University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2010) |
University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine | |
Established | 1957 |
School type | Public |
Dean | Noel Aymat (Acting) |
Location | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Enrollment | Unknown |
Homepage | http://dental.rcm.upr.edu/ |
The University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine is the dental school of the University of Puerto Rico. It is located on the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the only dental school in Puerto Rico. It is accredited by the American Dental Association.[1]
History
In January 1955 Dr. Harold W. Brown, Ex-Dean of the School of Public Health of
As part of this study and in coordination with the College of Dental Surgeons of Puerto Rico were surveyed dentists in Puerto Rico, as a professional class, demonstrating a massive boost to the creation of a dental school in the country. This study concluded that, based on the low ratio of dentists to existing population and the inability to improve it with the option of educating dentists in accredited schools outside the country, there was a need to establish a dental school built with the
The lawyer Jaime Benitez, then Rector of the University of Puerto Rico, submitted a request to the Council for Higher Education, with Dr. Peterson's paper as a reference, to create the School of Dentistry. In an extraordinary meeting on 27 January 1956, the Council accepted the report of the Rector and approved the establishment of the School of Dentistry linked to the School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, according to Certification # 85 of 6 February 1956. In it was established that the approval was made without the university to have the funds necessary for implementation. Therefore, the rector was empowered to manage themselves and not make any commitments until they have the required funds. To this end, it was not possible to project at this time that the Dental School could begin operations.
On 8 March 1956 the doctor
The lawyer appointed Dr. Raymond Baralt Jr. as the first dean of the newly created School of Dentistry, University of Puerto Rico effective July 1, 1956 as soon learned of the signing of the bill by the Governor. A year later, on Monday, 19 August 1957, the school began its academic functions with 29 students. Some of the courses in biomedical sciences, administratively under the School of Medicine, were initially shared by the students of Dentistry and Medicine, gradually creating separate courses after the first year of dental school operations. The faculty and school administration made great efforts to develop academic programs, establish rules and procedures, design and build appropriate facilities (clinics and laboratories), while the teaching work was done. In the academic year 1960–61, the school had 102 students of dentistry.
In March 1961 it received official accreditation visit Dental Education Council of the American Dental Association. Subsequently, the agency told the Rector Jaime Benitez the status of "Full Approval" Under-graduate Program of Dentistry, University of Puerto Rico, in a communication dated 13 March 1961. Thereafter, the School of Dentistry has maintained its accreditation continuously.
The first acts of graduation, for receptacles of the degree of
The training programs for staff support of the profession were established under the administration of the school. Among these programs were created Dental Assistants,
Academics
The School's curriculum has been revised several times in response to internal and external environment and responding to accreditation standards. Among the highlights are early clinical experiences, use of simulators in pre-clinical laboratories, treatment patient-centered comprehensive, competency-based assessment, innovative educational methods as standardized patients, scientific evidence-based learning among others. The School of Dentistry has taken a leadership role in the international community. Graduate programs have received professional Central and South America and Spain for training in various specialized areas of dentistry. An excellent example of this initiative is the school's contribution to the development of dental curriculum at the University of Granada, in its decision to establish a separate School of Dental Medicine, satisfy the requirements of the European Economic Community.
The School of Dentistry has a Division of Continuing Education since 1959 and is a major supplier of this type of education for the local professional community at the level of Central and South America, Spain and other international standards. This division has been innovative in developing distance education and by CCTV. In 2005, the School of Dentistry opened an amphitheater with all the modern facilities of educational technology for offering continuing education courses. The School of Dentistry has maintained steady progress throughout its history, and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of its foundation confirms its institutional maturity.
University of Puerto Rico School of Dentistry awards following degrees:
- Doctor of Dental Medicine
- Ph.DTraining Program
Research
As an integral part of its mission, the School of Dentistry has developed a significant work in research at all levels. The generation of new knowledge is critical because it results in improved oral health and general health of the population. Research Center, School of Dentistry has led efforts to address inequalities in oral health in Puerto Rico, and other Hispanic communities in the United States in aspects of oral cancer, dental caries and periodontal disease. The latter by their particular relationship with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pregnant women and their relationship to low birth weight and prematurity. The Research Center has been diligent in seeking funds to support research and has received an endowment fund of $15 million and has signed cooperation agreements with prestigious universities such as, for example,
Departments
University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine includes the following departments:
- Ecological Sciences Department
- Restorative Sciences Department
- Surgical Sciences Department
See also
References
- ^ "ADA.org: DDS/DMD Programs - U.S". Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
- ^ "Escuela de Odontología — Site". Archived from the original on 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ^ "Escuela de Odontología". dental.rcm.upr.edu. Archived from the original on 2006-03-04.