University recognized by the Utah Legislature for contributions to higher education

With a new name announced, and a new College of Dental Medicine opening in the fall, the Utah state legislature recognized Roseman University of Health Sciences during Tuesday’s session for its contributions to higher education in the state. Currently named University of Southern Nevada, the school will officially be renamed Roseman University of Health Sciences effective July 1.

Dr. Rosenberg (left) accepts the Official Legislative Citation from Sen. Peter Knudson on the floor of the Utah Senate.

Senator Peter Knudson of Brigham City (one of two dentists in the Utah Senate) presented Roseman University and its founders, University President Dr. Harry Rosenberg and College of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Renee Coffman, with a State Legislature Official Citation in the Senate. Rep. Merlynn Newbold of South Jordan announced it to the House of Representatives.

The Citation, which was read on the floor of the Senate and signed by Senate President Michael Waddoups and Speaker of the House Rebecca Lockhart, says, “The state of Utah has long been a leader in promoting innovation in education while encouraging Utah students to pursue higher education. In 2006 Dr. Harry Rosenberg established the University of Southern Nevada’s first campus outside the state of Nevada in the city of South Jordan, opening a college of Pharmacy and a College of Nursing. The first graduating class from the South Jordan campus of the College of Pharmacy enjoyed a 100 percent success rate in passing the National Pharmacy Licensing Exam, an outstanding achievement for both the students and the University.”

Governor Gary Herbert met with representatives from Roseman University (USN), South Jordan City, Economic Development Corporation of Utah, and Utah legislators after the Citation was presented in the Senate and House.

It also recognized Roseman University as the fifth largest College of Pharmacy in the U.S. by enrollment, with over 900 total pharmacy students (250 at the Utah campus). The South Jordan campus has 39 additional students in its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN), and will enroll approximately 60 students in Utah’s first and only Doctor of Dental Medicine program (DMD) in the fall.

The Citation highlighted Roseman University’s accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a non-profit organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the regional authority on educational quality and institutional effectiveness of higher education institutions in the Northwest region that includes Utah.

In addition to bringing higher education opportunities to the state of Utah, Roseman University’s construction of a new building for the College of Dental Medicine in South Jordan’s RiverPark Corporate Center will expand the campus to over 240,000 square feet, and together with equipment and finished improvements will result in an investment of over $40 million in the Utah economy.

According to the Citation, “The Utah legislature hereby recognizes…the Roseman University of Health Sciences on their success in establishing solid educational programs that help provide the state of Utah with medical and dental professionals. We commend you for your commitment to higher education in the fields of dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing, and wish you continued success in the years to come.”

Pharmacy students, College of Pharmacy Campus Dean Dr. Larry Fannin (front row, third from left), College of Dental Medicine Dean Dr. Richard Buchanan (front row, center), College of Nursing Campus Dean Dr. Marlene Luna (front row, third from right), South Jordan City Council Member Leona Winger (front row, far right), Dr. Bruce Woolley (Roseman/USN Board Member, back row, second from right), George White (Roseman/USN President's Advisory Council, back row, far right) observe the proceedings from the Senate gallery.

The event was coordinated by South Jordan City representatives, including Council Member Leona Winger (who is a member of the Roseman University Board of Trustees), and Mayor Kent Money. Several South Jordan City Council Members, including Council Member Brian Butters and Council Member Aleta Taylor, attended the signing as well, and city officials came to speak on the importance and economic impact of the University in the state and local area.

Several Roseman University administrators and students joined Dr. Rosenberg and Dr. Coffman, including Dr. Larry Fannin, Campus Dean for the South Jordan College of Pharmacy; Dr. Marlene Luna, Campus Dean for the College of Nursing; Dr. Richard Buchanan, Dean of the College of Dental Medicine; and eight pharmacy students.

