HPU Dental Medicine Program Brochure

Message from the Dean

Thank you for your interest in the Workman School of Dental Medicine at High Point University.

It is an honor to be leading HPU’s dental school and to build a program that ensures graduates are prepared for the future of oral health care. Our faculty experts and I are committed to providing an innovative education that will prepare students to excel as future health professionals.

HPU is The Premier Life Skills University. Our dental students’ education will be framed with the life skills that outlast and extend beyond inevitable technological changes. This includes the ability to communicate well with patients and providers, to thrive in a competitive market, to adapt and to navigate complex situations without being intimidated by life’s obstacles. That is the HPU advantage.

You’ll appreciate that we have set our program apart by providing students with the most advanced dental simulation technology available. Our students will discover and learn their profession in virtual reality training environments combining the most detailed 3D visuals and authentic haptic feel with a vast choice of scenarios. Our students will gain real-world experience through frequent and early clinical experiences across all aspects of dental medicine.

By sharing the mission of HPU, students are certain to receive a dental education second to none. And not only will we ensure our students are educated by accomplished and caring professors, but we will graduate caring professionals who will promote better health in their future careers.

Scott S. De Rossi, DMD, MBA Founding Dean, Workman School of Dental Medicine CEO, HPU Health Network

Dr. Scott De Rossi is the founding dean of the Workman School of Dental Medicine. De Rossi received his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and completed his post-doctoral training in oral medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. He has held numerous reputable roles, such as professor of oral medicine, director of the Clinical Center for Oral Medicine and chairman of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences at the Augusta University Dental College of Georgia. Most recently, he served as dean and professor for the Adams School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a recipient of the International Association of Dental Research Innovation in Oral Care Award and the Judson C. Hickey Excellence in Teaching Award at the Augusta University Dental College of Georgia. De Rossi has served on the board of trustees and executive committee as treasurer for the American Academy of Oral Medicine and also maintains memberships in the American Dental Association, American Dental Education Association and the American Association of Dental Research.

HPU President Dr. Nido Qubein, pictured left, presented Dr. Rick Workman, center, with a key to the university after announcing the dental school’s name to hundreds of leaders at a major event held inside the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center. Pictured right is Dr. Scott De Rossi, founding dean of the Workman School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Rick Workman

HPU’s Dental Innovator in Residence and Benefactor of the School

Dr. Rick Workman, and his wife, Angie, laid the foundation for the state’s only private dental school through a donation from the Rick and Angie Workman Foundation. This transformational gift will enable HPU to lead the way in oral health care education. The Workman School of Dental Medicine is named in honor of Workman, who believes HPU’s values and focus on life skills are unique and needed today in higher education.

Dr. Rick Workman is HPU’s Dental Innovator in Residence and founder of Heartland Dental. Workman has nearly 40 years of experience in health care as both a practicing dentist and a pioneering business leader.

Workman is part of a long list of in-residence faculty at HPU. The Access to Innovators Program at HPU connects students with expert leaders in a variety of industries. This access to global professionals provides unparalleled networking and mentorship opportunities for students in all courses of study. Just a few other in-residence faculty members include Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, HPU’s Innovator in Residence; Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph, HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence; and former President and CEO of Tufts Medical Center Dr. Ellen Zane, HPU’s Health Care Executive in Residence.

Today, Workman provides leadership advice to more than 1,600 dental offices nationwide through various speaking engagements. Heartland Dental supports dentists as they provide high-quality care to offices in 37 states through non-clinical, administrative support services. For the fifth consecutive year, Workman has been named one of Incisal Edge’s Top 15 Most Influential People in Dentistry and the second most influential person in dentistry in its inaugural edition. He graduated from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.

Admissions Model

High Point University’s Workman School of Dental Medicine seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds, unique experiences and extraordinary aspirations who are prepared for an immersive, self-directed and patient-centered learning journey that is unlike any other. While a foundation in science is desirable preparation for dental school, well-prepared candidates also possess knowledge in humanities, social science and the arts. Non-science majors are encouraged to apply.

The admissions model of the Workman School of Dental Medicine is designed to help create a culture that represents our core values of creativity,

DATES TO KNOW

High Point University’s Doctor of Dental Medicine degree program will enroll its first class in Fall 2024.

Application to the program opens May 2023.

The deadline for early commitment is July 31, 2023.

The deadline for fall 2024 applications is January 31, 2024.

innovation, collaboration, teamwork, integrity, trust, leadership and learning. Each applicant has a distinctive story that describes the knowledge, experiences and attributes they will bring to their learning journey. The Prerequisite Phase is the opportunity for candidates to share with our team what makes them ready for the school’s CARE Curriculum and to be exceptional oral health care providers ready for the future of dental medicine.

