A new affiliation between Case Western Reserve University and The MetroHealth System aligns the university’s School of Dental Medicine (SDM) with Cleveland’s public hospital system to provide a range of oral health services to the Greater Cleveland community. Additionally, expanded clinical and research opportunities will be available for dental students and residents.
The new master affiliation agreement is effective immediately.
Case Western Reserve and MetroHealth have long maintained an affiliation through CWRU’s School of Medicine and other health-related schools and centers within the university. The new affiliation with the SDM will strengthen and broaden the existing relationship.
Under the new affiliation agreement, all SDM students will have the opportunity to train at MetroHealth’s Department of Dentistry. Supervised by MetroHealth personnel, dental students and residents will provide patient care from general dentistry and oral surgery to pediatric dentistry and other potential services.
Patients of the SDM’s Oral and Maxillofacial Department, for example, are treated by dental students, surgical residents or faculty. Residents and staff provide a range of surgical services, from tooth extractions and jaw and face reconstruction to facial plastic surgery, oral cancer management and management of cleft lip/palate and other craniofacial abnormalities.
A CWRU associate dean will be appointed to manage all programming. A chair to be recruited for MetroHealth’s Department of Dentistry will also serve as the division chief for the SDM.
“Case Western Reserve and The MetroHealth System share common goals and commitments to the highest standards of performance in education, research and patient care,” said Kenneth Chance, dean of the School of Dental Medicine. “We are pleased to partner with The MetroHealth System to enhance dental education for both institutions and provide exceptional oral health care for the community.”
“MetroHealth is an academic health system that is committed to serving our community,” said Bernard Boulanger, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of MetroHealth. “This new affiliation with Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine enables us to work together on a shared mission.”
“The affiliation presents another opportunity for our graduate students and individuals in residency programs in various specialties to expand their clinical experience,” said Dale Baur, professor and chair of the School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. “The relationship will also help the Greater Cleveland community, so it’s a win-win. They have a wealth of patients who could really benefit from our services.”
The SDM and MetroHealth also will explore additional opportunities for collaboration.
