Board of Governors Laud Appearance and Remarks of Dental School Leaders

"Highly Regarded" Research

"We are highly regarded for our research," said Dr. Charlotte Mistretta, associate dean for Research and PhD Training.

Citing research awards to the School since 1996, she said the School "consistently ranks in the top five or six in the nation" in research funds from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research. [See Figure 1 and Figure 2 at right.] The small numbers atop each bar chart note where U-M School of Dentistry ranked vs. other dental schools each year.

"These dollars for research are a measure of our School's excellence," Mistretta said. "That brings a sense of pride because our research and teaching programs reinforce and reinvigorate each other."

Board member Dr. George Yellich agreed.

"Although I graduated from dental school in 1972, I recall that when I was here many in clinical dentistry were involved in research. That's one of the great things about this University and this School, its research," he said.

Rankings

In response to a question about dental schools participating in annual rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Polverini said Michigan and other dental school across the country have not been doing it for some time.

The last time dental schools were ranked by the magazine was in 1993. [DentalUM, Spring & Summer 2000, page 40.]

"None of the dental schools participate because not all dental schools have a similar mission," Polverini said. Pointing to some schools that focus mostly on clinical education while others focus on both clinical education and research, he said "in these cases, it's an apples and oranges situation. ...There is no objective criteria to evaluate schools that are different with their approach."

NERB Results

In response to a question about the percentage of students successfully completing the NERB examinations in their first attempt, Dr. Marilyn Lantz, associate dean for academic affairs, said the number "has varied between 90 and 95 percent during the past five years. However, by the time a student graduates, the number is about 97 or 98 percent."

In the past, according to Stefanac, dental student graduation and the NERB examination for licensure occurred simultaneously. Students often waited three to four weeks for their test results and then had to apply for a state license before being able to practice.

Today it is different.

The NERB examination has been divided into three sections.

Dr. Ronald Heys, associate professor of dentistry and director of the 2 Green Clinic, said students take the mannequin portion of the exam in September during their final year in dental school. The clinical portion occurs in March. A written exam may be taken anytime between September and April at a local testing center. "To prepare them for their examinations, we give them mock simulations that will give them an idea of what to expect," he said.

Students know their results from the examination before graduation and are also able to apply for a dental license in advance. As a result, they can begin to practice immediately after graduation.