Dean's Message

I want to welcome you to the Creighton University School of Dentistry website.  You may be visiting this website as a prospective or current student, a valued alumnus or a member of the faculty and staff.  Regardless of your reason for visiting with us, I want to assure you that we are dedicated to amplifying our century long position as a national resource in dental education.  Creighton University is guided by the vision of Rev. John P. Schlegel, SJ, President of Creighton University, who encourages us to engage in creating a “willed future” for ourselves and to “think no timid thoughts”.  His vision is embodied in Creighton University’s $350 million “Willing to Lead” Campaign.

To create our own willed future, the School of Dentistry is engaged in the Strategic Pathways Initiative, an inclusive School-wide planning process.  The initial results of the Strategic Pathways Initiative are eight curricular directions or Pathways {see below} that are authentic to our mission and position us to move forward into our second century of excellence.  The Pathways are currently being used to define the curriculum of the future as well as review the facility and infrastructure changes necessary to support the Pathways.

The Pathways represent our opportunity to position ourselves for the future, to strengthen the proud heritage of our alumni and to provide the finest education for our students.  Creighton’s students are the future of a profession that will undoubtedly look remarkably different from dentistry today, yet still embody the Creighton distinction of caring for the individual.

Steven W. Friedrichsen, DDS, Dean

 

Creighton University School of Dentistry Strategic Pathways 

  • Increased emphasis on small group and team approaches to education
     
  • Development of vertical clinical curriculum by including clinical experience into the first and second year curriculum
     
  • Maximize utilization of simulation and digital technology to assist the educational process
     
  • Transition the faculty-student relationship to one centered on the management of a learning experience that builds personal responsibility and accountability
     
  • Increased opportunity for community-based education without creating reliance upon locations or clinics outside the School’s sphere of influence
     
  • Maintaining the concept of research and creative scholarly activity as a broadly based activity, while supporting individuals who will sustain increased research in targeted areas
     
  • Enhance our capacity for and student engagement in life-long learning and continuing education
     
  • A target enrollment of 85-100 students per class as permitted by space, facilities and personnel