VCU Takes the Crown on Top Dentists List

Richmond magazine published its annual list of Top Dentists this month, and among the 14 specialty categories listed, VCU School of Dentistry is represented in nearly all of them. 

MCV Campus alumni, faculty and residents make up more than 72% of this year’s honorees in areas like general dentistry, hospital dentistry and orthodontics, as well as cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, dental hygiene and more.  A few individuals are even listed in multiple categories. 

The full Top Dentists list offers distinctive prestige among the dental community because Richmond magazine identifies honorees by asking local dentists whom they would recommend across these specialty areas.

“Our alumni and faculty are exceptional, and these well-deserved awards are an acknowledgment of all they do to serve their communities,” said Lyndon Cooper, D.D.S., dean of the VCU School of Dentistry. “Seeing so many of these individuals recognized as Top Dentists underscores why VCU Dentistry leads the way in clinical excellence, expansive research and training for tomorrow’s dental professionals throughout Virginia and beyond.” 

VCU is home to the state’s only dental school, so acceptance to is competitive. More than 2,100 applications are submitted annually for fewer than 100 spots. In addition to a wide array of professional degrees and certifications spanning Doctor of Dental Surgery to Master of Science in Dentistry, it is also one of just two schools in Virginia to offer a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. 

Additionally, VCU School of Dentistry is uniquely positioned within a health system, which fosters collaboration between medical and dental professionals that results in the best overall patient care.

Beyond training and patient care, VCU’s school of dentistry is ranked 17th nationally among all U.S. dental schools by the National Institutes of Health for research funding in areas like cancer, bioengineering and more. The Phillips Institute for Oral Health Research advances national oral health through cancer and infection research. Its advanced graduate research programs, which offer Ph.D., D.D.S./Ph.D. and master’s degrees, train future generations of oral health researchers who translate these important findings into better patient care.

If you would like to make a gift to support the education of tomorrow’s Top Dentists, please contact Gloria Greiner-Callihan, associate dean of development and alumni relations at the School of Dentistry, by emailing gfcallihan@vcu or calling 804-828-8101.