College of Dental Medicine

UNE is poised to open the first
College of Dental Medicine for Maine
and all of northern New England.

The Need for Dentists

Good dental health is more than having a beautiful smile. Good dental health means having access to quality care at every stage of life, from the eruption of a baby’s first bud to the careful preservation of an elder’s permanent teeth.

Dentists are a vital part of the healthcare delivery system, yet an acute shortage of these critical health professionals in Maine means that some citizens face a lengthy wait for scarce services.

With four in ten Maine dentists projected to retire in the next ten years, lack of access to dental care may soon become the norm for all. Creating a long-term, systemic solution to dental workforce development — for Maine and northern New England — is imperative.

Located on its historic campus in Portland, Maine, the University of New England College of Dental Medicine will educate hundreds of urgently needed dentists for communities across the region.

Qualified students from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and beyond will achieve an excellent education, preparing them for a rewarding, professional career.

These same dedicated students will substantially increase access to oral health care, completing their clinical rotations in underserved communities and providing crucial dental services to patients across the region.

This is a project whose time has come.

A College of Dental Medicine for Northern New England

Why UNE?

• The University of New England is a recognized leader in healthcare education.
• UNE educates more healthcare professionals than any other college or university in Maine, more than 800 students per year.
• The University of New England is one of only five private universities in the country with a comprehensive health education mission including a medical school, pharmacy, dental hygiene and programs in allied health.
• UNE has the experience to operate a robust clinical placement program for dental students. UNE’s health professions students currently provide over 300,000 hours of clinical services per year, and UNE’s new dental clinic will provide dental care for 5,000 patients annually.
• Research is central to the university’s mission, and a dental medicine program will provide rich opportunities to study the links between oral and overall health. UNE’s esteemed faculty have research awards from such prestigious agencies as the National Institutes for Health, Health Resources & Services Administration, and the National Science Foundation.

Becoming a Reality

UNE has made extensive progress in its efforts to open the first College of Dental Medicine in northern New England.

• The Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees has approved the Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree, stating “We believe offering a doctorate in Dental Medicine is clearly aligned with the institution’s strategic academic goals and will strengthen UNE’s reputation as a regional and national leader in the health professions and health sciences.”
• The university has conducted a comprehensive study of the feasibility of the new college, utilizing dental education experts from around the country, architectural consultants, and financial planners. A budget pro forma has been prepared, dental curricula reviewed, and a comprehensive project work plan developed.
• UNE has received a significant lead gift towards the College of Dental Medicine, and vigorous fund-raising efforts are currently underway throughout Maine and northern New England.
• UNE has hired James J. Koelbl, D.D.S., M.S., M.J. to be the founding dean of the new college. Dr. Koelbl was the founding dean of the College of Dental Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, Calif.
  

Join Us

The Need for Your Support …

The University of New England respectfully requests your support for this exciting venture. Developing Maine’s first College of Dental Medicine will require significant philanthropic support to welcome the first cohort of dental medicine students to UNE’s Portland campus. 

Through tremendous financial support of Northeast Delta Dental, which has provided a lead gift of $2.3 million for the College, as well as other generous gifts and pledges, UNE has already secured more than $6.5 million in funds toward launching this dental college.

Whether you are an individual or a corporate partner interested in the long-term benefit of investing in the community, your support will help UNE develop and grow the College of Dental Medicine to fill the region’s critical need for dentists and better health care. With each gift, the University of New England grows one step closer to making a difference in the lives of dental students and the communities they will serve.

College Planning & Development Support

UNE’s planning budget includes funds for consultation with dental experts, research regarding model curricula, development of clinical preceptor sites for students, faculty recruitment and training, and instructional technology.

College of Dental Medicine Clinical Facility

UNE’s state-of-the-art, 44-chair dental clinic will serve public patients while educating students in their clinical skill development. Clinical needs also include human patient dental simulation units, practice labs, and radiology space.

Capital Needs

Goddard Hall  is a historic building on the Portland Campus that is already undergoing renovation to create administrative office space that can be used by the College of Dental Medicine.  Others may be renovated to accommodate classroom, research, and student support spaces. Pending architectural review, these historic halls could become the vibrant new home to College of Dental Medicine students.

Scholarships

Scholarships are essential to attracting talented and committed students, and help students to pursue a profession that offers service to others and excellent employment prospects. Scholarships will be especially important to UNE’s plan to recruit exceptional young people from rural and underserved areas in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and throughout New England.

Endowed Academic or Research Chairs

Endowment creates a gift to students that lasts forever. An Endowed Chair in Dental Medicine or Oral Health Research creates an opportunity to attract scholars of national and international acclaim, with benefits for students, the university, and global community.

The Difference You Make

Coming soon with your support — a new generation of dentists educated here in Maine at the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. Your help means that deserving students will receive an exceptional education, becoming dentists to provide much-needed oral health services throughout northern New England.

For more information about the University of New England
College of Dental Medicine, visit the website or contact:
William Chance., Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement
(207) 221-4372 | wchance@une.edu