Ann Arbor, MI — September 26, 2005 — In convocation remarks to faculty, students, and staff, Dean Peter Polverini outlined a vision for the School of Dentistry "as an innovative educational institution and a leader in research and discovery." The remarks were delivered during the second annual Convocation Ceremony at the Mendelssohn Theater in the Michigan League.

Citing a challenge from University of Michigan administrators "to take a clear-eyed look at our intellectual directions and priorities, our strengths and weaknesses, and our comparative advantages over our peer institutions," Polverini said the School now has a unique opportunity "to reshape and transform the dental school and to discover new opportunities."

Mentioning its "hard-earned reputation as a visionary institution," Polverini said the need to look ahead is critical. "If we are to thrive in the future, we will have to make some tough choices during the coming years, as we may not be able to sustain every program and initiative." He urged faculty, students, and staff to continue "to take risks that will dramatically change our educational and patient care programs, our research enterprise, and, at the most fundamental level, our organizational structure."

Educational Program Changes
Polverini called for some changes to the School's educational programs so students are "well prepared to meet the oral health needs of the next generation of consumers."

One possible change called for interdisciplinary education, self-directed learning, and leadership. "We need to encourage our best students to embrace a more self-directed program of education that celebrates independent thinking," he said.

To develop a financially sustainable model of clinical education in times of more limited state funding Polverini said, "We need to look at more cost effective and efficient ways of delivering our educational programs." He said options could include building on the Vertically Integrated Clinical education program, expanding the School's presence in community clinics, and developing "traditional and nontraditional educational alliances."

He also said a new Dental Scholars leadership program would be introduced later this year. The four-year program for predoctoral students will include a series of individual projects "in which students will examine critical issues that affect oral health education, the delivery of oral health care, and interdisciplinary education," he said.

Polverini also cited a need to explore educational innovations that include "the integration of the biomedical and clinical sciences" as well as possibly restructuring the dental curriculum "to give students a greater amount of time to experience other educational opportunities while they are dental students." For example, he said, in the fourth year of their education, dental students might be able to explore various disciplines including health disparities, public health dentistry, preventive and diagnostic sciences, primary and specialized oral health care, and research.

The Role of Research
Research and discovery will continue to be important to the School of Dentistry, he said. "There must be a serious integration of the scientific enterprise with the DDS and postgraduate curricula. A failure to seriously implement evidence-based dentistry into the day-to-day life of a student will impede the development of the well-educated dental practitioner."

Polverini called for "a further strengthening of the basic research programs with targeted investments in stem cell biology, nanotechnology, and neuroscience," expanding investigator-initiated translational and clinical research, developing stronger industrial partnerships, and exploring the development of a collaborative program between dentistry and engineering to encourage self-directed learning and preclinical restorative skills.

Saying the School has a responsibility to help the underserved throughout Michigan, Polverini said outreach opportunities give students opportunities to expand their cultural awareness as well as work in a team setting to provide oral health care.

To sustain dental education will require the School to consider "other financing strategies," Polverini said. One possible approach he said was developing a closer partnership with the U-M Health System "and consider privatizing selected graduate-level clinical operations."

Polverini said the School's Strategic Assessment is now underway, and it will give everyone an opportunity to help shape the future of the School and perhaps dentistry itself.

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation's leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu.