Delta Dental of Oklahoma Funds Clinic on OU-Tulsa Campus
Delta Dental of Oklahoma and the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation have donated a $2 million gift to The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry for a new state-of-the-art dental clinic on the OU-Tulsa campus.
As recognition of the gift, the clinic is named the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Comprehensive Care Clinic.
“As the state’s only not-for-profit dental benefits provider, Delta Dental of Oklahoma is proud to stand with the University of Oklahoma at the forefront of dental education and treatment,” said John Gladden, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Oklahoma. “The OU College of Dentistry is an invaluable partner in helping Delta Dental of Oklahoma fulfill its not-for-profit mission to improve the oral health of all Oklahomans.”
At a gift announcement on January 20, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. was on hand with leaders from the OU College of Dentistry and the OU-Tulsa campus to recognize DDOK and its Foundation.
Expected to open summer 2022, the clinic will serve as a center for student learning where OU College of Dentistry students provide affordable care to community members in need. This includes many Oklahomans in the northeastern part of the state who do not have access to dental care within a 30-mile radius.
“The OU College of Dentistry is incredibly grateful to Delta Dental of Oklahoma and its Foundation,” said Paul M. Mullasseril, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the college. “This transformational gift will not only help to build a state-of-the-art dental clinic on the OU-Tulsa campus, it will also help our college fulfill its primary role of improving the oral health of Oklahomans and expanding access to high-quality dental care at a more affordable cost.”
At the clinic, comprehensive oral care services will be available to patients of all ages, with the services provided by third- and fourth-year dental students supervised by licensed dental faculty members.
“The Delta Dental of Oklahoma Comprehensive Care Clinic will not only improve access to care for patients, but will also be a valuable training ground for future dental professionals for generations to come,” said Terrisa Singleton, DDOK Foundation director.
For more information about the work of the DDOK Foundation, please visit DDOKFoundation.org.