V
irginia
C
apitol
C
onnections
, W
inter
2014
23
Congressman Morgan Griffith discussing the oral health needs of the region
with Dr. Francis G. Serio, Dean of the proposed Bluefield College School of
Dental Medicine at the most recent Wise, VA RAM-MOM clinic.
Bluestone Business and Technology Center on Route US 460. This
state-of-the-art facility will have the latest in dental technology for
a comprehensive clinical training program with 65 students in each
class. During the fourth year, students will spend a majority of their
time providing care at a network of community clinics in Southwest
and Southside Virginia and beyond. These senior students will return
to The Bluestone to gain clinical experiences not available at the
network of community clinics, as well.
Some people may ask, “Why do we need another dental school
when we already have the Virginia Commonwealth University
School of Dentistry in Richmond?” Certainly, VCU is an outstanding
school that serves its mission well. Think of the Bluefield College
School of Dental Medicine as an additional resource complimentary
to VCU. Bluefield can focus more on the 41 counties that make up
the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization
Commission (Tobacco Commission) footprint, many of which have
been designated as dental health professions shortage areas by the
U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. The School
of Dental Medicine can focus on identifying young people in the
region who are both interested in dentistry and want to remain in the
region once they graduate. The School of Dental Medicine can also
work with local organizations and foundations to develop financial
incentives through loan repayment, practice start-up support, or other
mechanisms to keep young dentists in the region.
So, what does the Bluefield College School of Dental Medicine
need to become a reality byAugust, 2016? The school needs statewide
support from community leaders, political leaders, financial leaders
from both the public and private sectors, including the Tobacco
Commission and local foundations, as well as from the public health
leaders who are all too aware of the oral health problems that many in
the region face on a daily basis. The School has garnered substantial
support from theVirginia Coalfield Economic DevelopmentAuthority
(VCEDA), The Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation, and the Tazewell
County Board of Supervisors totaling over $18 million, and three
national dental companies whose contributions alone total more than
$2 million, and other support from foundations and individuals who
believe passionately in this cause. The Tobacco Commission made
an initial $150,000 award to spur initial planning for the School of
Dental Medicine, and its members and staff have been kept apprised
of the School’s progress during the 2014 legislative session. Bluefield
College and Tazewell County will seek further substantial support
from the Commission later this year. Much more is needed if the oral
health of Virginians and the economic outlook for Southwest and
Southside Virginia will have a healthy prognosis and those midnight
toothaches have a place to go for relief. For more information or to
support this effort, visit
.
Dental volunteers inspect a patient’s mouth during a Missions of Mercy Clinic,
a service that provides dental care to Virginians in need.
“
We don’t want to educate and
export our graduates to urban
areas. We want them to stay at
home to provide quality care
to communities that are losing
dentists and to mentor future
dental students.
”
Dr. David Olive, President, Bluefield College.
“
Our organization
currently operates a
free dental clinic for
the rural community
and surrounding
area. We currently
have over 5600
individuals in need of
dental work on our
waiting list. We are
very excited with the
possibility of having
a community based
clinical affiliation
with this school.
”
Bland Ministry Center and
Dental Clinic-Dee Dee
Hoosier, Director
“
The School of Dental
Medicine would help
solve the need of
poor access to dental
health in Southwest
Virginia. The School
wants to ensure
that a number of the
students come from
Central Appalachia
and will practice in
Central Appalachia,
developing the next
generation of dental
care professionals in
our communities.
”
U.S. Senator–Mark Warner
“
In 1922, Bluefield area business leaders
established Bluefield College to serve the higher
education needs of this region. Now, some 90
years later, Tazewell County leaders and Bluefield
College are responding to yet another critical
need, a need for more dentists. I am excited to be
involved in this partnership, an historic venture
in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
”
Dr. David Bailey, Jr., chair of the BC Board of Trustees
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