Transformative $25 Million Gift Brings College of Dental Health to UPIKE

By Amy Charles

A $25 million gift, the largest in the University of Pikeville’s 133-year history, will enable the founding of a dental school to enhance the health and well-being of the people of Appalachia.

“The foresight of a generous family giving to a university to establish a dental school is special,” said President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D. “This is another example of challenges being met and solved right here by those who call this area home. It’s also incredible that the university, this family and now a dental school will each have their roots right here in these mountains.”

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Terry L. Dotson ’72 echoes Webb’s comments and gratitude.

“This is needed,” said Dotson. “The founding of a dental program in these mountains will lead to better healthcare outcomes for a historically medically underserved population. This institution, its students, faculty and staff are a driving force for health education in the commonwealth. The dental school will complete the circle of medical services for the region and the immediate area. The economic impact with the addition of more professional students will grow businesses throughout the entire community and the region. This will be a project that will take the time and talents of many partners locally and statewide.”

The donor, who prefers to remain anonymous, is passionate about UPIKE’s service-focused mission and recognizes the need for increased access to medical care.

“This donor has a deep love for Appalachia and a passion for improving healthcare in our region,” said Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations David Hutchens. “Their generosity will reverberate for generations, impacting not only the graduates of the program but also profoundly benefitting the lives of the countless patients they will serve for generations to come. This is a transformative gift, an act of deep love and devotion for this region. We are humbled by this generosity, thrilled to have this opportunity and ecstatic about this vision.”

With this gift, they are providing dental education and securing the future of dental healthcare in Appalachia and rural America. UPIKE will forever be grateful for the astounding vision and faith expressed by the donor family.

With a goal of expanding professional education programs, particularly in health professions, UPIKE had a feasibility study conducted to determine the need for a dental college in Eastern Kentucky. Consultants visited campus and met with UPIKE’s senior leadership, engaged a variety of internal and external stakeholders, and collected significant data related to dental workforce and oral health needs in Central Appalachia.

The study indicated there continues to be a strong demand by residents of the commonwealth and non-residents to attend Kentucky dental schools, as the need for oral health services in Kentucky and the surrounding areas remains very high.

With a higher number of oral cancer cases and less access to dental care, the impact of a third college of dentistry in Kentucky would likely mean earlier detection, better outcomes and increased preventative care for a population whose medical needs have historically been left unmet.

The Health Resources and Services Administration estimates a current shortage of 10,770 dentists in the United States. Often suffering from a lack of oral health providers, in 2019, 17 of Kentucky’s 120 counties only had one practicing dentist for the entire county, demonstrating the need for more dentists in rural areas and underserved communities.

Despite statewide initiatives to improve the overall oral health status in Kentucky, there remain populations with poor oral health outcomes. The hope of UPIKE’s new College of Dental Health is to educate more providers to address the oral health disparities in the region.

UPIKE is the leading higher education institute of Central Appalachia with a commitment to excellence in each endeavor. The university believes that by educating tomorrow’s leaders in the health professions, the landscape of healthcare in these mountains will thrive.

The vision for the College of Dental Health is to be known and respected for service, innovation, clinical excellence and collaboration, to be a leader in interprofessional education and to graduate dental students who practice in disadvantaged areas. Accomplishing all of this within a unique structure and culture of wellness that values and promotes the physical and mental well-being of every student, faculty and staff member is a top priority.

The future of dentistry is digital. UPIKE embraces innovation and promises to educate dentistry students on cutting-edge methods, providing them with robust clinical opportunities and meaningful interprofessional experiences. Learning to work with providers in other disciplines is fundamental to dentistry and demonstrates quality, personalized care to patients.

Faculty and students at the College of Dental Health will be ambassadors for oral health. Students will receive evidence-based training in communication, health promotion and health literacy, working to break down barriers to oral care access.

Dental school students will flourish under dedicated and knowledgeable faculty who will provide a supportive environment to learn patient-centered care while utilizing advanced technology. The future of the dental college will include residency programs such as pediatrics, oral surgery and advanced general dentistry, which are residencies that are most needed in the Appalachian region.

After conducting a national candidate search, Pamela Sparks-Stein, DMD, MPH, was selected as the founding dean of the University of Pikeville College of Dental Health. Sparks-Stein has spent her life learning and working in Kentucky. Her wealth of experience and expertise makes her the perfect person to lead this new venture.

“Among several strong candidates, Dr. Sparks-Stein stood out for her incredible alignment to the mission of the university,” affirmed Webb. “Her compassion and empathy will help her create the kind of dental school where the health of the public is paramount and quality care for those who need it most is an absolute necessity.”

Board certified, Sparks-Stein comes to UPIKE from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, where she received her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry and Master of Public Health and served as division chief of dental public health.

“Dr. Sparks-Stein has extensive dental education experience with a focus in rural and public health,” said Werth. “Her leadership experiences over the last 25 years have prepared her well for this important position.”

Prior to her roles in education, Sparks-Stein served in private practice in the commonwealth for 13 years where she formed her passion for dental education and public health.

“I am a public health dentist, and my heart has a passion for helping vulnerable populations,” said Sparks-Stein. “My years of working with grants and projects in Eastern Kentucky have shown me there are so many wonderful collaborators who are willing to help, making it a great place to forge partnerships that will allow us to make a true impact.”

The compassion Sparks-Stein has for underserved areas and her connection to UPIKE began with her father, Robert Sparks, DMD, ’62, who graduated from then Pikeville College. She says the college helped her father obtain a rural health scholarship to attend dental school after graduation. In 2004 he joined UPIKE’s Board of Trustees and remained in that position until his passing in 2016.

“There is a personal connection to this opportunity for me. My father wanted a dental school at UPIKE so badly because he knew there were many people who could benefit from it,” explained Sparks-Stein. “Helping to build and grow something he dreamed about is a wonderful way to honor my dad.”

Sparks-Stein is eager to begin the next chapter of her career at the university, making a difference in the overall oral health of Kentuckians by educating the dentists of tomorrow.