The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has upgraded and expanded the School of Dental Medicine’s Simulation (SIM) Lab at their campus in Bradenton, Florida. LECOM invested $2.5 million in the project to accommodate the dental school’s increasing class size and to equip students with the latest technology for learning.
In total, the lab now consists of 80 simulation units that are ergonomically designed to reduce user fatigue and allow students to see faculty demonstrations more clearly. The expansion of the dental SIM lab is an investment in the training and education of current and future students.
“The expansion and upgrade of our simulation lab represents our ongoing commitment to providing our students with the best training possible,” said Dr. Thomas Yoon, Dean of the LECOM School of Dental Medicine. “This investment also reflects the growth our school is experiencing as we strive to meet the increasing demand for highly trained dentists across the country.”
Leadership from the LECOM School of Dental Medicine and community leaders from Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch, Florida joined Dr. Thomas Yoon, Dean of the School of Dental Medicine for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school’s upgraded and expanded simulation lab.
The Florida Times-Union reports almost 6 million Floridians live in communities that do not have an adequate number of dentists; with nearly every Florida county experiencing a shortage of dental providers. A 2021 report by the Health Resources and Services Administration noted that 60 million Americans live in areas designated as having a shortage of dental health professionals. By expanding their class size from 100 students to 150 accepted students each year, LECOM is helping to address the shortage.
The instruction that students receive in the SIM Lab is a crucial aspect of their educational careers. Students utilize the lab to train for various dental procedures as well as prepare for their licensing exams.
To learn more about the LECOM School of Dental Medicine, visit LECOM.edu/Dental.