Audio and video recordings of the presentations are available online (you must have RealPlayer installed to view video or listen to audio):

Senate
Select the Time Certain – Knudson – Roseman University of Health Science recordings

House
Select the Personal Privilege recordings

USN Ortho Clinic to be on Cool in Vegas

USN’s Orthodontic Clinic will be featured on Cool in Vegas, a locally produced program that features the people behind Las Vegas businesses and the people who are passionate about what they do. The segment will air tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. on KTNV-TV Channel 13. After airing the segment will be featured on the Cool in Vegas website.

USN Utah Dental Program Makes News

The USN College of Dental Medicine will occupy a new 125,000 square-foot building in South Jordan, Utah. Photo by Kris Carson.

Deseret News reporter Paul Koepp interviewed Dr. Victor Sandoval, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the USN College of Dental Medicine about the progress on the upcoming Doctor of Dental Medicine program in Utah. They discussed the need for dental education in the state, and the benefits a dental school can provide for a community, most notably the increased services available for people without dental insurance and those who otherwise could not afford to pay for dental care. Read (and watch) the stories here:

Deseret News
KSL Channel 5

Join USN’s Ortho Clinic at Bite of Las Vegas

For a second year, the USN Orthodontic Clinic will participate in Mix 94.1′s Bite of Las Vegas, the region’s largest food and music festival at Desert Breeze Park at Spring Mountain Road and Durango Drive. The gates open at 10 a.m. and admission is $9 with children 5 and younger free. Receive $1 off admission by donating a canned food item at the door. The donations will go to the City Mission of Las Vegas.

The event, in its 14th year, will feature dozens of food vendors offering for sale a variety of delicious flavors. Musical acts will include Switchfoot, Plain White T’s, Sara Bareillis, Ryan Star and Christina Perri, among others. Miranda Cosgrove of Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” will open the festival, and will have a special autograph session in the morning.

Stop by USN Ortho booth and enter to win iTunes, Best Buy and Target gift cards!

College of Dental Medicine Construction Update

Since breaking ground on the new, 125,000 square-foot College of Dental Medicine at our South Jordan, Utah campus in October, construction has been moving along briskly. With all five stories of the building’s frame complete, the exterior is quickly coming together. Here’s the latest pictures of the progress.

Construction is slated for completion in fall 2011.

Inaugural Class of USN Orthodontic Residents Achieve 100 Percent Pass-rate on Board Exam

The inaugural class of nine residents enrolled in the USN College of Dental Medicine’s Advanced Education in Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopedics/MBA (AEODO/MBA) residency program achieved a 100 percent pass-rate on the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) written examination.

“Typically, orthodontic residents take this critical exam in their final year of residency, usually after up to three years of orthodontic education. We are extremely proud of our first class of outstanding residents who conquered this exam in their second year, after only 14 months of educational training in the orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedics,” said Dr. Jaleh Pourhamidi, AEODO/MBA residency program director. “This is not only a remarkable achievement for the residents, but also for USN for successfully applying its innovative block curriculum in dental medicine, which has never been done before.”

The AEODO/MBA program is the first post-doctoral residency program launched by the USN College of Dental Medicine, which was established in 2007. The inaugural class of nine residents was admitted in July 2008 and will complete the three-year program in June 2011. In addition to their orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedics curriculum, under the supervision of orthodontic faculty, residents master their orthodontic skills by providing high-quality, affordable care to children, teens and adults at USN’s high-tech orthodontic clinic.

The residency program is also the first in the United States to require an MBA degree to develop residents’ business and financial competency, all of which are essential in operating a successful practice in today’s complex health care business environment.

The program was granted “initial Status” accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) in February 2009.

About the American Board of Orthodontics

The ABO was founded in 1929 as the first specialty board of dentistry. It is the only specialty board for orthodontics that is recognized by the American Dental Association and sponsored by the American Association of Orthodontists.

Successful passage of the written examination allows the orthodontist to present treated cases, which is evaluated by expert examiners of the board during a clinical examination. The passage of the examination process is a demonstration to the dental profession and the general public of the orthodontist’s pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence in orthodontics.

