Construction has begun on the Pacific Dental Services (PDS) Health Care Collaborative at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry at the University of the Pacific, which is slated to open in 2024.
The expansion project at the school’s campus in Sacramento will combine dental and medical services for the public in a teaching and learning environment and provide low-cost care to approximately 20,000 medical patients and 10,000 dental patients annually. The project, which is the first of its kind at the school, doubles Dugoni’s international dental student program and significantly expands its nursing and physician assistant programs.
Dental services will be provided by students enrolled in the international dental studies program. The program prepares dentists trained overseas to practice in the U.S. Physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, social workers, and other healthcare providers will provide services at the 30,000-sq-ft clinic.