Timothy L. Hottel, DDS, MS, MBA, dean and professor of the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has named John Douglas Seeberg, DMD, as the inaugural associate dean of Extramural Affairs, effective immediately. Dr. Seeberg previously worked as the assistant dean of Clinical Affairs in the College of Dentistry.
Holding true to its mission of education, research, clinical care and public service as it continues to expand, the college will be opening additional sites for student rotations and eventually several resident rotations in the coming years. These sites will increase the amount and variety of patients who are treated, as well as provide dental care to populations that to date, have limited or no access to care. In order to ensure that current and future dental students receive the maximum benefits from each site, Dr. Seeberg will have the charge of overseeing each clinical rotation site.
“Through strategic partnerships with hospitals and other health care organizations across the state, our institution is expanding to meet the ever-increasing needs of patients,” said UTHSC Chancellor Steve J. Schwab, MD. “The carefully planned expansion of our College of Dentistry will provide greater student access and more opportunities to educate and train dental professionals to serve the needs of Tennesseans and neighboring communities.”
The following sites are active or under renovation/construction and will give the College of Dentistry statewide reach:
- Jackson, Tenn. — active
- Little Rock, Ark. — active
- Bristol, Tenn. — scheduled to open July/August 2015
- Union City, Tenn. — scheduled to open July, 2015
- Nashville, Tenn. — scheduled to open July, 2016
- Knoxville, Tenn. — scheduled to open July, 2016
Founded in 1878, the UT College of Dentistry maintains a four-year dental program totaling approximately 360 students. In addition, approximately 60 residents are enrolled in postgraduate dental programs. The college is dedicated to providing professional, graduate and postgraduate education; conducting dental research; and delivering state-of-the-art patient care and public service. The college’s clinics provide more than 52,000 patient visits per year to support oral health care in the community. These services typically cost less than the fees of a private dental office. More than 75 percent of the dentists practicing in Tennessee were educated and trained at the UT College of Dentistry in Memphis.