$1 Million Gift from Delta Dental Gives College of Dentistry a Lot to Smile About
Memphis, Tenn. (March 8, 2013) – Dentistry students, faculty and administrators at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) were all
smiles today as they accepted a $1 million gift from Delta Dental.
“This is one of many donations that Delta Dental has given to the College of Dentistry,” said Dentistry Dean Tim Hottel. “With this check, we will be
revamping the Delta Dental Simulation Laboratory where we simulate actual patient contact so that students learn the skills required to become excellent
dentists.” Since 1998, Delta Dental has donated more than $7.5 million to the UT College of Dentistry, including challenge gifts that match alumni
donations dollar for dollar.
“We are incredibly grateful to Delta Dental for this generous gift,” said UTHSC Chancellor Steve J. Schwab.
“We are proud to be a part of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and really proud of the simulation center for turning out great dentists
who will serve the state of Tennessee,” stated Phil Wenk, DDS, President and CEO of Delta Dental. “Making contributions like this, which support academic
and clinical excellence, is one of the best things that we do. It all started with an agreement with Delta Dental about 10 years ago and since that time,
Delta Dental has given about $7.5 million to UT Health Science Center.”
Most recently, over more than three years, a successful College of Dentistry capital campaign fueled by alumni and industry giving has funded about $9.5
million in major renovations and equipment updates throughout the college. The work has improved facilities for patient care, dental research and
educational laboratories.
Dedicated in 2004, the Delta Dental Simulation Center at UTHSC serves as the primary laboratory space where dentistry students gain the hands-on experience
required to perfect their patient care techniques. The pre-clinical lab was named for Delta Dental in recognition of their generous $1 million donation at
that time, which was used to establish and fund the facility. The center, with 40 units in one room, is the largest virtual-reality simulation laboratory
in the country and has 90 conventional simulators in the adjacent room.
As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
(UTHSC) is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and
the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service. Offering a broad range of postgraduate and
selected baccalaureate training opportunities, the main UTHSC campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry,
Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. UTHSC also educates and trains cohorts of medicine, pharmacy and/or allied health students — in
addition to medical residents and fellows — at its major sites in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville. Founded in 1911, during its more than 100 years,
UT Health Science Center has educated and trained more than 53,000 health care professionals in academic settings and health care facilities across the
state. For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.