Connie L. Drisko, DDS
Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry
Dean’s Message
A top priority is to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, a key step in helping advance the university’s reputation as a premier research institution. Oral health is a vital component of overall health, requiring an all-encompassing perspective of how the body functions.
We’re already collaborating with the University of Georgia, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and several MCG disciplines in areas such as cancer, craniofacial disease and cardiovascular disease.
Yet another research project matches the dental faculty with private practitioners, Georgia Tech researchers and Fort Gordon administrators to develop new imaging techniques and software products.
Students will have a “home,” doing all their clinical work in the same place with the instructors coming to them. The students will work with the same instructors consistently, and the patients will have more continuity of high-quality care.
Schools all across the country have shortages, particularly in the specialties. We’re working hard to make academic dentistry a more attractive option.
We really need to build on existing partnerships with alumni and organized dentistry. The more feedback and support we have from them, the better we can serve dentists, addressing the oral health care needs throughout Georgia and advancing the goals of the dental school.
Fund-raising goals include renovating or rebuilding the school’s 30-plus-year-old building and creating start-up packages to attract world-class scientists.
Another top priority is diversity the School of Dentistry is strongly committed to achieving a faculty, staff and student body that reflect the state’s diversity.
Our strength is our leadership and reputation. MCG President Rahn and his leadership team have brought a real vision and focus to the university. Exciting opportunities lie ahead for the School of Dentistry. Everyone is ready to move forward.
Connie L. Drisko, DDS
Introduction
The mission of the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry is to educate dentists in order to improve overall health and to reduce the burden of illness in society through the discovery and application of knowledge that embraces craniofacial health and disease prevention.
Its vision is to be a premier school of dentistry. MCG is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educational institution that prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or status as a Vietnam War veteran.
The MCG School of Dentistry believes a diverse student body enhances the educational opportunities for all students and is beneficial to the dental profession, the School of Dentistry and the state of Georgia.
Highlights
Give Kids a Smile Day
The annual event provides care and highlights the importance of access to dental care for low-income children.
Eighty students from Terrace Manor Elementary School were bused to the School of Dentistry where dental hygiene students provided preventive dental care such as cleanings, oral health education, fluoride treatment and dental sealants. Dental students traveled to Belair elementary School and Riverside Middle School to provide dental screenings to 200 students.
MCG Children’s Medical Center patients received dental screenings and oral health education. Several dental students also provided care to pediatric patients at the Toombs County Department of Health in conjunction with the Georgia Dental Association.
New Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency
The School of Dentistry now offers a new residency program that provides advanced training in general and specialized oral health care.
The one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency enhances clinical skills and scientific knowledge beyond the level of predoctoral education.
The goal is to train residents to be comfortable at a higher level in all specialties. The benchmark is to train high-quality general dentists to manage the care of patients with complex restorative needs.
The program covers endodontics, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, restorative dentistry, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics and implant dentistry. It is well-suited for generalists who want a broader base of dental knowledge.
Comprehensive Care Clinic—Revolution
The Comprehensive Care Clinic is the most significant curricular change in the School of Dentistry’s 35-year history and will better prepare seniors for their future practices. It is modeled after private-practice dentistry where most patient care happens in one place. At every appointment patients are seen in the same clinic by students who are supervised by the same group of faculty.
The new clinic is equipped with axiUm, a clinic management system that allows for paperless patient records and digital radiography.
The combination of comprehensive care and the axiUm clinic management system ensures MCG remains at the forefront of dental education.
