Summary: Lyon College has begun renovations for the first dental school in Arkansas, the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, located in Little Rock. The school will provide comprehensive dental education and community services, addressing the state’s dental professional shortage.
Key Takeaways:
- First Dental School in Arkansas: Lyon College is establishing the state’s first dental school to offer comprehensive dental education and services.
- Community Impact: The school will include an onsite clinic serving vulnerable populations and provide essential dental care to Arkansas residents.
- Federal and State Support: The project received $15 million in federal funding and has been acknowledged as a significant achievement by Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders and U.S. Senator John Boozman.
Lyon College has held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, the first dental school in the state of Arkansas. The event at the school’s Riverdale campus was celebrated with a symbolic sledgehammer strike, marking the official start of renovations for the new dental school.
“The Lyon College School of Dental Medicine will be a beacon of innovation and excellence, providing comprehensive dental education and services,” said Burke Soffe, DMD, founding dean of the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine. “We will feature an onsite clinic offering high-quality dental care to the community, including specialized services for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with special needs. This clinic will not only serve as a training ground for our students but also as a vital resource for the citizens of Arkansas, ensuring access to essential dental care.”
Federal Support
Earlier this year, U.S. Sen. John Boozman championed a $15 million federal appropriation to the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine to address the shortage of dental professionals in Arkansas. Including the 50 states and Puerto Rico, Arkansas ranked 50th in the United States – ahead of only Alabama – in the number of dentists per capita with 41.82 per 100,000 residents in 2019, according to the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine.
State Recognition
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders also congratulated Lyon College on this significant achievement.
“This is an amazing moment in the school’s 152-year history, for the city of Little Rock, and for the entire State of Arkansas,” said Arkansas Gov Sarah Sanders. “Central Arkansas is our state’s healthcare hub. Just in the past few years, expansions like this one have put us on the cutting edge of the medical sciences,” said Sanders. “Today, we’re taking another leap and opening the first dental school in the Natural State right here in our capital city. This will only add to the network of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals here who help every Arkansan lead a better, healthier life.”
