Pacific University to Open a Master of Science in Dental Therapy Program

Permanente Dental Associates (PDA) has generously donated $25,000 to Pacific University to support the establishment and accreditation of a Master of Science in Dental Therapy (MSDT) Program at the School of Dental Hygiene Studies within Pacific’s College of Health Professions in Hillsboro, Oregon. PDA, governed by more than 160 dentists and specialists, has collaborated with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest since 1974. This partnership operates Kaiser Permanente Dental, catering to over 290,000 dental members in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Having served as the training site for the Oregon Health Authority’s Dental Pilot Project #300, Pacific University is well-positioned with the necessary infrastructure and experience. The university aims to become Oregon’s sole accredited dental therapy education program and the fourth nationally. Amy Coplen, RDH, EPDH, MS, director of the Dental Hygiene Studies program, is spearheading the implementation of the MSDT program, expecting the first cohort of six students to commence in the Fall of 2025. Click here to read more.