOH graduates earn a DDM degree and a certificate in public health with a dental emphasis.
Related Articles
The World’s Top Dental Schools: 2018 Edition
Program Qualifies Foreign Dentists for US Practice
Today’s Dental Grads Face Big Debt and More Choices
