This years graduating class of the University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Dentistry ranked second nationwide in an examination taken by
all of the nations dental students.
Students in their final year of dental school take Part 2 of the American
Dental Associations National Board Examination during the first week of
December. UNMC recently learned that its students finished a collective
second on the test. There are 55 dental schools in the United States.
“I’m extremely proud of our students’ accomplishments on this examination.
These results reflect well on both our students and our faculty, said
John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry. The most
recent examinations (National Board, Part 2) test clinical and scientific
knowledge, and it’s great to know that our students’ knowledge base is
so strong.”
The examinations that the dental students completed in December were
their second set of board examinations as UNMC students.
After their first year of dental school, UNMC students also must pass
board examinations covering the basic sciences of dentistry. The UNMC students
who took that examination last summer ranked fifth in the nation.
Curtis Kuster, D.D.S., director of admissions and a faculty member in
the UNMC College of Dentistry, said those numbers are particularly impressive
because many universities students take the exams after their second year
of dental school.
The students who took the second part of the board exam graduated from
UNMC on May 5. Dental students must pass the board examinations to graduate
and to take a licensure examination. Students must pass the licensure exam
to practice dentistry.
Over the past five years, UNMC students have had a 97-percent passing
rate on the national board tests, said Myron Pudwill, D.D.S., assistant
dean for student affairs and alumni affairs for the College of Dentistry.
That compares with a national average of about 87 percent.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment, solid organ transplantation and arthritis.
During the past year, nearly $31 million in research grants and contracts
were awarded to UNMC scientists, and UNMCs funding from the National Institutes
of Health increased by 28 percent, going from $16.2 million to $20.7 million.
UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals
practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.