Lasting Impressions | Winter 2014

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE x 5 How do you think technology will affect the future of dentistry? The advances in research and technology have the ability to make the practice of dentistry easier for the patient and more fulfilling for dental professionals, while improving both oral health and systemic health. The new NSU Center for Collaborative Research will provide the perfect location to leverage the research expertise of various disciplines to generate new knowl- edge to assist health professionals in caring for patients. Research and technology will continue to advance, but we must ensure that we are asking the right ques- tions, and we must be willing to reevaluate old ques- tions. If you don’t ask, you won’t learn. Why do we perform a procedure a certain way? Is there a better approach that may be faster or easier and provide bet- ter outcomes for the patient? NSU’s College of Dental Medicine has a thriving dual admissions program.What do you see as its future? I view dual admissions as the future of education. President Hanbury has often said that a master’s degree is the new bachelor’s degree. A large number of our current undergraduate students are biology majors. As biology majors, many of our NSU graduates are seeking to pursue a health professional education. Why not con- tinue their graduate education here at NSU? Students want to design their own careers and con- tinue their education in creative ways by combining disciplines. Student debt is skyrocketing. The more ways we provide for them to reach their educational and career goals in less time (and with less tuition), the more competitive we become as a university. We currently have dual admissions with the under- graduate campus (B.S./D.M.D.), and with the medical school (D.O./D.M.D.). A few of our predoctoral dental students are also pursuing a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) at NSU’s medical school the same time as their dental studies. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is developing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences. After three years, students in this program can enter NSU’s medical school. This is an opportunity we may want to consider for the dental school, too. THE COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE (CDM) VISION The vision of the CDM is to be the acknowl- edged leader in educating students for an enriched career in general and specialty practice, academia, and/or research with special emphasis on underserved populations. MISSION The College of Dental Medicine’s mission is to educate students to become competent in all phases of the general practice of dental medicine and postdoctoral residents who are proficient in their respective specialty fields.The CDM is committed to ensuring graduates’ excel- lence in the art and science of dental medicine and their commitment to independent, lifelong learning.This mission requires graduates to be knowledgeable in the biological sciences, clinically skilled, technologically proficient, compassionate, and sensitive to the needs of the public.The graduate will be competent to function as a member of, or in conjunction with, an interdisciplinary primary health care team. The CDM fosters leadership and excellence in dental education through a commitment to recruit and retain the highest caliber, self- motivated students, residents, and faculty; innovative teaching methods, research, schol- arship, professionalism, and ethical principles; continuing education; and service to the local, state, national, and international communities. The CDM has a special commitment to edu- cate students and residents to provide culturally sensitive care to the underserved and special needs populations. CORE VALUES t Honesty, Integrity, and High Ethical Standards t Professionalism t Mutual Respect t Communication t Diversity and Cultural Competence t Leadership t Interdisciplinary Initiatives t Service t Excellence and Quality LEFT: Linda C. Niessen, College of Dental Medicine dean, discusses career options with dental students Keith Simon and Tamarra Smith in the CDM’s clinic.