A new orthodontic residency program will open in Atlanta in 2016. The Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO) will be a 3-year residency program open to dentists across the country. According to a press release from GSO, the program will have “an industry average tuition rate along with stringent education and admission standards.”

GSO anticipates its first class of residents in September 2016.

The program will operate out of a flagship location in Sandy Springs, Ga, and will open a number of community care clinics strategically placed in underserved areas in its second year. “GSO will provide access to affordable orthodontic care to underserved populations in Georgia,” said Randy L. Kluender, DDS, chairman of the board of directors of GSO.

The school will begin serving patients in April 2016 for approximately half the cost of private practice orthodontic care. According to the same press release, monthly payment plans will be available to make care financially feasible for households in the community with lower income levels. When the program is fully operational, the economic impact of the school within the community is estimated to be $25 million per year and will provide $11.6 million in medical cost savings to metro Atlanta residents annually.

“Along with meeting the critical needs of the underserved population in Georgia, GSO is investing in being part of the solution to the state lagging behind the national average for minority orthodontic students and graduates by offering generous scholarships for qualified underrepresented minority residents,” said Pramod Sinha, DDS, MS,  program director of GSO.

GSO will offer education in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. The program is sponsored by Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center and is a division of its department of dentistry. GSO has applied for initial accreditation through the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).