News Summary
The University of Missouri-Kansas City will launch a satellite dental program in partnership with Missouri Western State University to address the shortage of dentists in Missouri, particularly in rural areas. The initiative aims to increase annual dental graduates by 10% to 15% and provide essential healthcare education to underserved communities. This proposed Doctor of Dental Surgery program could enroll up to 40 students annually, with an estimated cost of $12 million for the expansion. The program’s launch is targeted for fiscal year 2027, pending funding and approvals.
St. Joseph, MO – The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) has announced plans to expand its dental education offerings by establishing a satellite program in partnership with Missouri Western State University (MWSU). This initiative comes in response to the pressing shortage of dentists in Missouri, particularly in rural areas.
The expansion aims to launch a new dentistry program that will significantly increase the number of dental graduates from the state. Currently, UMKC School of Dentistry, the only public dental school in Missouri, is responsible for producing 63% of the state’s dentists. With the proposed satellite program, UMKC anticipates increasing its annual output of graduates by 10% to 15%.
If approved, the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program will enroll 10 students each year, eventually reaching 40 students when fully established. Additionally, a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program will accept 5 students annually, amounting to a total of 10 students at capacity. The curriculum will combine coursework and instruction provided by both UMKC and Missouri Western, fortifying educational collaboration between the institutions.
The estimated cost for this expansion is approximately $12 million, intended for one-time renovation and startup expenses. The initiation of the new programs hinges on necessary funding and approvals, with a target launch in the fiscal year 2027.
The initiative reflects UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal’s recognition of the pressing need for healthcare providers in rural Missouri. Agrawal’s observations during visits to smaller towns around Kansas City reveal a significant void in dental care accessibility, which this new program aims to address head-on.
Historically, UMKC has demonstrated success with its satellite programs in other areas of healthcare, including its medical and pharmacy degree offerings, which have been implemented in various locations across the state. As of now, the UMKC School of Dentistry currently admits 109 students each year in its Kansas City campus.
By launching the satellite program in St. Joseph, UMKC hopes to remedy the ongoing shortage of dental professionals in underserved rural communities. The overarching goal is not only to increase the number of dental graduates but also to ensure that these graduates are well-equipped to fill the gaps in healthcare infrastructure throughout the state.
Moreover, the school is open to exploring additional satellite programs across Missouri depending on the results and success of the St. Joseph initiative. If successful, this expansion could pave the way for broader dental education opportunities to meet the needs of communities across the state, ensuring access to essential dental care for all residents.
This proposed collaboration between UMKC and Missouri Western State University emerges as a pivotal step in addressing the critical healthcare provider shortage in rural Missouri. The future of the dental program hinges on the alignment of funding, regulatory support, and strategic execution of the curriculum, which is set to start in the upcoming fiscal years.
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Additional Resources
- KSHB News
- Wikipedia: Dental Care
- KQ2 News
- Google Search: UMKC Dental Expansion
- News Press Now
- Google Scholar: UMKC Dentistry Expansion
- MLive News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Dentistry
- News Press Now
- Google News: UMKC Dental Programs
