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History of the School of Dentistry

Background History

1865:
A five-man committee of the Michigan State Dental Association (MSDA), headed by Dr. Jonathan Taft, petitions University of Michigan Regents to establish a "dental chair" which would be the first dental school in the nation to be part of the university.
1875:
The state legislature establishes a College of Dental Surgery at the University of Michigan. The same law establishes a Homeopathic Medical College and directs the new colleges be housed together.
Governor John J. Bagley signs House Bill 518 into law May 1. U-M Regents formally approve the measure May 12, 1875.
  • First Class- 20 students
  • Faculty- 3
  • Requirements- High School Diploma
  • Course of Instruction- 2 semesters, plus 1 year apprenticeship
1880:
The first woman to graduate from the U-M College of Dental Surgery was Alma Fuellgraff
1890:
The College of Dental Surgery becomes the first dental school to provide graduate dental education.
1901:
The founding dean of the dental school- Dr. Taft- establishes the four-year model of the dental education, which later became the national standard.
1917:
Four-year curriculum in place. Dental schools nationwide follow the School of Dentistry's lead and adopt a similar program.
1921:
Dental Hygiene curriculum established. Eight students enroll.
1938:
Dr. Kenneth Easlick develops the nation's first graduate program in dental public health.
1940:
The first building in the world devoted solely to graduate and postgraduate teaching in dentistry opens- the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Institute: Graduate and Postgraduate Dentistry.
1972:
School of Dentistry begins summer dental community outreach clinics in Adrian and Stockbridge, Michigan.
1996:
University of Michigan becomes the first public university in America to reach $1 billion for a fundraising campaign.
School of Dentistry receives the last of three distributions from the estate of Dr. Gordon Sindecuse. The gifts make him the School's most generous benefactor, $4.8 million.
1999:
School holds first full-day Research Table Clinic Day.
School of Dentistry awards first two doctorates (in oral health sciences).
2000:
Community outreach programs take a MAJOR step forward providing dental and dental hygiene students rotations during the academic year and during the summer of their final year. Currently, fourth-year dental students participate for eight weeks at 19 sites in 14 different Michigan communities.
2002:
The start of a new tradition, the White Coat Ceremony.
2003:
School, establishes its Hall of Honor recognizing the honors and achievements of dental profession legends, all deceased, who once were associated with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.
2004:
A new era in dental education begins with the opening of the Dr. Roy Roberts Preclinical Simulation Laboratory.
2005:
School creates strategic self-assessment committee to plan for the School's future.
School launches partnership with Apple allowing students to download classroom lectures onto their portable listening devices.
2006:
School launches Scholars Program in Dental Leadership which brings together a select number of exceptional students from diverse backgrounds and helps them develop a leadership mindset and the skills they can use to cultivate change in dentistry, dental hygiene, education, research, or academia.
2008:
School launches first E-learning program. This dental hygiene degree completion program draws interest from other colleges and universities worldwide. It also becomes a model other U-M schools and colleges will eventually emulate.
Technology comes to School's comp care clinics as they move from a paper to a digital environment.
School raises more than $38 million as part of the University's Michigan Difference Campaign, achieving 109 percent of the initial $35 million goal.