MO HCR13

Missouri ranks 47th nationally in residents visiting a dentist, with 18% of residents living in dental health professional shortage areas compared to 10% nationally, and faces an annual shortage of 30 dentists (70 retire versus 40 new practitioners).

A.T. Still University is considering three locations (Kirksville Missouri, California, and Florida) for a new School of Dentistry and Oral Health based on its Mesa, Arizona program, with feasibility findings showing strong need for public practice dentists in Missouri.

Estimated startup costs for the Kirksville dental school would be approximately $30 million over five years, with plans for an inaugural class of 45 students in Fall 2013 and satellite clinical sites in Springfield, St. Louis, or Columbia.

The Missouri Primary Care Association and community health centers in 10 states plus the Cherokee Nation have pledged support for the Kirksville location, which would generate tens of millions of dollars in annual economic impact for northern Missouri.

The House and Senate strongly support Kirksville as the site for the dental school and instruct the Chief Clerk to send an inscribed copy of the resolution to the A.T. Still University Board of Trustees.