Dental school approved, first class will enter fall 2013

Plans for the Kirksville branch of the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health are underway with plans for the first class to enter in fall 2013.

The branch is estimated to cost between $20 million and $30 million dollars including facilities, equipment, operations, and personnel. The institution would be the second dental school in the state of Missouri.  

A.T. Still University President  Jack Magruder said he plans to have the first bids for the capital requests by fall, in time to begin construction for the new facilities. ATSU has applied for grants through the Missouri Foundation for Health, among other organizations.

The A.T. Still Board of Trustees unanimously supported bringing a branch of the school to Kirksville last week.

Although the Board of Trustees' decision is a landmark accomplishment for the Kirksville community, it is just the beginning of the long process to introduce Missouri's second dental school­­­—the first being at the University of Missouri Kansas City.

Magruder said the next priority is to hire a vice dean and an architect to calculate the exact costs for the new school. If the Board of Trustees does not approve these capital requests, the financing will be modified for a second evaluation.

Magruder said the Board eliminated Orlando from the possible locations for the dental school. However, he said San Diego still is "live and well in our pursuit," which would have no effect on whether the Kirksville school will be implemented.

"A dental program on the Kirksville campus of ATSU is perfectly aligned with the mission of the University and the vision of the Board to address an unmet patient need in Missouri and to serve rural locations and under served populations," Magruder said.

Magruder said he anticipates 45 students will make up the first class and enter the program fall 2013 and graduate in May 2017. After two years on campus, 30 of those students will be sent to CHCs in Missouri, while 15 will stay in Kirksville. He estimated the dental school will lure 105 students, faculty and their families to Kirksville by its third year.

Students of the dental program will be working closely with Community Health Centers in Northeast Missouri, including one in Kirksville. The program also is tentatively planning to partner with CHCs in Sikeston, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Springfield and St. Louis. CHCs in other states have asked the program for their partnership.

Magruder said the tuition for students will be middle range for attending a private dental school in the United States at $50,000 per year. He said federal scholarships will be available for students who agree to practice in under served areas and CHCs for four years following graduation.

 "It really goes to the heart of what we've identified as priorities in our plan to increase our service to the under served, and we will be working with community health centers," said Michael McManis, vice president for planning.

City Manager Mari Macomber said this will bring people to Kirksville in the form of instructors and students. It will also provide services to the community and areas in Missouri that are in need of dental care.

"We further encourage President Magruder to take the necessary steps to move this important project forward," said Carl Bynum, A.T. Still University Board of Trustees chairman. "We also advise the president that capital requests must be approved by the Board and that the program must achieve accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association."

Macomber said the city pledged a $100,000 forgivable loan through a revolving loan—fund money given to the city by the state for "economical development purposes." Macomber said that although the loan's terms haven't been determined, typically City Council works with a business to create a certain number of jobs within a three-year period. If those jobs are created and retained, then the loan is forgiven.

Additionally, the Kirksville School District signed a memorandum of understanding with ATSU in early February to pursue $175,000 in enhancement grant funding in exchange for the use of ATSU's facilities for a high school dental assistance program.

"We're going to raise money for this, but in the long run it's going to be student tuition," Magruder said.

Magruder said the new dental school will offer the same Doctorate of Medical Dentistry. The school must apply for and receive provisional accreditation before enrolling their inaugural class in fall 2013.

Magruder said he has considered starting a 3-2 program for Truman's pre-dental students. In this program, students would attend Truman for three years before being automatically admitted into ATSU to complete their doctorate. Currently Truman's pre-dental students must complete their dental studies at UMKC or attend an out-of-state school.

Gov. Jay Nixon sent a statement to the press conference in which said he is "extremely pleased" about the Board's decision to bring its school of dentistry to Kirksville and called Kirksville a "center of excellence."

The nonprofit, independent organization, Community Friends for ATSU Dental, collected approximately 700 donations totaling more than $1 million to support the local program.

"I think that those that gave and demonstrated their support, however small or however large the amount, says that they believe in the mission, they believe in the success of the possibility and want to see this happen," Community Friends co-chair, Renae Brayton said.

"The mission of [ATSU] certainly has to do with creating and producing and educating and training compassionate, competent healthcare professionals who are caring about serving in rural areas and serving people who are of great need," Magruder said.