New Faculty
College Extends Affordable and Accessible Dental Care in Eastern Oklahoma Last summer, the college announced plans to expand its pre-doctoral program to the OU-Tulsa campus and build a new clinic within the OU Health Physicians Schusterman Center building. Construction of the 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art dental clinic began in fall 2021. “The Tulsa expansion helps our college fulfill one of its primary roles in improving the oral health of Oklahomans by bringing dental services, at substantially reduced fees, into an area of our state with underserved oral health needs,” explained Paul M. Mullasseril, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the college. Aggressive interventions are needed to elevate Oklahoma from the 49th slot currently held in national rankings for affordable dental care. Expected to open in June 2022, the clinic will provide comprehensive oral health services to patients of all ages. The Tulsa clinic, also referred to as the “tenth practice,” will be student-led under the supervision of college faculty in Tulsa.
In the past five years, the college has provided dental and emergency care to more than 285,000 patients. Nearly onequarter of those patients travel from the northeastern part of the state, often as far as 200 miles, to receive care at the college, located on the OU Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City. The time and expense of travel are significant burdens when seeking affordable dental care. With this ambitious initiative, the college has deepened its commitment to accomplish two primary goals: to bring affordable, high-quality health care more readily available in eastern Oklahoma; and to advance its educational mission to provide an exceptional dental education that prepares its graduates for successful clinical practice.
“The resources of the OU-Tulsa campus, in conjunction with a premier clinical environment, make the campus an ideal location for this clinical extension. Once completed, this project will allow patients to obtain dental care, along with other physician-provided health care services ranging from internal medicine to women’s health, to specialties like pediatric cardiology, at one convenient location.” Joseph Harroz Jr. President, The University of Oklahoma
Th e U n i v e r s i t y o f O k l a h o m a C o l l e g e o f D e n t i s t r y / 2 0 22 M a g a z i n e
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