The Workman School of Dental Medicine seeks doctor of dental medicine applicants who have demonstrated a background of diverse knowledge that embodies the CARE roles. While candidates who are on target to receive a Bachelor of Science degree or Bachelor of Arts degree—in any field—will be preferred, there is no specific degree of interest and no time limit on when the courses were completed.

Although there is no minimum grade-point average and no Dental Admission Test (DAT) score requirement, we seek students who will succeed in our demanding curriculum, as evidenced by their academic preparation, coachability and emotional intelligence, flexibility and temperament to adapt to changing technologies, and the motivation and interpersonal skills to interact with diverse populations.

Program Overview

The professional and industrial landscape of dentistry is changing rapidly. Tomorrow’s oral health care providers must be equipped to work in an integrated care environment and address the changing needs of tomorrow’s patients. These providers must also know how to lead in diverse teams and environments.

The Workman School of Dental Medicine at High Point University is intentionally designed to lead the country in innovative curricula and clinical experiences.

High Point University will provide personalized tracks to satisfy the career interests of our students. Students will complete coursework and clinicals across most specialties but will tailor their experiences to areas of interest throughout their learning journey in the curriculum.

North Carolina’s First Private University Dental School: Preparing You for the Future of Dentistry

High Point University’s Workman School of Dental Medicine will be North Carolina’s most innovative and the only dental school that is part of a private university. The school will be HPU’s 10th academic school on campus and the seventh established since Dr. Nido Qubein became HPU president in 2005. The competitive program will accept 240 students and enroll its first class in fall 2024.

The Workman School of Dental Medicine’s contemporary curriculum and access to advanced technologies certainly makes the program stand out. But it’s more than that. There is an awe-inspiring growth mindset in HPU’s institutional DNA that students will experience. HPU’s collaborative and innovative environment fosters an entrepreneurial mindset that sets our health care graduates apart.

THE HPU ADVANTAGE

HPU’s commitment to premier life skills and values-based learning frames our innovative approach to health care and empowers graduates to stand out. Here are a few of the advantages HPU dental students will have:

• Courses with world-renowned faculty experts committed to both student and patient success

• State-of-the-art simulation and clinical environments, including the latest in CAD/CAM and haptic technology

• Real-world practical experience in their first year

• Opportunities for comprehensive care with the same patient across two years of the program, introducing students to the importance of patient retention and holistic care

• On average, students will experience four patient appointments per day

• Low student-to-faculty ratio — students will build personal relationships with their mentors

• Emphasis on patient care and communication

Meet Dr. Jazmin Cromartie

Assistant Professor of General Dentistry and Director of Student Admissions and Engagement

Dr. Jazmin Cromartie’s pursuit to become a dentist began right here at High Point University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in biology in 2013. As assistant professor of general dentistry, she will advise students in various specialties of dentistry and supervise the clinical sites. She will also advise pre-dental students and be a resource to students seeking to learn more about the dental profession.

“I am deeply honored to assist in building the foundation for the Workman School of Dental Medicine,” says Cromartie. “I am excited to contribute my energy and passion for this profession and to extend my expertise to create an inspiring environment and extraordinary experience for each and every patient, student, resident and faculty member.”

Cromartie earned both her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and Advanced Education in General Dentistry Certificate with distinction from East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine.

The CARE Curriculum

The Workman School of Dental Medicine’s Clinician-AdvocateResearcher-Entrepreneur (CARE)

Curriculum prepares learners for the future of dental medicine. Intentionally designed, the curriculum will lead the country in an innovative, researchbased approach that immerses learners in authentic practice experiences within their first semester. We will provide the opportunity for learners to develop lifelong skills that will help them adapt to emerging needs and serve their communities.

CLINICIAN

• We integrate the best available science into our practice

• We perform procedures, when necessary, using optimal technical skills

• We provide safe and quality team-based care for our patients

ADVOCATE• We prioritize ethical and person-centered care for those we serve

• We promote health within ourselves, our communities and the public

• We advance systems that improve health care access and equity

• We apply systematic processes of inquiry and evaluation

• We use evidence-informed decision-making in all settings

• We engage in continuous reflection, learning and teaching

• We implement innovative solutions adaptive to future needs

• We lead impactful and purpose-driven people, teams and organizations

• We contribute to value-based practice and business models

Dental School’s CARE Curriculum Phases

The CARE Curriculum has four phases that have specific goals for all learners to achieve during their time at the HPU Workman School of Dental Medicine.

PREREQUISITE PHASE (PRE)

PREPARE PHASE (PEP)

PRACTICE PHASE (PCT)

PERSONALIZE PHASE (PRN)

High Point University Health

Starting their first semester, students will spend a significant amount of time rotating through HPU Health practices to provide and observe patient care and learn dental auxiliary roles and functions. All experiential learning occurs in authentic practice environments under the supervision of some of the top clinicians and professionals in the state and country. Student participation in practice will increase with each semester, culminating in full immersion during a student’s third and fourth years in the program.

