title: Feasibility Study for a Satellite Program of an Established School of Dentistry.
abstract: Creative thinking is required to solve the many challenges the oral health care delivery system faces in meeting the needs of the U.S.
  
  
  METHODS
  Access to oral health care services varies widely across the country based on a host of factors including individual patient characteristics, demographic variables, and distribution of professionals by locale. There is also significant variability of need, so that many new solutions have been proposed to meet the needs of specific areas. In late 2012, the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry embarked on a feasibility study to determine whether its existing DDS program could be extended closer to underserved areas of Missouri and surrounding regions by utilizing distance education and a clinical training facility in conjunction with another public university. This article describes the study and its outcomes. Other institutions may find this process useful as they assess factors that could impact the success of future programming and seek new solutions to long-standing problems.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ahmed is Associate Professor of Health Administration, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Dr. Pyle is Dean, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City; and Dr. Gadbury-Amyot is Professor and Associate Dean of Instructional Technology and Faculty Development, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City. ahmedar@umkc.edu.
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ahmed is Associate Professor of Health Administration, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Dr. Pyle is Dean, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City; and Dr. Gadbury-Amyot is Professor and Associate Dean of Instructional Technology and Faculty Development, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City.
authors.forename: Marsha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pyle
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ahmed is Associate Professor of Health Administration, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Dr. Pyle is Dean, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City; and Dr. Gadbury-Amyot is Professor and Associate Dean of Instructional Technology and Faculty Development, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City.
authors.forename: Cynthia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gadbury-Amyot
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D003729:Dental Care; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003815:Dentists / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004497:Education, Dental; D020375:Education, Distance; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005378:Financial Support; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008923:Missouri; D010560:Personnel Selection; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011231:Preceptorship; D016730:Program Development; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration; D014495:Universities
keywords: access to oral health care; dental education; dental schools; feasibility study