About
ATSU-ASDOH

Our educational approach emphasizes mentorship from experienced faculty and community guides. Students learn not only dental skills but also how to become caring, community-minded healthcare providers. Clinical experiences begin in the first year and continue through the fourth, including rotations at safety-net clinics and community health centers nationwide. This model fosters leadership and prepares students to manage public, nonprofit, and private oral health organizations.

ATSU-ASDOH was founded to address the shortage of dentists in Arizona, particularly in communities facing financial, geographic, and transportation barriers. We select students driven by service, nurturing their desire to care for underserved populations. Our curriculum integrates this mission from day one through:

• Early clinical exposure in the first year
• Ongoing service-learning programs and community engagement
• Experience in our special needs clinic
• Completion of a Public Health Certificate starting in year two
• Clinical rotations at community clinics across the country

Meeting dental care shortages head-on

Access to dental care remains limited, particularly in the Southwest. In Arizona, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children, with nearly 30% who need urgent care. About 33% of adults are missing six or more teeth due to poor oral health. With an aging dentist workforce and a rapidly growing population, ATSU-ASDOH plays a vital role in educating dentists to meet these pressing regional and national needs.

A gift to A.T. Still University is an investment in the quality of healthcare education. At ATSU-ASDOH, we are committed to training the most innovative and compassionate dentists and healthcare providers. Your support ensures ATSU continues as a national leader in healthcare education.

People give for many reasons—gratitude for their own ATSU education, a desire to leave a legacy for future students, or personal experiences with compassionate care from our faculty or graduates. Whatever your motivation, we appreciate your investment and are committed to being exceptional stewards of your support.

Smile Forward

Our Smile Forward program provides care for children and adults with little or no dental insurance and who demonstrate financial need:

• Children: Nearly half of Arizona children from birth to age four have never seen a dentist, affecting school attendance
• Adults: uninsured adults over 21 often delay preventive care, resulting in costly treatment later
• Special needs patients: Arizona has very few units providing care for individuals with intellectual, physical, or emotional disabilities

Graduates carry this mission nationwide, serving in health centers, safety-net clinics, and community practices.

Dillenberg Center for Health Innovation & Technology

The Dillenberg Center for Health Innovation & Technology, established to honor founding dean Jack Dillenberg, DDS, MPH, extends this innovation by providing students with advanced experiences in digital dentistry, patient-centered clinical care, and interprofessional collaboration with other healthcare providers. Your support allows the Center to develop new clinical education initiatives, oral health research, and programs improving access to care for vulnerable populations.

For questions, please contact:

Trish Bere 480.248.8175 or pbere@atsu.edu