Having secured a favorable vote from the Board of Trustees at last month’s meeting, FAMU’s College of Dental Medicine proposal faces another critical hurdle: Board of Governors approval. The BOG must authorize all new doctoral-level programs in the State University System of Florida.Currently, there are only two dental schools for Florida’s more than 18 million residents. The University of Florida runs the only public dental school in the state. Nova Southeastern University also has a College of Dental Medicine.
A College of Dental Medicine "will build upon [FAMU’s] existing strengths in health disciplines,” university officials wrote in the 2009-2014 Strategic Plan. “The School would produce graduates from under-represented populations to serve underserved populations.”
A FAMU College of Dental Medicine would also be an asset to healthcare throughout the Big Bend area. Dental schools typically offer discounted services for low-income patients.
In planning the dental school, FAMU faculty and administrators have kept grant-raising in mind, too. Each year, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (part of the National Institutes of Health) offers millions of dollars for cutting-edge research. A FAMU dental school could bring more of this money into the state of Florida.
Cost could be a concern for the BOG. The Florida Legislature has cut huge multi-million dollar chunks out of the SUS budget during recent years. But, recent budget problems didn’t stop the BOG from approving an expensive new doctor of pharmacy program at the University of South Florida designed with explicit intent of competing against FAMU’s own College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
If the dental school is approved, FAMU will offer a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree. The university is already pushing forward with plans to launch a B.S. in Dental Hygiene within the School of Allied Health. The Dental Hygiene degree will focus on “oral health of disadvantaged persons.”
The BOT of FAMU, along with the President, as a suggestion should have taken this plan to the BOG with MONEY in hand. Meaning they should have embarked on a Capital Campagin that would pay for the first class to attend the Dental School, as well as money for an endowment for the New COD. Vision is more than a plan its a plan of action.
ReplyDeleteps if this was some gossip or something about protesting young peoples music there would be 20 comments on here.
To: 7:17, regarding your "ps" comment.
ReplyDeleteYou have to give people TIME to come to the site and read this. The article was JUST POSTED TODAY, 11/10/09. You might have a lot of time on your hands, but other folks may not be as time-free as you are. Just because you're the FIRST poster does not mean that other folks will not comment eventually. What I see is that you're so ready to offer criticism of people when none should exist. (I think you might be one of those folks who love to find fault with anything. Now, tell me I'm wrong in my assessment of you.)
8:36,
ReplyDeleteActually, 7:15 p.m. makes an interesting but accurate observation: people tend to respond more passionately about popular, controversial issues that aren't all that serious. I don't suspect that many people will respond to this blog because there's nothing controversial about it and there isn't much to respond to or add other than nice pleasantries such as "You go FAMU," "FAMU is the best," "Dr. Ammons and co. are doing a great job," etc. So, 7:15 p.m. should understand that not every blog, especialy ones that are merely updating FAMUans and friends on future programs, will elicit much response.
I think this is long overdue.
ReplyDeleteGood luck FAMU! It is a tough economy out there, but this is sorely needed. If anybody can do health care, it is FAMU !!!
ReplyDelete7:15 many people feel qualified to speak on popular culture, however they might not feel as comfortable commenting on which path to a dental school is best.
ReplyDeleteQuestion, did UCF have funding for their first class when they approached the BOG for a new medical school?
Just because people don't respond doesn't mean they aren't passionate about the situtation...
ReplyDelete10:53pm YES they did...and Yes We CAN.....
ReplyDeleteNow, the question of having a capital campaign for a COD is a great idea. The issues is how do we get the money... sadly, in this economy many of our usual donors are tapped out. And the likely hood of new "major" donors ($10,000 or more) coming on board anytime soon appears to be slim to none. I think as an alumni base, we can help the university by spreading the word of this potential dentistry school, lobby minority dentist across the state to help with seed money (which in term they would have interns, and future partners, etc) then move forward. Once again, I look at how the big boys in the state make things happen; they don't just sit back and wait for their administrators to do everything, once their president give the vision, their alumni bases begins to spread the word and bringing in the money, rather it be private, business, or state dollars (ie, FSU school of medicine through Jim King). Until we can as an alum base truly rally behind our institution on that level of support then we will always be lagging behind the top tier institutions. Just my opion.
ReplyDelete"Until we can as an alum base truly rally behind our institution on that level of support then we will always be lagging behind the top tier institutions."
ReplyDeleteIt will take awhile before we are able to duplicate what happens at the largest of Florida's public colleges. Remember their alumni base is operating off 100 years of preference which has led to their having disproportionate representation and influence in business and government.
We might be better off crafting an approach unique to FAMU rather than trying to duplicate an approach designed to benefit the larger state colleges.
Check out the story at the following link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/11/12/cross
The article describes an approach to developing "givers" that I think is a perfect fit for FAMU!
Only one problem to overcome - ADMINISTRATORS have to change!
10:15. I think the FAMU Young Alumni group is already doing some of this.
ReplyDeleteAlong with FAMU getting the School of Dentistry i do think they should also have in the back of there minds to try to get the School of Veterinary Medicine also because along with major lack black dentist there is also very major lack of black Veterinarians this will also increase FAMU enrollment and i think having these two schools along with are other this will put FAMU on the map.
ReplyDeleteAs a current dental student, my greatest concern for FAMU is the patient base. While Florida does have a very high population compared to many other states, it isn't located in the northern part of the state. UF is already drawing some patients from northern Florida, and honestly, there may not be a large enough patient pool to support operation of a dental school in the panhandle. I think for this to be viable, the class size would have to be relatively small. I hope they can make it work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. To know more about "general dentistry services" you can visit our site.
ReplyDelete