Harcum Dental Program Receives Full Accreditation

Harcum Dental Program Receives Full Accreditation

Program is Granted Seven Years of Accreditation for Its Outstanding Quality

BRYN MAWR, PA – March 18, 2013 – Harcum College’s Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs have received accreditation from The American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) for seven years, the maximum time period allowed by CODA.

“Harcum’s sterling reputation in the dental community is amply confirmed by CODA’s report this month,” said Harcum College President, Dr. Jon Jay DeTemple. “Harcum dental students and alumni are highly valued by dental offices, medical practices and hospitals in the Philadelphia region and beyond.”

The accreditation process began in 2011, in which Harcum completed a comprehensive self-analysis and self-study report detailing its resources, curriculum, policies and operational standards. This was followed by an on-site review in September 2012 conducted by CODA team members selected for their expertise in the program area. They conducted interviews with Dental Hygiene Program Director Jean Byrnes-Ziegler, Dental Assisting Program Director Dossie Cavallucci, Harcum’s dental advisory board, faculty, staff and students to verify information in the self-study and ensure that Harcum’s program met all accreditation standards. The CODA team’s detailed site visit report based on their findings was then shared with Harcum and the full Commission. The Commission met in January 2013 to review the site visit report.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), established in 1975, is nationally recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) to accredit dental and dental-related education programs conducted at the post-secondary level. CODA’s mission is to serve the oral health care needs of the public through the development and administration of standards that foster continuous quality improvement of dental and dental related educational programs.

Harcum’s Cohen Dental Clinic on Harcum’s Bryn Mawr campus offers dental hygiene care for the public, including $10 visits for adults 55 years and older, and an annual “Sealant Monday” with free oral health screenings for children. For more information and appointments, please call 610.526.6113. Additional information about Harcum’s dental programs can be found on the Dental Hygiene Program and Dental Assisting Program websites.

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