The 109-chair dental teaching practice located at the Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) held a groundbreaking ceremony on February 19 to kick off the construction of the new 3,000 square-foot pediatric facility. TCDM is anticipating that the clinic will open this summer. The event also celebrated its pediatric dental leadership, with the appointments of Dr. Carla Tornatore as Director of Pediatric Dentistry and Dr. Shiri Greenberg, as Clinical Practice Leader of Pediatric Dentistry.

The new pediatric practice and clinical training facility will feature six new dental chairs and state-of-the-art technology in a child-friendly atmosphere which includes private family rooms specially designed to accommodate children with special needs. “We will have a new facility where we can treat children of all background and needs in an accommodating, warm environment,” said Vice Dean Edward F. Farkas, D.D.S., M.A., among a gathering of supporters that included many state and local elected officials. “We are blessed with incredible leadership, students, and patients who have come together to grow the Touro College of Dental Medicine at a record pace and make it the student centric special place it is,” he said. Expressing special gratitude to friends of TCDM’s Dean’s Council, who raised $500,000 to fund the recent expansion, he added, “We are also blessed with friends, donors, staff, and parents, who gave generously of their time, money, and expertise to help fund, design, and construct this new outstanding pediatric dental facility.”

“It’s a great day for children in Westchester County and the Lower Hudson Valley – we will soon have a pediatric dental practice devoted to dental education in a facility specially designed for the needs of children,” said TCDM Dean Ronnie Myers, D.D.S. “And it’s a great opportunity for students to receive an educational background in caring for pediatric patients.”

Dean Myers took the opportunity to introduce TCDM’s new leadership for pediatric academic and clinical programs. Assistant Professor of Dental Medicine Carla Tornatore, D.D.S., was promoted as the school’s Director of Pediatric Dentistry and will work along-side Assistant Professor of Dental Medicine Shiri Greenberg, D.M.D., who was appointed as Clinical Practice Leader for Pediatrics.

Dr. Tornatore has been a TCDM faculty member for the past year and a half, serving as co-interim Director of Pediatric Dentistry for the past five months. During this time, she has strengthened the overall pediatric academic and clinical program and led the college’s school-based community outreach efforts. Dr. Greenberg has been a TCDM faculty member for the past year and a half, and co-interim Director of Pediatric Dentistry for the past five months, working along-side Dr. Tornatore to improve the pediatric academic and clinical program with admirable commitment and enthusiasm.

Among the many notable TCDM supporters at the groundbreaking were New York State Senators David Carlucci and Shelly Mayer, Assemblyman Kevin Byrne, and Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

“I was one of many Americans who feared going to the dentist,” Latimer said. “Touro Dental Health’s specialty in pediatric dentistry, the training of its dentists, and its spectacular new facility will make it more likely that children will not make the mistakes that I made and will enjoy better dental health.”