Helping Oregonians Smile: The ODS Companies Donate $500,000 to OHSU School of Dentistry

   Portland, Ore.

 

Extending its long-standing commitment to tomorrow's dentists, The ODS Companies recently gave $500,000 to the OHSU School of Dentistry - bringing total giving to the school by the Portland, Ore.-based dental and medical insurer to nearly $5 million.

This continued major commitment from The ODS Companies represents the largest corporate donation ever made to the school. The support has helped the school educate dental clinicians and researchers and provide quality dental care to many of Oregon's most vulnerable citizens. The most recent gift will support the school's new capital campaign.

"For nearly 50 years, ODS has been an active partner in promoting the oral health of all Oregonians," said Robert Gootee, president and chief executive officer of The ODS Companies. "I can't think of a better way to continue this partnership than by supporting the development of a new dental school building. We are pleased to be able to support dentistry in this way and to ensure access to high-quality dental care for generations to come."

The school's current building was constructed in the late 1950s, and its clinics, research labs and educational programs are outdated and overcrowded. The school continues to attract more qualified applicants than it can accept due to severe physical space limitations. The OHSU School of Dentistry consistently ranks in the top five of U.S. dental schools for performance on both parts of the National Dental Board Examinations. OHSU students rank in the top 10 percent of dental schools for the number of clinical procedures they perform as part of their training.

Today the school is in the midst of a multi-million dollar capital campaign. A planned new School of Dentistry will be built on OHSU's new riverside campus within the South Waterfront area. The facility will provide space for more than 100 students, a 33 percent increase over the current annual enrollment. The new space will house sophisticated simulation labs, clinical areas to serve patients including some of Oregon's most underserved populations, and state-of-the-art research programs that will help provide the latest in dental technologies and treatments.

As part of its continued long-term support to the future of Oregon dentistry, The ODS Companies has donated nearly $5 million to OHSU since 1987. Those contributions have helped endow a chair to commemorate the Oregon Dental Association's centennial celebration, support construction of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Outpatient Clinic at OHSU, and fund a professorship.

"All Oregonians owe The ODS Companies a tremendous sense of gratitude," said Jack Clinton, D.M.D., dean of the OHSU School of Dentistry. "They are helping to provide the best dental graduates in the country, the best dental care for all Oregonians, and the exceptional dental research that can occur only at an academic health center such as OHSU."

The Oregon Health & Science University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization securing private philanthropic support for Oregon Health & Science University, including its four schools (School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and OGI School of Science & Engineering). The foundation raises funds from individuals, companies, foundations and organizations, and invests and manages gifts in accordance with donors' wishes.

The ODS Companies is a multi-faceted organization that provides dental, medical and professional liability insurance products, along with a variety of business services including dental practice management software and benefits administration. ODS serves more than 600,000 Oregonians. Founded in 1955, ODS is Oregon's leading dental insurer and a member of the Delta Dental Plan Association, the nation's largest and most experienced dental benefits provider. ODS is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and has offices in Milwaukie and La Grande.

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