A recent meeting between representatives of the Marshfield Clinic and the University of Wisconsin (UW) may indicate that the clinic's planned dental school could involve a partnership with UW-Stevens Point.
The new dental school could be built in central Wisconsin, and Marshfield could seek accreditation to offer degrees. Marshfield could also partner with an institution already accredited, such as UW-Stevens Point, Marquette University, or the Medical College of Wisconsin, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story.
Wisconsin currently has only one dental school at Marquette University. The state has financially supported Marquette's dental school by subsidizing the tuition of Wisconsin residents. It also subsidizes the school's community dental care outreach and paid $23 million for two Marquette dental school building projects.
The schools haven't commented about a potential partnership, but the Journal Sentinel reported that Marshfield may join UW and the Family Health Center of Marshfield for a community-based, rural Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree program.
Marshfield has received $20 million to build its dental school with the aim of graduating dentists who could practice in rural and underserved areas of Wisconsin. It has received half of the $20 million from a state grant and the other half from private funds.
Marshfield officials say the dental school project has always been clear. But the Wisconsin Dental Association has accused the clinic of using "Trojan horse" tactics to win approval for a dental school, according to the Journal Sentinel. The dental association and Marquette University oppose a second dental school for Wisconsin.
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