Doctor of Dental Medicine program to be launched in Utah

The University of Southern Nevada (USN), a private, non-profit institution of higher education, announced today plans to expand its College of Dental Medicine by starting a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program at the university’s campus located at 10920 South River Front Parkway in South Jordan, Utah. The university expects to admit its first class in fall 2011.

“Currently no pre-doctoral dental program exists in Utah,” said USN President Dr. Harry Rosenberg, Pharm.D., Ph.D. “The university is fully committed to filling the void by establishing a Doctor of Dental Medicine program to provide an unparalleled learning experience while also offering excellent and affordable, high-quality dental care to citizens of Salt Lake area, including the underserved population.”

According to Dr. Harry Rosenberg, USN will continue its mission to transform health care education by developing an innovative DMD program with a unique curriculum based on the university’s student-centered educational philosophies of mastery learning and outcomes-based education. This is accomplished with the application of the block system, a pioneering method of curricular delivery with proven success in USN’s existing health education programs, including the Doctor of Pharmacy, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics residency program.

“Rather than multiple courses and clinical experiences spread out through semesters or quarters, the curriculum is organized into blocks that allow students to focus on one subject at a time,” said Dr. Rosenberg. “Additionally, utilization of the block system allows for the students to be taught by some of the world’s most renowned experts in respective areas of dentistry, another unique aspect of the educational experience at USN College of Dental Medicine.”

The University is currently recruiting a dean for the College of Dental Medicine who will help lead the development and implementation of the program, including approval by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, says Dr. Rosenberg.

The USN College of Dental Medicine was established in 2007 at the university’s Henderson, Nev. campus. The college’s first post-doctoral dental residency program, Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics/Master of Business Administration, admitted its first residents in July 2008. The residency program is the first in the United States to require an MBA to develop residents’ legal, ethical and financial competency, all of which are essential in operating a successful practice in today’s complex health care business environment.

USN’s South Jordan campus was established in 2006 and initially offered a Doctor of Pharmacy through the university’s College of Pharmacy. The university’s College of Nursing recently announced it will admit its first class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing students at the campus in January 2010.

http://www.usn.edu.