Daemen University is moving toward opening what will be known as the Shatkin College of Dentistry.
College officials revealed Monday they are in the advanced stages of planning and seeking accreditation for a dental program at Daemen. It will offer a year-round academic program for three years, instead of the traditional four academic years common in most dental programs.
The university is hoping to welcome the first students in the fall of 2023.
“Western New York has a clear and ongoing need for more dental professionals,” said Daemen President Gary Olson. “If accredited and approved, our college of dentistry will help address this shortage, provide additional access to health care, and improve the oral and overall health of citizens in the region.”
The college’s namesake, Dr. Todd Shatkin, founder of the Aesthetic Associates Centre in Snyder, will provide facilities for the college in Amherst, as well as equipment and expertise in creating the new program.
“Students will be treated like colleagues from the first day forward,” Shatkin said. “Dental students trained in supportive and comfortable environments are going to know the value of creating positive experiences for their patients.”
Daemen is seeking approval of the plan from the the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED). If approved, Daemen would join the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine as the only programs of their kind in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
