Fast Facts

University of Connecticut

• Main campus at Storrs; 5 regional campuses
• Designated a Carnegie research-extensive university
• Number 1 ranked public university in New England
• Ranked in top 25 public institutions in the U.S.
• Nationally ranked sports teams
• Recent beneficiary of 2.3 billion improvement grant from the state of Connecticut (“UConn 2000”)
• Faculty research support exceeded $185 million in 2007

School of Dental Medicine Facilities

• Onsite: 130 dental treatment rooms
• Offsite: 2 eight-chair clinics for pediatric dentistry
• Two shared classrooms with the medical school (recently renovated)
• Two tiered dental school classrooms (recently renovated)
• Preclinical facilities and prosthodontics laboratory (to be renovated in 2009)
• New Center for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry (opened August, 2008)
• Regional biomedical library (recently renovated) with extensive electronic resources
• Excellent student work and study areas
• State-of the-art teaching technology and support

School of Dental Medicine Alumni

• First D.M.D. class graduated in 1972
• 1285 D.M.D. alumni as of 2008
• 8 accredited advanced training/specialty programs
• 746 advanced training/specialty alumni as of 2008
• 68% of School of Dental Medicine alumni live and practice in the tri-state area (Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts)
• 40 to 50% of practicing dentists in Connecticut are UConn School of Dental Medicine-affiliated

Instruction, Curriculum and Student Outcomes

• Student grading is pass/fail
• Student to faculty ratio is approximately 3.30 compared to 4.77 nationally
• Student evaluation is based on 33 competencies, not numerical requirements
• Dental and medical students participate in a common Basic Medical Science curriculum (combined classes/labs):
  • 6,000 instructional hours - the highest number of total instructional hours of all dental schools
  • 2,000 basic science hours - the highest number of basic science hours of all dental schools; 2.4 times the national average
  • In top third of all U.S. dental schools for clinical science hours
• Clinical curriculum:
  • Students assigned about 50 comprehensive care patients
  • Students complete about 900 patient visits
  • More than 20% of clinical experiences are extra-mural at offsite community clinics
• National Board results consistently in top quintile nationally
• 90% of D.M.D. graduates pursue advanced education opportunities, compared to about 45% nationally
• Majority of students enter top choice of post-graduate residency programs

Patient Care and Service

• Largest provider of dental care to the underserved in the state of Connecticut. In 2006-07:
  • 122,000 total patient visits
  • 94,000 patient visits at the Farmington campus clinics
  • 28,000 patient visits at affiliated sites
  • 18,000 visits for children under 18 years of age; largest single provider of dental services to Medicaid-covered children in Connecticut
  • 66% of those served on public assistance
  • Largest provider of emergency dental services to adult Medicaid clients in Connecticut
• In 2007-2008, provided an estimated $6.6 million of uncompensated dental care to citizens in need

Outreach

• Externships and Missions:
  • Local/Regional: South Park Inn Clinic, Migrant Farm Workers, Special Olympics
  • National: Montana
  • International: Paraguay, Chile, Belize, South Africa

Research

• 20 years of NIH funding for graduate-level (T-32) training programs
• Reputation as training ground for new dental faculty for U.S. and international schools
• As of 2008, 35 alumni in major academic and industry positions (deans, research directors, etc.) internationally
• Broad spectrum of research areas including regenerative medicine, bone/cartilage/tooth development and regeneration, oral cancer, human behavior, health promotion, community health
• Large infrastructure renewal grant awarded by NIH in 2005-06; one of only eight awarded nationally; enabled recruitment of five new exceptional research faculty members
• In 2008, $7 million in sponsored grant support
• In top quintile of schools nationally for funded research, based on faculty/student body size
• New Dental Clinical Research Center to open 2009
• Center for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry opened August 2008
• Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development awarded largest single grant from the Connecticut Stem Cell Initiative in 2007-2008. Research to trigger stem cells to repair bone, cartilage and skeletal tissues of the face and dentition.
• In 2007-2008, major Department of Defense grant to investigate new methods to repair massive skeletal injuries

Special Programs

• Summer research programs (some with stipends) for D.M.D. students
• Combined D.M.D./Ph.D. program
• Master in Public Health
• Master in Clinical and Translational Research

Partners in Education and Service

• Affiliated with 14 community clinics where UConn students, residents and faculty provide dental care and learn as a care team
• Partners with the Connecticut State Dental Association in a Joint Continuing Education series and in various community projects (i.e., Mission of Mercy)
• Exploring new ways to assist Connecticut dentists and other dental workforce members with their lifelong educational needs

Economic Impact

• Faculty: 70 full-time; 31 part-time (84 funded FTE positions)
• Staff: 110
• 2006-2007 Budget: $35 Million
• Estimated Primary Economic Impact: $109 Million
• Secondary Economic Impact: $339 Million