Frontier Center
Catalyzing changes and creating collaborations between dentistry, primary care, and pharmacy to enhance patient care
The Frontier Center, established by a generous donation from the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of oral health and the connections between dental health and overall health by encouraging interactions between dentistry and medicine. The Frontier Center is part of a campus-wide interprofessional education program that allows students to practice collaboratively to improve patient safety and health outcomes.
Since 2005, the Frontier Center has provided hands-on, interprofessional learning opportunities for over 3,500 medical, pharmacy, nursing, and other health profession students, residents, and practitioners. By creating opportunities for students to observe and participate in these new models of care delivery, the Frontier Center is preparing our future health care workforce to deliver the best possible care for decades to come.
Educational activities include:
- Collaboration between the School of Dental Medicine and other health professions to teach the head and neck exam, fluoride varnish applications, and basic oral health
- Pharmacy, Physician Assistant and Medical School students collaborate with dental faculty and students which provides opportunities for students to both teach and learn
- Community oral health screenings at local events
Gies Award
The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine received the Outstanding Innovation Award by an Academic Dental Institution as a part of the 2013 William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation and Achievement. The award recognized the CU School of Dental Medicine for the development of an innovative interprofessional curriculum that prepares graduates for future team-based practice, and provides a model for other dental institutions embracing interprofessional education programs. Only one dental school is selected each year for this honor.