Seton Hill University,Greensburg, Pa, will open an orthodontic training program in July. Theprogram will be headed by Donald Rinchuse, DMD, MS, MDS,PhD, and his brother Daniel Rinchuse, DMD, MS, MDS, PhD, whoconceived the idea. Currently the two teach at the University ofPittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and operate an orthodonticspractice in Hempfield, Pa.
The Rinchuses (pictured at left) approached Seton Hill officials a year ago with theconcept. Last week, Seton Hill got a $500,000 commitment from theDepartment of Health and Human Services to fund the new orthodonticscenter and clinic. The 30-month residency program will educate sixdentists in orthodontics during the first year, and will eventuallyexpand to eight dentists per year. The clinic will also provideorthodontic services to low-income families in the area.
The Rinchuses will leave their teaching posts at the University ofPittsburgh to start the program. Donald Rinchuse will serve as theprogram director, and Daniel Rinchuse will serve as associate director.
The brothers wanted to open an orthodontics school in the area becauseof their past work with low-income patients. For almost 25 years, thetwo had offered orthodontic services to the poor through a clinic inExcela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. Excela ended theorthodontics program about 3 years ago, according to Donald Rinchuse.
"They were driving 2 and 3 hours to get to us. We had a waitinglist of a couple years," Donald Rinchuse told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review."That was a big impetus to do it, to kind of resurrect it though anorthodontic residency program to see a way to treat the indigentpatients."