USN College of Dental Medicine Breaks Ground

USN today celebrated the groundbreaking of Utah’s first College of Dental Medicine in South Jordan, Utah. The university will enroll students in its Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program beginning in Fall 2011.

See article in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Joined by Utah Lt. Governor Greg Bell and South Jordan City officials, USN President Dr. Harry Rosenberg formally initiated construction of the 125,000 square-foot, five story classroom, office, lab and clinical building adjacent to the university’s existing 119,000 square-foot campus located in South Jordan’s RiverPark Corporate Center.

“After years of planning and preparation, USN is pleased to begin construction of our College of Dental Medicine building and bring the first pre-doctoral dental program to Utah,” said Dr. Rosenberg. “The university looks forward to providing an unparalleled learning experience while also offering excellent and affordable, high-quality dental care to citizens of the Salt Lake Valley, including underserved populations.”

The College of Dental Medicine building was designed by MHTN architects and will be built by The Argent Group and Layton Construction.

USN to Break Ground for New College of Dental Medicine Building in Utah

USN will break ground to begin construction of its new College of Dental Medicine building at its South Jordan, Utah campus on Wednesday. The event takes place at noon at the campus located in the River Park Corporate Center at 10920 South River Front Parkway, with state and local elected officials and business leaders joining the celebration.

Constructed by The Argent Group and Layton Construction, the 125,000 square-foot, five-story building will contain classroom, lab, office and clinical facilities for the College of Dental Medicine’s planned Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program, which will enroll its first class of students in Fall 2011. It is the first pre-doctoral dental program in Utah, providing Utah residents interested pursuing a career as a dentist an opportunity to do so without leaving the state

The building will be located on the north side of USN’s current 119,000 square-foot South Jordan campus building that houses the College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing and MBA programs.

Following the ground breaking, at 1 p.m. USN will hold a welcome reception for the recently announced new dean of the College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Richard Buchanan.

USN Appoints Dean of College of Dental Medicine

Dr. Harry Rosenberg today announced the appointment of Richard Buchanan, DMD as dean of the USN College of Dental Medicine, effective June 1, 2010. Dr. Buchanan will be based at the university’s South Jordan, Utah campus where plans are underway for the launch of the first pre-doctoral dental program in the state in Fall 2011.

“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Buchanan to University of Southern Nevada,” said Dr. Rosenberg. “Through his more than 35-year academic career, he has developed the depth of knowledge and variety of skills required to guide the development of our growing College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Buchanan’s experience collaborating with administration, faculty and staff to develop academic and clinical programs, as well as his background in administration, will be of tremendous benefit both to the College of Dental Medicine and to our institution as a whole.”

As dean of the USN’s College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Buchanan will play a critical role developing the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program at its South Jordan, Utah campus, including overseeing the development of clinical and classroom facilities, curriculum and faculty.

“I’m very proud to contribute to the development of a truly innovative DMD program that promises to emerge as a national model by incorporating USN’s unique curriculum design, student-centered educational philosophies of mastery learning and outcomes-based education,” said Dr. Buchanan. “USN has created excellent programs in Pharmacy and Nursing, achieving academic outcomes that have rapidly earned national recognition. I look forward to creating for Utah a first-class institution offering the highest quality of dental education.”

USN Marketing Campaign Receives Recognition

The marketing communications plan prepared by University of Southern Nevada Marketing and The Ferraro Group for the launch the orthodontic clinic at the College of Dental Medicine was recognized last night at the 13th Annual Pinnacle Awards, presented by the Las Vegas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Each year, the Pinnacle Awards recognizes the best and brightest in public relations strategies and tactics.

Jason Roth, USN’s marketing director, along with Holly Lobelson-Silvestri and Susan Dons of The Ferraro Group, accepted the award in the very competitive Marketing Communications category at a dinner event held at the Springs Preserve.

From left to right, Jason Roth, USN's marketing director, Holly Lobelson-Silvestri and Susan Dons of The Ferraro Group.