East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine

ECU SoDM was established to address the shortage of dentists in the rural regions across North Carolina.

[1] The SoDM built 8 community service learning centers located in rural and underserved areas throughout the state.

The students will complete nine-week rotations at the service learning centers during their final year of study.

[2] The first mention of a School of Dental Medicine came from Phyllis Horns, then Interim Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences.

On March 19, 2002, Vice Chancellor Horns announced at the Faculty Senate that ECU was looking into pursuing a Dental School.

[3] On July 12, 2002 a feasibility study was reported at The University of North Carolina Board of Governors (UNC BOG) meeting at the request of Governor Mike Easley who noted fewer dentists in North Carolina were accepting Medicaid patients.

To remedy this situation, East Carolina and UNC-Chapel Hill have jointly developed a plan to increase the number of dentists in the state and established the ECU School of Dental Medicine.

On February 24, 2006 the East Carolina University Board of Trustees unanimously passes a resolution in supporting a Dental School.

[5] On May 11, 2006, the Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs of the UNC BOG approved the proposal to establish a dental school at East Carolina.

Degree.The curriculum of the ECU School of Dental Medicine will offer a distinctive mix of course work that in many ways resembles the model that was developed for The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, which focuses on training family doctors to serve rural counties.

[14] East Carolina built eight Community Dental Centers located in rural and underserved areas throughout the state.

On May 7, 2012, Robeson County commissioners voted to appropriate 2.5 acres of land to the SoDM for construction of a community service learning center in Lumberton.