The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine has surpassed 100,000 patients cared for through the campus and hospital clinics.
The university said this has come through their use of service learning centers and special care initiatives.
“This is a landmark moment for ECU and the School of Dental Medicine,” said ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers. “This is not only a milestone, but also a mile marker, as we are just getting started. It is a reminder that we are upholding a promise we made to the people of our state to prepare new dentist leaders and increase access to oral health care for patients everywhere, including our most rural communities.”
According to ECU, the dental school began in 2011 to build up and equip dentist leaders to provide oral health care for rural and underserved communities.
“Celebrating this milestone is not just about a number,” said Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the dental school. “It is about educating the next generation of dentists as we provided much needed care to 100,000 North Carolinians, many of whom may not have had access to this care if it were not for our community service learning centers across the state, as well as our supporters and donors who have been there from the beginning.”
The dental school has had more than 450 graduates since the first graduating class in 2015, and that 90% of those who continued with dentistry practice in North Carolina, the university said.
