Delta Dental Equity Hall at PNWU-Health Sciences celebrated at ribbon-cutting, open house
This article was originally published on Yakima Herald.
As a second-generation dentist in Othello, Dr. Chris Dorow has seen dental care access decrease, with the loss of dental choice declining at an even steeper rate.
Dorow is president-elect of the Washington State Dental Association. He looks forward to the fall 2025 opening of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine, which he said will be a huge asset in reversing that trend of loss of dental choice.
On Saturday, Dorow joined dozens of others in a new building he said "is a giant step in completing the school and reversing the trend of loss of dental choice in Eastern Washington." The building — Delta Dental Equity Hall — was celebrated at a ribbon-cutting and open house that afternoon.
"We appreciate the great turnout," said John Vornbrock, chair of the PNWU board of trustees. "This is an important milestone in expanding dental care."
Delta Dental Equity Hall is home to the state’s second dental school and the first dental school in the nation to offer students three years of immersive training at community health centers serving rural and other medically underserved communities, officials said.
Following one year of on-campus training, PNWU dental students will have three years of training at one of three federally qualified health centers in Tacoma, Kennewick and Yakima.
Dr. Foti Panagakos, dean of the school of dental medicine, said the application process for potential students opened in mid-August. "We already have 800 applicants for 36 spots," Panagakos said.
The dental school's home is named Delta Dental Equity Hall in recognition of the commitment to improving equitable access to dental care statewide by PNWU and Delta Dental of Washington, a Seattle-based not-for-profit dental benefits provider.
Delta Dental committed $12 million in funding for the school of dental medicine. PNWU broke ground on Delta Dental Equity Hall in October. Among those participating in that ceremony was Dr. Kurt Labberton, a longtime Yakima dentist and immediate past board chair of Delta Dental of Washington.
The idea to partner with the university came from Labberton, said Mark Mitchke, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Washington.
The dental school's aim is to help increase equitable access to dental care, officials said. It will focus on serving rural and other medically underserved communities, which are increasingly experiencing a critical dental workforce shortage contributing to a disproportionate incidence of oral health issues.
According to a 2022 American Medical Association Journal of Ethics article, nationally most dentists are in urban areas, whereas only 14% of dentists practice in rural areas where 20% of the U.S. population lives, a news release said.
"I'm so proud that Delta Dental Equity Hall will be home base for a new generation of dental students focused on building a future where everyone can enjoy good oral health with no one left behind," Mitchke said.
Starting a new school, especially for the underserved, "is close to my heart too," said Dr. Linda Edgar, president of the American Dental Association. "Delta Dental, we really do appreciate your help."
Designed by D.G. Orr Architecture and built by Lydig Construction, the 30,000-square-foot building includes classroom and work space for training primary care dentists.
"With the completion of Delta Dental Equity Hall, we’re one step closer in our efforts to revolutionize community-based oral health," Panagakos said.
Along with Dental of Washington's $12 million commitment, PNWU’s School of Dental Medicine has also received $5 million in state funding with additional support from the Washington State Dental Association Foundation, Pierce County, foundations and individual donors.
"This is really a very momentous day," said state Sen. Curtis King, who helped secure the state funding. His eldest daughter is a dentist in Selah.
"The addition of new dentists will be of great benefit to the Yakima Valley, Eastern Washington, as well as the state of Washington, especially with the emphasis on expanding into the rural areas that need it the most," King said.
Community support for the new school is making a difference, Panagakos said.
"The groundswell of community support we've received for our new school of dental medicine will have a lasting impact on the oral health of rural and medically underserved communities, here in Washington and beyond, which for too long have had limited access to care," he said.