Dean’s Message

In September of 2021, I stepped into the role of dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry — and what an experience it has been. This time has been filled with challenges and great accomplishments, and as we are encouraged and inspired to move forward, we take many valuable lessons with us.

It’s no surprise that with the COVID-19 pandemic we had to learn to do things differently — we all had to adapt and find new ways to continue training the next generation of dentists with the excellence we are known for. The major lesson we learned was how to be nimble and change things at the drop of a hat, and that included adjusting to teaching that included live classes and pre-recorded virtual teaching.

Through the pandemic we discovered that Oklahoma has a shortage of dental hygienists, and we have developed strategies to increase the number. The College of Dentistry offers dental hygiene programs at three sites, with plans to expand to Sapulpa in a few years.

Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation for access to oral health care per capita, and we are doing all we can to ensure our college is the source for accessible, affordable and highquality dental care throughout the state. As we work toward that goal, we are also training our students by providing them with hands-on experience and state-of-the-art facilities.

It is with great pride that we opened the OU College of Dentistry Delta Dental of Oklahoma Comprehensive Care Clinic in Tulsa during the summer of 2022. The 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art clinic was made possible with a $2 million gift from Delta Dental of Oklahoma and furthers our commitment to increase dental care to underresourced communities in northeastern Oklahoma. The clinic, under the leadership of Dr. Rieger Wood, is staffed by 10 students — five each of third- and fourth-year students — and already has a patient waiting list.

As we prepare for the years ahead, we are excited to offer new educational programs. We plan to commence a pediatric dentistry residency in 2024, and in response to feedback from students and alumni requesting more business knowledge and training to assist them as they prepare for a career in dentistry, we are aiming to start a D.D.S./MBA program. This will be a dual degree program, but the classes and lectures will also be available to students outside of the program who wish to learn more about business topics.

We are working with the biomedical engineering department on the OU Norman campus to develop a D.D.S./Ph.D. program, hopefully encouraging careers in dental research and education. Everything we do is with the intention of training future generations of professionals who will make a positive impact to Oklahoma.

Much of our work is made possible through generous donations and endowments gifted to the College of Dentistry, and I’d like to express my thanks to every donor who has made the choice to give so generously. In this issue you’ll read about a generous new endowment established by the Kirkpatrick Family Foundation, which provides indigent care funding for patients unable to afford the cost of dental care. As dean, I have established several endowments for needs such as student scholarships, faculty support, veterans care and a technology fund.

The College of Dentistry celebrated its 50th anniversary in September, and a lot has changed since we accepted our first class of dental students in 1972. We celebrated with several fun activities that gave the college and our community a chance to honor the legacy of work already done, including the Retired Faculty and Staff Luncheon. The 50th anniversary coincided with our annual Dean’s Circle Dinner and Alumni Awards Ceremony, which we had been unable to host for three years due to the pandemic. The event recognizes our Dean's Circle members for their generosity and support throughout the year.

Celebrating the college’s 50th anniversary reminds us of how far we’ve come and what we can achieve when we work toward a common goal. We are building future generations of highly qualified dentists who will share our commitment to increase access to affordable, quality dental care to under-resourced communities in northeastern Oklahoma and to Oklahoma as a whole. What we have achieved and will continue to achieve is something to be proud of.

Sincerely,

Paul M. Mullasseril, D.D.S., M.S. Dean, The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry