Touro College of Dental Medicine Celebrates 10 Years and Launches TouroCAREs Initiative
$1 Million Raised to Support Inclusive Oral Healthcare for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Lower Hudson Valley
On March 2, Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) marked a major milestone, celebrating 10 years of excellence in dental education and community service at its annual gala. The event raised $1 million to support TouroCAREs, a new initiative dedicated to providing inclusive oral healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the Lower Hudson Valley.
TouroCAREs will offer hands-on clinical training for dental students while expanding access to specialized care for underserved communities. This initiative reflects TCDM’s commitment to training compassionate dentists equipped to treat all patients with empathy and respect.
Honoring Leaders in Oral Healthcare
The gala recognized four outstanding individuals for their contributions to TCDM and the broader dental community:
- David Katz, DDS, Vice Dean and Associate Professor at TCDM – Guest of Honor
- Patricia Salkin, JD, PhD, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs – Legacy of Leadership Award
- Amandeep Arora, DDS, Owner of Dazzling Smiles – Generation to Generation Award
- Richard E. Feinbloom, President & CEO of Designs for Vision – Corporate Sponsorship Award
$2 Million Boost for TouroCAREs
A $2 million New York State grant, announced by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, will help support the opening of TouroCAREs. This grant brings the total raised for the initiative to over $7 million, accelerating progress toward expanding inclusive care.
A Decade of Growth and Impact
Reflecting on TCDM’s first decade, Dr. Alan Kadish, president of Touro University, highlighted the school’s transformation from a small program to the second-largest dental school in the country. Dr. Ronnie Myers, TCDM Dean, emphasized the ongoing mission to provide high-quality care to all communities.
