Ira B. Lamster, DDS, MMSc
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
Dean’s Message
In 2006, the dental school at Columbia University was renamed the “College of Dental Medicine” (CDM). This change reflects the College’s current emphasis, and of even greater importance, is our direction for the future.
The predoctoral program at the College of Dental Medicine has three guiding principles. First, dental students at Columbia receive their first 2 years of basic science courses with students at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Second, the predoctoral students at Columbia are given the option to pursue a dual degree. Currently, there are joint programs with the Business School (MBA), School of Public Health (MPH), Teacher’s College (MA or MEd), and a joint DDS-PhD program in Bioinformatics is in development. Third, the predoctoral students at CDM are strongly urged to continue on for postdoctoral/residency training. In the past 5 years, more than 95% of the graduates have done so. The research program at CDM is based on the concept of oral and craniofacial research in the context of health sciences research.
The research program has been developed along thematic areas, which include: 1) the interrelationship of oral and systemic diseases; 2) social determinants of oral health and disease; 3) dental and craniofacial engineering and; 4) skin and mucosal biology.
Our patient care mission is strongly focused on providing oral health care services to the underserved. In the last fiscal year, more than 50% of the 120,000 patient care visits at the College were provided to Medicaid recipients. These services are offered in our onsite clinic, and our network of off-site clinical facilities.
Ira B. Lamster, DDS, MMSc
Introduction
Dental research and clinical care have shown that oral health is central to patients’ total health. The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine has a strong biomedical focus which is reflected not only in its curriculum, but also in its close work with other disciplines in the medical field. Dental faculty and students work side by side with colleagues from around the world in a wide range of disciplines.
New York City offers an extremely advantageous setting for the study of dentistry. Many of the most talented dental professionals of the nation and of the world maintain practices in New York City and are Columbia faculty. Students are exposed to leading authorities in every field of dentistry and may visit private offices, clinics, and hospital dental services located throughout the city.
Columbia students have an unusually wide choice of cultural activities in New York City. Museums, theatres, opera houses, concert halls, and cinemas provide almost unlimited entertainment possibilities. Columbia University and numerous other academic centers in the city offer many opportunities for extracurricular learning.
The institution is a leading force in dental education and research. In the early 1920’s, Columbia Professor William J. Gies established the International Association for Dental Research and the Journal of Dental Research. In 1926 Professor Gies prepared the report Dental Education in the United States and Canada, a major critique of dental education in the United States, for the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Its publication resulted in the acceptance by dental schools throughout the country of the basic educational policies and objectives developed at Columbia University
Highlights
The College’s mission has evolved into a tripartite commitment to education, patient care, and research:
- To train general dentists, dental specialists, and dental assistants in a setting that emphasizes comprehensive dental care delivery and stimulates professional growth;
- prepare students with a strong emphasis in the biomedical sciences to become competent in general dentistry;
- prepare students with an understanding of the social, economic, and ethical aspects of the profession, as well as the historical foundations of dentistry; and
- support and strengthen advanced dental education programs in general dentistry, the dental specialties, and the dental sciences.
- to inspire, support, and promote faculty, pre- and postdoctoral student and hospital resident participation in research to advance the professional knowledge base; and
- encourage and support all forms of academic research by developing dental educators committed to research
- promote collaborative research activities between faculty of the whole of the Health Sciences and the University;
- promote pre- and postdoctoral students’ research training;
- to provide comprehensive dental care for the underserved community of northern Manhattan.
- patient care is a primary College commitment; delivering comprehensive quality care in a rich diverse community including underserved and minority patients in northern Manhattan.
History
King’s College was founded in 1754 by royal grant of George II of England, “for the Instruction of Youth in the Learned Languages, and the Liberal Arts and Sciences.” In 1784 it became Columbia College, and in 1912 the title was changed to Columbia University in the City of New York.
King’s College organized the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1767, the first North American institution to confer the Doctor of Medicine degree. The School of Dental and Oral Surgery traces its origin to 1852, as the New York College of Dentistry, later the New York College of Dental and Oral Surgery. In 1916 Columbia University, recognizing dentistry as an integral part of the health sciences, established its own school of dental education and absorbed both the New York Post-graduate School of Dentistry and the New York School of Dental Hygiene. In 1923, the New York College of Dentistry merged with the New York College of Dental and Oral Surgery to form the present School of Dental and Oral Surgery of Columbia University. In January 2006, the School of Dental and Oral Surgery was renamed the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.
