On November 2, Maine residents approved a $5 million bond to increase access to dental care in response to the dentist shortage in Maine and northern New England and the lack of a dental school in the region.
As a result, the University of New England (UNE) plans to establish a College of Dental Medicine that will address both access to care and the need for more dentists in the state. In 2008, the UNE Board of Trustees approved the academic program for the doctor of dental medicine degree, and charged the university with securing the necessary funds to launch the college.
"On November 2, Maine voters affirmed the need for dental access in our state and expressed hope for a solution," UNE President Danielle Ripich said in a press release. "By moving forward with our plans to open Maine's first dental school, UNE will continue its leadership role to educate students for the health sciences in the 21st century, while simultaneously addressing the state's most pressing healthcare workforce needs."
The $5 million bond allocates $3.5 million to establish a dental school's community-based teaching clinic and $1.5 million to expand or create dental clinics around the state. The competitive award process for these funds will soon be under way, and UNE is in position to apply for the $3.5 million to establish a dental school.
Even if awarded, UNE noted that it must raise additional funds to make the UNE College of Dental Medicine a reality. Earlier this year, UNE received a lead gift of $2.3 million from Northeast Delta Dental in support of the dental school. With the addition of other gifts and pledges, UNE has secured $6.5 million toward launching the school. But to open in the fall 2012, up to $20 million is needed, school officials noted.
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