LECOM breaks ground for dental school Administrators and trustees from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine joined with local, state and federal leaders to launch construction of a new building for the LECOM School of Dental Medicine. Work has begun on the state-of-the-art 100,000 square foot, two-story facility just 500 feet north of the current LECOM Bradenton campus. The construction is underway on 36 acres along Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and 44th Avenue, with the work on schedule for the opening of the School of Dental Medicine in July 2012. Conceptually, the structure houses two facilities under one roof, the dental school and a patient clinic. “LECOM recognizes that dentists have become an integral team player in improving the health of their patients. The role that they play in preventive medicine corresponds with the osteopathic principals of total health care as taught by the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the School of Pharmacy,” said LECOM President and CEO John M. Ferretti, D.O. The dental school features a 7,000 square-foot Learning Resource Center to provide print and electronic resources for every academic program, 23 Problem-Based Learning (PBL) small group classrooms, and a 55-station simulation lab on the first floor. Two lecture halls, each seating more than 250 students, are located on the second floor. Each lecture hall will feature the latest in smart classroom technology, and the entire building will have wireless computer access. The clinic utilizes 40,000 square-feet (20,000 square-feet on each floor). This 115-chair dental patient clinic is equipped with the latest technology that helps maximize learning opportunities for students under the guidance of faculty members. The dental clinic will be staffed by faculty and students who will be able to treat up to 600 patients per day, providing dental health care for many people who are currently unable to receive dental care. Innovation will take place in the classroom through the PBL curriculum, an approach that challenges students to learn though patient cases that provide the context for acquiring knowledge and understanding basic medical science. Dental students will begin their PBL study alongside
Dr. Robert Hirsch speaks at the Manatee County Tiger Bay Club’s March meeting.
LECOM introduces its new logo for the School of Dental Medicine.
LECOM School of Dental Medicine Dean Dr. Robert Hirsch, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Michael Visnosky, LECOM President and CEO John Ferretti, DO, Rep. Bill Galvano and President of the Florida Dental Association Dr. Larry Nissen break ground on the LECOM School of Dental Medicine.
medical students. Award-winning architects Fawley Bryant have been charged with the building’s design. Fawley Bryant has designed projects such as: Energy Court Center in Sarasota and the City Centre Complex in downtown Bradenton. Construction of the school will be handled by Willis A. Smith Construction Company. Willis A. Smith Construction Company has built the Ringling College of Art & Design Student Center, the State College of Florida Graphic Technology Arts Building and the Florida State University Ringling Museum of Art Asolo Visitors Service Center. The inaugural class of the LECOM School of Dental Medicine will have 100 first-year students. Within four years, the school will enroll 400 students.
Dr. Hirsch speaks during a press conference announcing the LECOM School of Dental Medicine.
2011 Dr. Hirsch was among the LECOM faculty speaking at the Manatee County Tiger Bay Club. Pictured are (L-R): Tiger Bay Club President Gregory Porges; LECOM Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Robert George, D.O.; School of Pharmacy Associate Dean for Clinical Education Julie Wilkinson, Pharm.D.; and Dr. Hirsch.
An artist’s rendering of the LECOM School of Dental Medicine, scheduled to open in July 2012.
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