Rhode Island Rep. Marie Hopkins is advocating for the University of Rhode Island to open a dental school, the Rhode Island Current reported March 3.
Six notes:
1. A legislative commission agreed earlier this year that the University of Rhode Island should open a medical school to boost the state’s primary care workforce.
2. Shortly after the commission’s decision, Ms. Hopkins introduced a bill to establish a medical school and dental school at the university.
3. An initial hearing for the bill was held March 3, during which Ms. Hopkins said, “We are hemorrhaging dentists in the state.”
4. Samuel Zwetchkenbaum, DDS, dental director at the Rhode Island Department of Health, testified in support of the bill, noting that the state has the lowest dentist-to-population ratio in New England.
5. During the hearing, lawmakers discussed several issues with the creation of a medical and dental school, including state funding, reimbursements rates and the need to prioritize in-state students.
6. The bill was held by the committee for further study.
