Faculty and Staff, Students

UNC, ECU Dental Schools Co-Host 58th Southern Conference of Dental Deans and Examiners

During the last weekend of January, the UNC School of Dentistry and the ECU School of Dental Medicine, along with the North Carolina State Board of Examiners, hosted the 58th Annual Southern Conference of Dental Deans and Examiners (SCDDE).

The annual meeting brings together dental school deans, students, state board examiners and faculty of together to discuss the current state and the future of dentistry. Over the two-day conference, attendees toured the UNC School of Dentistry, took an optional preconference tour of the ECU School of Dental Medicine, had in-depth conversations about new technology impacting dentistry, looming changes in healthcare policies, an accreditation requirements and issues pertaining to clinical licensure exams. A highlight was a thought-provoking presentation by Dr. Hal Slavkin, former dean of the USC School of Dentistry and former director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

“It was a pleasure to collaborate with colleagues at ECU and the NC Board of Examiners to put together such a wonderful program,” said Jane Weintraub, dean of the UNC School of Dentistry. “It is not often that faculty, deans, examiners and students have the opportunity to discuss the changing landscape of dentistry and how we can move the profession forward together. This meeting allows that, and it always brings insightful commentary about the future of dentistry. I was particularly glad that students from both North Carolina dental schools could participate in an interactive discussion about dental licensure.”

The SCDDE is made up of dental schools and state boards from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C. The meeting location changes each year and next year will be held at the VCU School of Dentistry.