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By: Amy Charles | October 4, 2024
Today, the University of Pikeville (UPIKE) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Tanner College of Dental Medicine (TCDM), marking a significant milestone in expanding access to dental care in the region. The event, attended by Governor Andy Beshear, UPIKE President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D., and numerous state and local leaders, underscored the university’s continued dedication to advancing healthcare excellence.
TCDM, made possible through a generous $25 million gift from the Tanner family, will have a transformative impact on Eastern Kentucky’s healthcare landscape. The new college will focus on training future dental professionals who are committed to serving rural and underserved communities. Its first cohort of students is scheduled to begin in June 2026.
Governor Beshear, a strong advocate for improving healthcare access in Kentucky, commended UPIKE’s leadership and the Tanner family’s generosity during his remarks.
“This project brings together so much of what Team Kentucky has been fighting for. Our administration is an education-first administration, and this new Tanner College of Dental Medicine is expanding higher learning in a crucial field right here at UPIKE. Healthcare is a basic, fundamental human right that every American deserves, and this institution will help ensure that people can secure that care close to where they live,” said Governor Beshear. “Because of investments like this, we’re not only creating jobs and improving healthcare, but we’re giving the next generation of Kentuckians the opportunity to dream big. Students from Eastern Kentucky will be able to become dental specialists without leaving their home region, and that’s what we all want—jobs, educational opportunities, and healthcare for our children, so they can dream as big as they want and chase those dreams right here.”
Webb echoed the governor’s sentiments, celebrating the college’s potential to change lives.
“We think it says a lot when 30 percent of our alumni stay in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and practice. That’s an important thing, because our commonwealth deserves the very best of healthcare. I remember a pivotal moment when the Tanner family sat across from me and committed $25 million to this project, and then challenged us to raise another $10 million. As of last week, we’ve surpassed that goal, raising $35.1 million in total. This is a testament to the tremendous need for improved oral healthcare in Eastern Kentucky,” said Webb. “Local dentists have been telling us for years that they can’t meet the needs of Medicare and Medicaid patients, and this project will be a game-changer for the region. We are deeply grateful to the Tanner family, the people of Eastern Kentucky, and to God, whose guidance makes all of this possible.”
UPIKE has conveyed its enthusiasm for the future, highlighting that the new college will complement the existing Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Optometry, strengthening its mission to expand healthcare access in the region.
TCDM will play a critical role in combating the high rates of oral disease in Central Appalachia, particularly oral cancer, which is more prevalent in this part of the country. By expanding preventative care and enabling earlier detection, the college aims to train dentists to help significantly improve long-term health outcomes.