50 Years
of Dental Education
2018 marks
the 50th year of the LSU
School of Dentistry. Since
the first dental class of
30 students entered the
school in 1968, LSUSD has
graduated over 6,000
dental health
professionals. LSUSD is
the fifth dental school
established in the state
since 1861. Today
students, residents, and
faculty provide care in
nearly a dozen locations
statewide with an average
of 100,000 patient visits
annually.
In 1966 when
Loyola School of Dentistry
(1914-1971) announced a
phase-out of the school,
Governor John McKeithen
signed a bill into law to
establish the Louisiana
State University School of
Dentistry. The school
opened in barracks on a
22-acre tract that
originally served as World
War II housing for the
U.S. Navy. Dr. Edmund E.
Jeansonne, dean of the
Loyola School of
Dentistry, was appointed
first dean of LSUSD.
Construction of the
permanent building began
in 1969 and extended
through 1971, at a cost of
$15.75 million. First
opened in January 1972,
the building was dedicated
on February 18. The
charter class of 27
dentists graduated on June
3, 1972. The first dental
hygiene class of 30
students entered the
school in September 1972
and the program in Dental
Laboratory Technology
began the following year.
Advanced education
programs began in 1972
although the Oral Surgery
program, established in
the 1920's and based at
Charity Hospital, was
transferred from Loyola to
LSU in 1968.
After Hurricane Katrina
hit New Orleans on August
29, 2005, LSUSD relocated
to Baton Rouge in a
temporary dental school on
South Campus. The 60
fourth-year dental
students were placed in
preceptorships in private
dental offices across
Louisiana. Because of
limited space at the new
campus, the postgraduate
programs found clinic and
seminar space in other
locations. LSUSD remained
on South Campus until
August 2007, when the New
Orleans building reopened.
In 2008, shortly after the
return to the campus,
Henry Gremillion, DDS,
MAGD, and LSUSD 1977
graduate, became the
school's fifth dean.
Also in 2015, the Federal
Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) approved a
multi-million dollar grant
to erect a new building at
LSUSD to mitigate the
damage caused by Hurricane
Katrina. The elevated
building, completed
earlier this year,
includes clinical and
basic science research
areas and the faculty
dental practice. The
electrical and mechanical
components that operate
the entire campus are also
housed in the new
building.
Another notable
transformation is the $9
million plus renovation of
the student preclinical
laboratories encompassing
the entire 7th floor of
the E.E. Jeansonne
Building. The
state-of-the-art facility
includes two laboratories,
a classroom, and a wet
lab.
To celebrate the history
of the school, several
events will take place
during 2018. For more
information, contact Katie
Kelley, MBA, 504-941-8120.
Come
Celebrate with Us
Wednesday, May
23, Opening of the
Advanced Research &
Clinical Care Building
10:30 am-noon Ribbon
cutting, tours, and light
refreshments
4:00-7:00 pm Reception and
tours
Thursday, May 24,
Alumni Reception in
conjunction with NODA
Welcome & LDA
President's Party
7:00-10:00 pm Hyatt
Regency Hotel, 8 Block
Kitchen & Bar
$30.00 per person. To
register, contact Gina at
NODA at 504-834-6449 or at
www.nodc.org.
Friday, August
24, Alumni Day and
Reunion Gatherings
All alumni are invited to
attend Alumni Day for
continuing education,
tours of the new
facilities, and
socializing. Following
Alumni Day, classes in
reunion years (ending in
"3" and "8") will be
recognized at the
post-event celebration at
5:00-7:30 pm in the LSUSD
Advanced Clinical Care and
Research Building
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