Case Western Reserve Dedicates New Dental School Facility

CLEVELAND — Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic celebrated the completion of a new dental clinic on Chester Avenue and a new park for the community on Tuesday evening. The dental facility is part of the Health Education Campus, a joint project between the university and the hospital.

“This dental clinic represents an enormous opportunity for students and patients alike,” Case Western Reserve President Barbara Snyder said. “It gives both access to state-of-the-art space, technology and equipment, which will expand the services provided and reduce the number of visits required to complete certain procedures.”

About 19,000 people visit the Case Western Reserve University dental clinic each year. The majority of those visitors — approximately 11,000 — are Cleveland residents. With the facility's location, on Chester, school officials are hoping to increase foot traffic around the dental school and increase the number of visitors.

The new facility will also feature adjacent parking lots, pick-up and drop-off sites, and more airy and well-lit spaces.

“We are thrilled that this new space will allow us to reach even more patients across our community,” said dental school Dean Kenneth Chance. “With features like 3D printers, we will be able to provide more efficient care, while outpatient suites for complex procedures will allow for more treatments right on site.”

The Newton Avenue Park, another shared Case Western-Cleveland Clinic project, is a 28,000-square-foot park with playground equipment, a walking trail and green space. The two organizations agreed to create the park to demonstrate their commitment to the community.

“Cleveland Clinic is firmly committed to supporting our community. We are proud that the addition of the dental clinic became part of the Health Education Campus design and will provide greater access for patients where they live and to nearby schools and community centers,” said Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, Cleveland Clinic CEO and president. “We are very grateful for the support of the Famicos Foundation and their assistance in providing a park in a safe area for walking and play for the neighborhood.”

In early April, Case Western and the Cleveland Clinic dedicated the 477,000-square-foot Samson Pavilion, which will welcome more than 2,200 students from Case's dental, nursing and medical schools, including the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.