ECU School of Dental Medicine is named Apple Distinguished School 2019-2022

The ECU School of Dental Medicine is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2019-2022 for its use of technology in every aspect of teaching, learning and clinical practice.

Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence that use technology to inspire creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Dental students (left to right) Mark Russell ‘20, Jazmin Cromartie ‘20, Will Grine ‘22, Alison Aadahl ‘22, Taylor Windley ‘20 and Rudy Oxendine ‘21 display a banner recognizing the school for its innovations in teaching, learning and clinical practice.

“Many of our patients and other health professionals do not see the rapid changes that are occurring in dentistry. In this day and with our educational model, the use of technology is not optional,” said Greg Chadwick, DDS, dean of the dental school. “We are continually exploring ways to optimize technology to help us educate the best clinicians and serve the people of North Carolina.”

The school operates fifteen different teaching clinics in nine locations across North Carolina. All clinics, classrooms and seminar rooms are video-teleconferenced. This connectivity in conjunction with a common electronic patient record system creates an extensive tele-dentistry research network.

Educationally, all instruction and assessments are digitally optimized. All data for student performance, faculty performance, and accreditation reports are generated in real time and used for continuous program improvement.

The selection of the ECU School of Dental Medicine as an Apple Distinguished School highlights the school’s success as an innovative learning environment that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic accomplishment.

“This award recognizes our school’s extensive use of technology, but, more importantly, affirms five aggressive technology initiatives for the next two years.” said Todd Watkins, DDS, the school’s assistant dean for dental education and informatics and an Apple distinguished educator. These projects explore innovative methods for student-directed learning, student self-assessment, faculty grading calibration, competency-based assessment of surgical skills, and applicant predictor analysis. “Apple challenges all Distinguished Schools to constantly question the status quo. We want a tireless pursuit of perfection to always drive our work.”

The school graduated its inaugural class in 2015 and has more than 250 alumni. Nearly 85% of alumni are in general practice in North Carolina or completing dental residencies or military obligations. The school has served about 70,000 patients from all of North Carolina’s 100 counties.