Technology and Innovation

Learners will provide comprehensive clinical care, utilizing state-of-the-art technology such as intraoral scanners, 3D printers, CAD/CAM design and artificial intelligence. This will involve robust pre-clinical simulation training utilizing virtual reality/haptics and simulated dental office encounters.

Full Integration with Health Care

HPU Health will be fully integrated with health care systems utilizing the EPIC electronic health record. This will allow team-based and integrated care for our patients. Our learners will have the ability to refer undiagnosed medical conditions to non-oral health care providers and manage oral/dental needs for patients who are referred to us by our medical colleagues. This form of integrated care is the future of health care and will allow our graduates to thrive in a team-based environment.

Authentic Learning Environment

Full exposure to real practice environments that include private practice, group practice, community practice and hospital practice. This includes learning about real-life business, management and financial aspect.

Extensive Clinical Portfolio

Learners will perform clinical care across a variety of complexity and autonomy. These experiences will be accumulated into a clinical portfolio, which will highlight the procedure, complexity and autonomy of clinical experiences through HPU Health.

Practice-Readiness

Graduates of the HPU Health network will be able to thrive in any environment and be at a comparative advantage for future opportunities because of their ability to provide care that is timely, comprehensive and team-based. They will be able to understand and manage the business, management and finances of a dental practice, and they will thrive in any environment they choose to pursue.

Through High Point University Health, students and faculty of the Workman School of Dental Medicine will partner and practice with dentists in the local community and across the region, gaining real-world health experience.

High Point University’s Health Care Legacy

High Point University recognizes the rapid growth of the health care industry by continuing the university’s legacy of health care education. HPU has already laid a successful foundation for graduate degree offerings with the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, Physician Assistant Studies Program and Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. The university continues to pursue new programs and enhance existing programs that support the ever-changing complexities of health care. Led and designed by experts, HPU’s health care programs offer the most innovative technologies and teaching methods. Built on the foundation of success, HPU’s health care programs have seen tremendous growth, achieved academic prestige and produced graduates who are filling crucial health care positions.

100%

PASS RATES

SUCCESS IS IN THE NUMBERS

Recent graduates in HPU’s Departments of Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies and Athletic Training received 100% pass rates on national exams.

Graduates in High Point University’s departments of Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies and Athletic Training received 100% pass rates on their respective national board exams.

• The Department of Physical Therapy’s inaugural Class of 2020 received an ultimate pass rate of 100% on the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), four points above the national average.

• Class of 2020 graduates in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies received a top score on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). The program’s first-time taker pass rate for the Class of 2020 was 100%, five points higher than the national average on the PANCE for 2020.

• The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Class of 2021 scored a perfect pass rate on the National Board of Certification (BOC) examination. HPU’s 100% first-time pass rate far exceeded the three-year aggregate national average of 72.33%.

HPU’s Innovation Corridor is a hub for science, technology, engineering and math education. It is also where the new dental school will be located.

Innovation Corridor

Since 2005, High Point University has invested $350 million in STEM programs, faculty and facilities. HPU’s Innovation Corridor, which will be the future home of the Workman School of Dental Medicine, is one of the university’s largest investments and reflects HPU’s commitment to preparing students for the world as it’s going to be.

The half-mile stretch of campus begins at Couch Hall, home to the Webb School of Engineering, includes the Wanek School of Natural Sciences and concludes at Congdon Hall, which houses the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy and Congdon School of Health Sciences. As the cornerstone for medical innovation on campus, Congdon Hall features 224,000-square-feet of research, lab, learning and interactive space. HPU’s health care hub continues to grow beyond the dental school. Proposed schools that will also reside on the corridor include a School of Optometry, a School of Nursing and a School of Law.

Having state-of-the-art research facilities, STEM major students are led by esteemed faculty conducting groundbreaking research. Numerous faculty members have received prestigious NIH and NSF grants in chemistry, astrophysics and physical therapy.

CAREERS IN DENTISTRY

A DMD degree leads to opportunities in various dental professions including:

• Dental Anesthesiology

• Dental Public Health

• Endodontics

• General Dentistry

• Industry/Entrepreneurship

• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Oral Medicine

• Orofacial Pain

• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

• Pediatric Dentistry

• Periodontics

Prosthodontics

Research

Teaching

Filling a Need

Students of the Workman School of Dental Medicine will not only be prepared for the future of oral health but will also determine what it will be. The program’s practice model embeds students into real-world health care settings such as community colleges, federally qualified health clinics and communitybased practices, providing comprehensive exposure to team-based care and to how dental practice is evolving. With hands-on experiences across all aspects of dental medicine, students also learn the importance of patient-centered care and communication.

Visit the High Point University Workman School of Dental Medicine website for more information and to meet the team of expert faculty behind building one of the most distinctive, innovative dental schools in the nation.

For additional questions about admissions email us at DMDAdmissions@highpoint.edu.