Northeast Ohio Medical University Bitonte College of Dentistry Earns Initial Accreditation
Northeast Ohio Medical University Bitonte College of Dentistry (NEOMED COD) earned initial accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) in August 2024. The decision allows NEOMED COD to move forward offering a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree program. The university will recruit students this year for enrollment in fall 2025, making it the only public dental college in northeast Ohio.
Oral health is the number one unmet health need of Ohioans, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. Furthermore, 77 of Ohio’s 88 counties are considered Health Professional Shortage Areas in oral health care.
“NEOMED’s foremost goal is to serve the health care needs of Ohioans,” said John T. Langell, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., NEOMED President. “The Bitonte College of Dentistry will continue NEOMED’s legacy of training health professionals who proudly serve both rural and urban areas.”
“We are dedicated to addressing this major health concern in northeast Ohio and across the state as we look to increase access to dental care throughout our region,” said Frank Beck, D.D.S., FAAHD, Inaugural Dean of the NEOMED COD.
The NEOMED COD was made possible through a $10 million commitment from the Dr. Dominic A. and Helen M. Bitonte Family Foundation in September 2022.
The Bitonte College of Dentistry is one NEOMED’s four colleges, the others being the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy and College of Graduate Studies.
Learn more about the NEOMED COD at neomed.edu/dentistry.
About NEOMED
Celebrating the 50th year since its founding, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) harnesses diversity, innovation and collaboration to create transformative leaders and improve health through education, discovery and service. NEOMED’s mission is made possible through its network consisting of several nationally ranked health care systems. The University values leadership, excellence, advocacy, diversity, equity and respect. NEOMED has four colleges—Medicine, Pharmacy, Graduate Studies and the Bitonte College of Dentistry. Its programs offer Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees and research opportunities in other medical and life science areas. The dental program will begin offering a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree in 2025. In addition to the basic sciences at its Colleges, NEOMED conducts research to advance innovation and discovery in health care through seven research focus areas of excellence. NEOMED’s unique areas of service include Coordinating Centers of Excellence, which disseminate best practices for treating mental illness; online didactics and onsite training through several programs; and patient services through its centers at NEOMED Health Care and its award-winning NEOMED Free Clinic. Learn more at neomed.edu.
Courtesy of Northeast Ohio Medical University
Published on November 13, 2024