East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine

About

The ECU School of Dental Medicine educates North Carolinians to be tomorrow’s solution to the oral healthcare shortfall in our state. We prepare students who are inclined to serve rural and underserved populations, and we teach them using a national model that includes the most modern technology, intensive classroom instruction and hands-on experience at our statewide community service learning centers.

Faculty, students, and residents strive to meet patients where they are, to provide access to care close to their home communities. Our clinics at ECU and centers across the state offer solutions to patients who might otherwise not have access to dental care.

Our school’s main teaching facility is Ledyard E. Ross Hall on ECU’s Health Sciences Campus in Greenville. This 188,000 square-foot facility is named for its benefactor and retired Greenville orthodontist, Dr. Ledyard E. Ross, ECU class of ’51. Ross Hall houses state-of-the-art learning halls, simulation labs, patient clinics, clinical research areas, and faculty and administrative offices.

Vision

Lead the nation in community-based oral health education, research, patient care and service.

Mission

Develop leaders with a passion to care for the underserved and improve the health of North Carolina and the nation by:

• Preparing leaders with outstanding clinical skills, an ethical bearing, sound judgment, and a passion to serve.

• Providing educational opportunities for academically qualified individuals from historically underrepresented groups, disadvantaged backgrounds, and underserved areas.

• Providing and enhancing oral health services for underserved North Carolinians through implementation of community-oriented service learning and interprofessional collaborations.

• Fostering a learning environment where collaboration, creativity, diversity, belonging, and professionalism are embraced.

• Influencing future clinical practice and dental education through research, innovation, and discovery.

Core Values

Integrity

• We do what is right legally and morally.

• We carry out actions with honesty and trustworthiness.

• We model ethical and moral behavior as a lifelong habit.

Excellence

• We develop professionals through rigorous academic education, service learning, and practical training.

• We adhere to the highest standards of evidence-based dentistry and clinical judgement.

• We provide teaching and research opportunities utilizing best practice techniques.

• We reach our full potential through continuous self-assessment while providing quality,

• comprehensive patient-centered care.

Service

• We relate to others with selfless caring in all interactions.

• We live life with a commitment to service.

• We contribute to the betterment of our community and society.

Diversity, Inclusion and Respect

• We treat all individuals with dignity and respect.

• We protect the feelings, rights, traditions, values and worth of all individuals.

• We commit to removing barriers and providing access to quality, comprehensive

• healthcare.

Innovation

• We foster a culture of innovation and creativity that attracts and retains the best thinkers.

• We embrace new and creative ideas that improve mission aligned outcomes.