Huw F. Thomas, BDS, MS, PhD
University of Alabama School of Dentistry at UAB
Dean’s Message
The School of Dentistry has an outstanding record of accomplishments in dental education exemplified by its exceptional graduates. We pride ourselves on the quality of the clinical and patient care experiences that our programs provide and the impact that this has had on improving oral health.
Since its beginning, research has been an integral part of the School. It is a recognized responsibility of both administration and faculty to assure that the School provides an atmosphere in which the quest for knowledge is vigorously pursued and valued. Research programs at the School of Dentistry have consistently been among the top federally funded programs in the nation and our discoveries have made significant contributions to the betterment of oral and systemic health.
Our situation within the larger UAB environment and the opportunity to participate in the many interdisciplinary programs that exist across the campus has facilitated our success and we are an integral part of the institution. Recently received federal grants have allowed us to reinvigorate our research programs, formulate programs that allow incorporation of new knowledge into the curriculum and establish a dental practice based research network.
Huw F. Thomas, BDS, MS, PhD
Introduction
The University of Alabama School of Dentistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) was founded in 1948. Beginning from a few offices and laboratories in the basement of UAB’s University Hospital, the School of Dentistry has become a vast complex of educational, research and service activities. Our vision “to be the premier, comprehensive, academic oral health center” is exemplified by our international reputation for quality.
We offer the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) professional degree, as well as accredited postdoctoral programs in seven dental specialties and two advanced general dentistry programs. Our mission is “to continually improve the well being and oral health of the people.” This is accomplished through our in-house dental clinics and by providing consultation services and treatment for special patient populations at off-campus locations throughout the state.
Through our research, the School provides an intellectual atmosphere in which the quest for knowledge is vigorously pursued and valued. Our faculty and students are engaged in studies exploring the relationships between dental diseases and systemic conditions such as diabetes, pregnancy, heart disease, osteoporosis, and arthritis; craniofacial genetic diseases; microbiology and immunology; biomaterials; and public health issues.
Today, in order to keep up with the growing demands of technology, research, and teaching, the School of Dentistry building has been undergoing significant renovations over the past several years. The completed and ongoing renovations of the School have been ambitious projects designed to ensure our School maintains its place as a premier academic oral health center.
Highlights
The Preclinical Dentistry laboratory represents an innovative approach to state-of-the-art clinical dental simulation training. The heart of the design is a raised, central control instructional area that incorporates an array of integrated, technologies to include imaging devices, CD/DVD-ROM, ethernet connections, satellite download and computerized graphics. Both overhead multidirectional and intraoral cameras can be positioned such that clinical procedures can be visualized on an LCD monitor at each station and replicated by the student. Every learning station is configured to simulate a treatment operatory that recreates the clinical environment, while being adaptable for emerging technologies and evolving techniques.
Renovations to the Marjorie Jeffcoat Periodontology Clinic were completed in July 2005. The clinic has a modern, 21st century appearance designed to put our patients at ease. Attractive artwork graces the walls that are painted in soothing earth-tone colors. There are five surgical suites equipped with radiographic units, operating-room quality surgical lights and implant surgical units. Residents and faculty are able to use cutting-edge technology and procedures to treat our patients. The Tommy Weatherford Learning Center, used by current UAB dental student residents, includes state-of-the-art digital video equipment to allow real-time transmission of exciting learning cases to our students.
The Institute of Oral Health Research has as its major focus the coordination of multidisciplinary research efforts within the School of Dentistry. The Institute provides an umbrella organization that promotes, facilitates and concentrates all research activities conducted within the School. Four major research theme areas comprise the Institute. Three of these theme areas, Biomaterials, Health Services Research, and Microbiology and Immunology already exist within the School and have significant collaborative activities with other Departments, Centers and Schools across the UAB campus. The fourth theme area, Craniofacial and Developmental Biology, is currently being developed in response to a $2.9 million NIDCR research infrastructure.
History
The University of Alabama School of Dentistry, a unit of the Medical Center of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was created by an act of the state legislature in 1945, the same year that the School of Medicine moved to Birmingham from the university campus in Tuscaloosa and became a four-year school. The first class of students was admitted in October 1948. Since 1948, we have gained a national reputation for excellence.
The school offers the four-year first professional degree program(DMD) and accredited dental postdoctoral programs in twelve areas of study, including seven of the nine specialties recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA). The development of “four-handed dentistry” and the expanded utilization of trained auxiliary personnel were pioneered at this institution. All eligible programs are fully accredited by the ADA’s Council on Dental Education.
1947—Alabama Act 678 appropriated $750,000 in funds for the operation of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry.
1948—Dr. Joseph F. Volker was named the first dean of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry.
The entire first freshman class was comprised of veterans.
1949—The Alabama legislature approved plans for a joint medical college and dental school building. Pioneering efforts by the University of Alabama School of Dentistry faculty and staff led to the development of four-handed dentistry concept for chairside practice.
1967—1988 The School of Dentistry was one of only five federally supported Institutes of Dental Research in the entire country.
2005—The School of Dentistry became one of three federally funded Dental Practice Based Research Networks in the nation.
