title: Modern Management Principles Come to the Dental School.
abstract: The University of Washington School of Dentistry may be the first dental school in the nation to apply lean process management principles as a primary tool to re-engineer its operations and curriculum to produce the dentist of the future. The efficiencies realized through re-engineering will better enable the school to remain competitive and viable as a national leader of dental education. Several task forces conducted rigorous value stream analyses in a highly collaborative environment led by the dean of the school. The four areas undergoing evaluation and re-engineering were organizational infrastructure, organizational processes, curriculum, and clinic operations. The new educational model was derived by thoroughly analyzing the current state of dental education in order to design and achieve the closest possible ideal state. As well, the school's goal was to create a lean, sustainable operational model. This model aims to ensure continued excellence in restorative dental instruction and to serve as a blueprint for other public dental schools seeking financial stability in this era of shrinking state support and rising costs.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Wataha is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean for Information Management and Quality Improvement, University of Washington School of Dentistry; Dr. Mouradian is Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was Associate Dean for Regional Affairs, Curriculum, and Educational Technologies at the time the article was written; Dr. Slayton is Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was also Chair of Pediatric Dentistry and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the time the article was written; Dr. Sorensen is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean of Clinics, University of Washington School of Dentistry; and Dr. Berg is Dean and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry. jwataha@uw.edu.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wataha
authors.affiliation: Dr. Wataha is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean for Information Management and Quality Improvement, University of Washington School of Dentistry; Dr. Mouradian is Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was Associate Dean for Regional Affairs, Curriculum, and Educational Technologies at the time the article was written; Dr. Slayton is Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was also Chair of Pediatric Dentistry and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the time the article was written; Dr. Sorensen is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean of Clinics, University of Washington School of Dentistry; and Dr. Berg is Dean and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Wendy E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Mouradian
authors.affiliation: Dr. Wataha is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean for Information Management and Quality Improvement, University of Washington School of Dentistry; Dr. Mouradian is Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was Associate Dean for Regional Affairs, Curriculum, and Educational Technologies at the time the article was written; Dr. Slayton is Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was also Chair of Pediatric Dentistry and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the time the article was written; Dr. Sorensen is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean of Clinics, University of Washington School of Dentistry; and Dr. Berg is Dean and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Slayton
authors.affiliation: Dr. Wataha is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean for Information Management and Quality Improvement, University of Washington School of Dentistry; Dr. Mouradian is Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was Associate Dean for Regional Affairs, Curriculum, and Educational Technologies at the time the article was written; Dr. Slayton is Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was also Chair of Pediatric Dentistry and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the time the article was written; Dr. Sorensen is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean of Clinics, University of Washington School of Dentistry; and Dr. Berg is Dean and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.affiliation: Dr. Wataha is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean for Information Management and Quality Improvement, University of Washington School of Dentistry; Dr. Mouradian is Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was Associate Dean for Regional Affairs, Curriculum, and Educational Technologies at the time the article was written; Dr. Slayton is Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry, and was also Chair of Pediatric Dentistry and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the time the article was written; Dr. Sorensen is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Associate Dean of Clinics, University of Washington School of Dentistry; and Dr. Berg is Dean and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Joel H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000458:organization & administration; D003813:Dentistry / Q000639:trends; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000592:standards; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005376:Financial Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D017145:Models, Educational; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014861:Washington
keywords: competency-based education; curriculum innovation; dental education; dental schools; economics of dental education; professional interest