Department of Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach at VCU School of Dentistry
At its November 10, 2011 meeting, the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors approved the creation of a new department in the School of Dentistry. The Department of Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach was formed to coordinate and expand community engagement activities of students and faculty in the School of Dentistry. The new department consists of community-based dental education programs (service-learning and community service activities for dental and dental hygiene students) as well as community partnerships for improved access to oral health in urban and suburban areas. The mission of the Department of Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach embraces a commitment to socially responsible education, patient care, research, and the community in educating competent clinicians who will serve the needs of the public and improve the health and well-being of society. To achieve this mission, the department plans to secure grants to increase access to care by providing services through an enhanced curriculum. In addition, community engaged scholarship through health services research is planned. The BS program in Dental Hygiene will administratively reside within the Department of Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach and the existing Division of Dental Hygiene faculty will become the faculty of this new department. Ms. Kim Isringhausen, currently Director of Dental Hygiene and Community Based Education Programs, will chair the department. Ms. Michelle McGregor, Assistant Professor, Dental Hygiene, will direct the dental hygiene education program. Final approval for this change was received from the State Council on Higher Education Virginia in December 2011 with an effective date of January 2, 2012.
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