Although skeptics had doubts on whether this new model of dental education would work, receiving full accreditation without recommendations for improvements from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) proves otherwise for A.T. Still University (in Kirksville) and its Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health in St. Louis.
It successfully implemented a new model of pre-doctoral dental education, teaching within the confines of a federally qualified health center. The medical partnership is with Affinia Healthcare. The collaboration takes place at the St. Louis Dental Education and Oral Health Center located at 1500 Park Ave. (63104). Dental students provide dental services for patients under the supervision of professional licensed dentists.
Dr. Dwight E. McLeod is the dean at A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health in St. Louis. He said the accreditation is a result of a collaborative effort, with Affinia, its parent university and dedicated faculty, staff and students.
Additionally, McLeod said the achievement is the first of its kind in the nation.
“It’s kind of unique and unprecedented for a brand new school to achieve full accreditation with zero recommendations,” McLeod said. “We are the first school to be accredited with a federally qualified health center partnership model.”
In order to earn CODA accreditation, dental experts evaluated the school for standards of acceptable operation and performance. The standards for dental education include institutional effectiveness, the education program, faculty and staff, educational and support services, patient care services and research programs. A site visit for accreditation took place in August.
He said having the partnership with Affinia has been great for its students. They get to treat more people who need help and greater access to dental care.
“It gives our students a very well-balanced education in learning how to interact with diverse patient populations and various cultural and ethnic backgrounds, different languages,” McLeod said. “We do have interpreters that come with us, and I think we would not be able to get this if we did not partner with a community health center.”
The students in the dental program have varied backgrounds as well.
“We select students from disadvantaged backgrounds with the hopes that they will go back to their own community and become leaders that will make a difference, leaders that will change the oral health and perhaps the total health of their patients in those communities,” McLeod said.
He said another important factor is inter-professional education – having access to the patient’s total medical record in order to provide better care.
“Our partnership with Affinia gives us access to medical health records, and most schools are trending that way,” he said. “Part of our program is the strong emphasis on community service and access to care in the rural and urban underserved areas. And it’s proven to be very effective.”
The inaugural class of 2017 consisted of 42 students, all of whom successfully completed the dental program and graduated. Among the alumni, McLeod said one-third work in private practice settings, one-third work in the public health community and one-third are receiving advanced dental practice training.
Accreditation is allowing this dental program to move forward as a model for best practices in dental education.
“It gives us the latitude to be creative in what we do, to become a leader in the region, in the state and in the nation,” McLeod said. “And our unique model is a model of the future, one that most dental schools desire to have.”
Developing affiliations with schools locally and regionally and getting more diverse students interested in a career in dental health, and the STEM classes to help make it achievable is what lies ahead for the school.
“Hopefully very soon, as we become a little bit more well-situated in the St. Louis area we’ll start going into high schools, elementary schools,” McLeod said. “We want to get the message out to those students as soon as possible so they can focus on what it will take for them to become competitive to get into this very lucrative field of dentistry.”
The school’s next accreditation visit will be in 2024.
To schedule an appointment or inquire about services provided, please contact: St. Louis Dental Education and Oral Health Center, 1500 Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104. Call 314-833-2700.
To apply to the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health, contact Admissions at 866-626-2878 ext. 2237 or email admissions@atsu.edu.
To schedule an appointment
Contact: St. Louis Dental Education and Oral Health Center, 1500 Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104. Call 314-833-2700.
To apply to the dental school
Contact Admissions at 866-626-2878 ext. 2237 or email admissions@atsu.edu.
