“Touro University is committed to delivering quality education as well as integrity, inclusivity, and respect for all members of our new Touro community in New Mexico,” said Touro University President Alan Kadish, M.D. “We provide diverse, innovative and engaging course offerings that nurture personal growth and intellectual inquiry in superior academic programs.”

Students at TCDM spend their first two years in the classroom studying basic biological sciences, and the last two years seeing patients in the clinics. Going forward, 100 students from each TCDM class of 200 will do the classroom portion of their training on TCDM’s New York campus and spend their final two years treating patients from the Albuquerque community in the new clinical facility. The first class to be split in this way is looking forward to a spring, 2025 arrival and to seeing patients under highly skilled faculty, supported by professional dental staff from New Mexico.

“TCDM is thrilled to expand to New Mexico and create the first ultra-modern, world-class dental clinical training facility in the state. Our mission is to improve oral health care and graduate outstanding dental professionals who deliver excellent health care service to diverse communities,” said TCDM Dean Ronnie Myers, D.D.S. “With the first pre-doctoral dental student clinical educational facility in New Mexico, we will provide an opportunity to deliver much needed low-cost oral health care to underserved communities while at the same time expanding local access to New Mexico students interested in becoming dentists.”

New Mexico lags behind the nation in the average number of oral healthcare professionals servicing residents of the state. Recent studies reveal that the number of dentists per 100,000 people in New Mexico is only 48.4, below the national average of 60.84. “We anticipate that there will be a significant number of graduates who remain in New Mexico to pursue their dental careers filling this void, adding to our incentive to build the new facility and clinic in the land of enchantment,” said Dr. Myers.

New Mexico’s first pre-doctoral dental school clinical training facility will encompass more than 70,000 square feet of educational and clinical space. It will house more than 100 dental units including units to provide specialty care in oral surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, and pediatric dentistry accommodating the students who will complete their education at TCDM’s new facility and campus.

TCDM’s faculty of general dentists and highly-skilled specialists including periodontists, prosthodontists, endodontists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, dental anesthesiologists and radiologists enables the school to provide a full-range of dental care under one roof while providing students with hands-on exposure to and training in all dental disciplines.

“The arrival of the Touro College of Dental Medicine marks a major milestone in our city’s fight to expand healthcare options for families,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “Not only will it help fill a critical shortage of dental professionals in our community, but our young people will have the opportunity to pursue careers in dentistry right here at home. This first-of-its-kind facility will help build a healthier, more equitable future by expanding access to affordable dental care for those who need it most.”

Touro University is investing an estimated $40 million in New Mexico including the property acquisition and construction of the dental college, positively impacting educational and economic development in Albuquerque and throughout the state. TCDM plans to provide new high-paying jobs for New Mexicans to support the school and clinic.

“We welcome Touro College of Dental Medicine to the New Mexico dental community,” stated Dr. Tom Schripsema, executive director of the New Mexico Dental Association. “We are hopeful they will bring needed care to this neighborhood and look forward to exploring collaboration on our ongoing efforts to educate local students.”

TCDM’s new dental college and clinic expands on the success of the organization’s New York campus and offers educational opportunities to students to serve diverse communities. The students in New Mexico will receive the same high level of academic support and student services, faculty to student ratios, educational facilities, and clinical experiences.

Touro University and Touro College of Dental Medicine believe that creating a dental education and clinical educational facility in New Mexico will deliver necessary dental care to those in need, while also providing local access to New Mexico students interested in becoming dentists.