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CDM taps into technology, partnerships by Cindy Abole Public Relations Dental Medicine dean John J. Sanders, DDS, likes what he sees. From his standpoint, Sanders can see a college that is brimming with potential as dental faculty, staff and students forge ahead with goals and dreams to prepare dental health practitioners, gain understanding through research and improve the public’s overall health. It’s a college bonded by parallel goals shared by the campus’ other health care professions and its own commitment towards providing outstanding oral health care for South Carolina residents.      In a little more than a year since Sanders led the state’s only dental school, he’s helped establish dental practice programs locally and throughout the state, emboldened dental faculty and staff to share fresh ideas, increased student involvement through practice projects, plus increased research to the highest funding levels ever.   In August, he guided dental faculty, students and a fleet of statewide dental practitioners and supporters in reaching a pinnacle moment in the college’s 35-year history with the groundbreaking of the school’s new Clinical Education Center of the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine on Aug. 11.   Not bad for the Naval dentist, veteran, leader and respected periodontics faculty member whose familiar presence has been around campus since 1993.   As he charts his second-year leading the college, Sanders is hopeful and optimistic to stay the course of achieving collegiate excellence and a collaborative commitment to advance knowledge and understanding of improving oral health and disease among South Carolinians.   Dr. John Sanders For one, Sanders is pleased with faculty involvement across the college from enhancing and developing an academic foundation for dental students through the introduction of new technologies to ideas for participating in practice programs throughout the state. Improving technology and evaluating ways to enhance the curriculum were  emphasized in discussions at the college’s August faculty retreat.   “I think it’s great that everyone in the college is contributing ideas,” said Sanders, who currently is focused on building faculty. “By involving faculty and staff in the process, we’re challenging them to dream and be enthusiastic about ideas that can improve and benefit our college and the people it supports.”   With the state and nation's overall shortage of trained, qualified dentists, it’s vital that dental schools learn to promote its own educational goals and market its own attributes, he said. The College of Dental Medicine is particularly savvy at doing this. Since August, the college reintroduced an updated and expanded version of its Web page within MUSC’s Web site. Its result is an easy, navigational Web site for anyone seeking information about dental medicine education in South Carolina.      “Technology has always been a draw for dental faculty involvement,” Sanders said. “I think it’s great that everyone has contributed to this. It offers a new degree of excitement for anyone involved. Overall, it’s a good thing that MUSC, like any other university or institution of higher learning, is continually improving its Web presence.”   Prior to the college’s retreat, Sanders met with dental school alumni and statewide practitioners seeking advice to share with the dental faculty. Sanders asked the group to relate what fundamental knowledge and abilities are required by today’s South Carolina dental school graduates to practice.   When Sanders assumed the helm, his primary goal was to help dental students achieve by improving their minds (through an enhanced dental curriculum); their hands (by providing technology to practice and refine dental techniques); and their hearts (through the creation of innovative community health dental partnerships and practice rotations).     Sanders said he believes that today’s dental school curriculum has barely changed within the last 30 years and that challenges the quality of knowledge and experience a dental graduate requires today to provide good patient care. Sanders and the dental faculty are searching for ways to enhance the dental curriculum while improving the way competencies are measured.   “When dental students graduate, they must be fully prepared and competent to practice dentistry. That’s why dental schools are keenly focused on reevaluating curriculum and competency training to adequately prepare graduates so they can practice as fully functional dentists,” Sanders said.      With the March opening of the Aisic and Riva Hirsch Dental Simulation Lab, dental students now have a place, 24/7, where they can sharpen their techniques utilizing sophisticated dental simulators before practicing with real patients. “We’re hoping that students can be able attain this level of competency earlier in their clinical education training,” Sanders said.      A new program that’s gained attention in recent months is the college’s partnership with Communicare Inc., a nonprofit health services program created by South Carolina physicians and health care providers to assist needy South Carolinians. The program provides basic health care services, prescription medications and other medical and dental needs to qualified uninsured and underinsured residents, ages 65 and under.   The college began a week-long program rotating fourth-year dental students to work alongside a pedodontist in Communicare’s Summerton Dental Center. According to Sanders, the program provides students with added responsibility while practicing their dental competencies under the guidance of a licensed dentist. Students can chose to extend their rotation or select from other voluntary rotations with affiliated practice programs in Hilton Head and Columbia.      Meanwhile, Sanders is most proud of is the college’s upward rise in dental research. Currently, MUSC is ranked average nationally  in dental research funding, yet above the University of Georgia and Harvard’s dental programs for funding support. With the public’s increased interest in oral health and its connection with general health, the interest in dental and oral health research has expanded collaborative support.   In 2002, the college was awarded a record-setting $8.7 million Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant award to develop a Center in Oral Health Research. Located in the Basic Science Building, the center serves as a prime research area for multidisciplinary collaboration in the knowledge and understanding of oral and craniofacial health research. The program is led by Steven London, Ph.D., associate dean for research and basic sciences.   London, who also manages the colleges’ Dental Medicine Scientist Training Program, was recently named an American Association of Dental Schools’ 2006-07 Harry W. Bruce Jr. Legislative Fellow. The fellowship supports dental educators in learning about the federal legislative process and its effects on dental education.      “Dr. London has done a fantastic job increasing the college’s research efforts,” Sanders said, referring to London’s efforts in training and attracting dental medicine researchers and qualified faculty. “It’s quite an honor for our institution to have Dr. London serve in this capacity.”     Friday, Oct. 13, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.