University of Utah President Taylor Randall says he has felt like a kid in a candy shop to describe his Listen & Learn tour around the university. Specifically, he was impressed with the great community-based education and research being done at the University of Utah School of Dentistry.
“No one has done more to tackle the social determinants of health during this pandemic than the School of Dentistry,” said Randall. “Together, you figured out the logistics of doing dental care safely with an infectious virus all around us and managed to continue providing great health care for members of our community in need. The clinical care you and your students have provided in the on-site clinic here and at locations across our state is an incredible accomplishment. Thank you!”
President Randall and Vice President for Academic Affairs Martell Teasley met with UUSOD leadership, staff, and faculty. They were given an overview of the school’s statewide network of community dental clinics, and nationally-innovative provider network for Medicaid patients.
“It was an honor to have President Randall and VP Teasley visit and learn about the great work our faculty, staff, and students are doing,” said University of Utah School of Dentistry Dean Wyatt Hume. “The School of Dentistry is positioned to greatly expand our community-service model to serve more people, including in Utah’s rural areas where there is great need for oral care. At the same time, we have been working to expand education opportunities in the field of dentistry.”
Dean Hume took some time to take President Randall and VP Teasley through the school’s labs and the Wakara Clinic, where they could observe students and faculty providing oral care to community members.