The Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) is a public health sciences university in Ohio. NEOMED is requesting funds to support a new Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree program to train students in the science and practice of dentistry for qualification as licensed general dentists. Background: The DMD program will be offered through the newly formed Bitonte College of Dentistry. NEOMED has applied for the initial specialized accreditation through the Commission Dental Accreditation (CODA) on February 23, 2023, and is currently under review. Based on a rigorous needs assessment and findings by the Ohio Depart of Health concerning a lasting oral health crisis in Ohio, NEOMED applied to the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) for a disbursement of $1 million for Fiscal Year 2023 state appropriated funds to support the development of a Dental College which has enabled planning and development of this college. At this time, NEOMED has made significant progress towards establishing this colelge. The founding Dean and the Associate Dean for Education and Academic Affair have been hired. NEOMED expects to matriculate the first class of 50 dental students in August 2025. Finally, NEOMED has filed the new academic program substantive change application with the Higher Learning Commission for university-level accreditation. NEOMED is prepared to provide support for the dental education program, including physical space, financial resources (project at $8 million), and well-developed university facilities and central services. There is strong external stakeholder support for development of the College of Dentistry and DMD program, as evidenced by support provide by: State of Ohio ($1 million), federal government ($2 million), the Bitonte Family Foundation ($10 million philanthropic gift), and signed affiliation agreements with clinical partner sites for students’ clinical education activities. The Proposed Project: The feder
al funds will be used to renovate and reconstruct approximately 11,900 SF of space. The NEOMED Dental Clinic (8,700 SF) will serve as the onsite clinic for dental student clinical education and patient care. The Dental Simulation Clinic (3,200 SF) will house a 55-seat simulation clinic equipped with new, state of the art simulation units, instructor stations for demonstrations, and instructor grading room. An architect was hired in May 2023 through a competitive process to move from design schematics and concept to architectural drawings for the renovation and reconstruction phase of the project to begin. The federal funds will support $2 million of the estimated $6.1 million of construction costs incurred in fiscal year 2024 to renovate the current space. The total renovation and reconstruction projects is estimated to cost approximately $12 million. Initial planning and design schematics began in February 2023 and the project is expected to continue over the next 22 months with a projected completion February 2025.