FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 30, 2025

Contact:
Jason Hunsicker
A.T. Still University
Digital Content & Public Relations Manager
jasonhunsicker@atsu.edu
660.626.2539

ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health to host program
aimed at enhancing dental care for patients with special needs

A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) in Mesa, Arizona, will host its inaugural Inclusive Dentistry & Oral Health Immersion Program this November.

Developed in conjunction with Delta Dental of Arizona, this intensive three-day continuing education program will provide hands-on training to meet the needs and demands of dental healthcare teams (dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and front desk staff) who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills in caring for individuals with special health care needs, including those with disabilities and those who are frail and medically compromised older adults. The program will include observation, chairside opportunities, and live-patient direct care. 

“At ATSU-ASDOH, we are not just educating future clinicians; we are shaping a more inclusive future for healthcare,” said Desmond Gallagher, BDS, ATSU-ASDOH dean. “Our collaboration with Delta Dental of Arizona drives this mission and demonstrates our belief education in care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities should be accessible to oral healthcare providers in our community, enhancing access to care. Through our immersive program, we aspire to make this compassionate approach the standard, not the exception."

In addition to supporting this first-ever training program, in 2024, Delta Dental of Arizona added a Special Health Care Needs dental benefit to most of its dental plans. It covers additional dental visits and up to four dental cleanings per benefit year as well as treatment delivery modifications and the use of anesthesia when necessary to provide dental care.

“Arizona’s community health dentists and local nonprofits often face challenges when it comes to accessing dental training and continuing education,” said Michael Jones, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Arizona and chair of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation board, who last year funded 15 scholarships for Arizona dental providers to take part in the intensive special needs training program through the New York University Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities. “We are proud to support A.T. Still University in bringing the first-ever special needs training for dental providers and community nonprofits to the Western United States.”

ATSU-ASDOH’s Inclusive Dentistry & Oral Health Immersion Program will be held Nov. 5-7, 2025, on ATSU’s Mesa, Arizona, campus. For more about the program, visit our website and click the “Submit Information” link. Additional information, including the application process and cost, will be shared in August.

Photo caption: From left, Michael Jones, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Arizona and chair of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation board; Mai-Ly Duong, DMD, MPH, MAEd, FAGD, FSCD, ATSU-ASDOH special care dentistry director; and Desmond Gallagher, BDS, ATSU-ASDOH dean, pose for a photo during the recent American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry conference. Photo courtesy of Delta Dental of Arizona

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About A.T. Still University of Health Sciences

Established in 1892 by A.T. Still, DO, the founder of osteopathic medicine, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) began as the nation’s first college of osteopathic medicine and has evolved into a leading university of health sciences comprised of a growing community with a rich history in education and osteopathic healthcare. Today, ATSU offers certificates and master’s degrees across health disciplines; and doctorates in athletic training, audiology, health administration, education, health sciences, medical science, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, dental medicine, and osteopathic medicine.

Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health 
Arizona’s first dental school, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH), began addressing the nation’s oral healthcare needs in 2003. ATSU-ASDOH students are encouraged to become caring, community-minded healthcare leaders, serving those in need. Students learn through a strong foundation of critical inquiry, evidence-based practice, research, cultural competency, an orientation to prevention, and interdisciplinary healthcare experiences.

About Delta Dental of Arizona
Delta Dental of Arizona (Delta Dental) is a health and wellness company providing affordable dental and vision benefits to individuals, families and businesses throughout the state. Building on its reputation as the state’s largest and most experienced dental insurance provider, Delta Dental’s mission is to create a path to better health and wellness. Since 2010, Delta Dental of Arizona, through its Foundation, has given over $20 million to support oral health education, disease prevention and food assistance programs for underserved and uninsured communities across the state. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit www.deltadentalaz.com.