As a FAMU presidential candidate almost two years ago, James Ammons captured the university family’s imagination by sharing his vision for a School of Dentistry.The proposal was placed on hold as he and his administrative team worked to clean up the financial mess they inherited from former Interim President Castell Bryant. But now that the current administration has brought unqualified state audits back to the institution and taken FAMU from having the highest number of operational audit findings in the State University System to one of the very lowest, it’s finally getting the much-anticipated dental school push off the ground.
The faculty senate discussed the idea at length during its meeting last week. Provost Cynthia Hughes-Harris described it as something that could help FAMU become even “bigger and better.”
FAMU’s proposed dental college would build upon the university’s already formidable health sciences foundation. FAMU currently operates schools of nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.
Research hub
In appointing Professor Donald E. Palm as the point-person for the initiative, Ammons and Hughes-Harris signaled that they envision the new college as a major force in dental and craniofacial research.
By designing the new college with high-demand research areas in mind, FAMU could position itself to fund many dental faculty positions from grant money. That would lighten start-up and operational costs for the school. It would also create many research staff positions for students and Tallahassee citizens.
Improving community healthcare
FAMU’s dental school would also compliment the university’s current mission of assisting underserved groups in urban and rural communities. Dental schools typically offer discounted services to help uninsured patients. FAMU pharmacy’s planned expansion into Northwest Florida also sets the stage for strong outreach and training opportunities in that area of the state.
The University of Florida has the only College of Dentistry in the SUS. Nova Southeastern University also has a College of Dental Medicine.
Howard University and Meharry Medical College are the only two historically black institutions that have dental schools.
Go for it FAMU!! This is great news.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear this. let's push forward with a vengeance!
ReplyDeleteLet's, as members of the FAMU community, set a goal to raise 1 million dollars to bolster FAMU's move to improve the university with a new Dental School. MONEY TALKS & BS WALKS!!!
ReplyDeleteA $1M campaign would make a really great statement when we go to get the program approved and funded.
ReplyDeleteThe administration should set up a foundation account. I'll be happy to contribute!
Count me in.
ReplyDeleteMe too.I'll be on board for the vet school too.
ReplyDeleteI would think that dr. White and the Marching 100 could kick this off with a fund rasing campaign.
ReplyDeleteget on board Dr. White and help raise the funds!!!
I'm sure the band wouldn't mind. We've had to perform for things that we didn't really support. Some things that we honestly wouldn't want to do at all, but we do it anyway. Go Rattlers!
ReplyDeleteWe must be smart about how we raise the money anyone who does a little reshearch on FSU Med school will see that the private alums raised the money sepreate from the school and then gave it to the school with the specific intent and they also worked the halls of the Capital. I am keenly aware of this process and feel that we should seek someone not on the "inside" at FAMU,yet who is in the FAMU community to take the lead on this and to raise and distribute the money. I can see the independent group working with Dean Henry Lewis as the point person for the University as he is a professional and has a proven track record of getting things done.
ReplyDeleteWell at any rate, if we raise $1M it will qualify for 75% in matching money from the state. Any contribution that's $2M or above gets matched 100%.
ReplyDeleteThat's the type of start this new college needs.