Lyon College Unveils Locations for New Dental School

USA: Lyon College has officially announced the locations for its new School of Dental Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine in Arkansas. The dental school will be situated in Little Rock, while the veterinary school will be established in Cabot. This marks a significant expansion for the liberal arts college into professional education.

Dr. Melissa Taverner, president of Lyon College, explained the rationale behind the locations:

“After thorough consideration, the Lyon leadership decided to split the vet and dental schools based on proximity to related entities. The dental school in Little Rock will be located close to existing medical institutions; and the veterinary school in Cabot will be located adjacent to the planned Cabot Animal Services Center and will have space for future programmatic expansion.”

Timeline and Accreditation

Renovation and construction on both campuses are scheduled to begin this year. The Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine aims to enroll its first class in fall 2025, with the School of Dental Medicine following shortly after in summer 2025.

The college is currently pursuing accreditation with the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education for the veterinary school and the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation for the dental school. This follows approval from the Higher Learning Commission Institutional Actions Council in November 2022 to offer Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Medical Dentistry professional degrees.

Dental School Details

The Lyon College School of Dental Medicine will be located at 5 Allied Drive in Little Rock’s Riverdale neighbourhood. It will occupy six floors of the Riverfront Plaza Building 5, which previously housed Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield offices. The building will undergo renovations to include classrooms, offices, patient care facilities, and simulation clinics.

Partnerships play a crucial role in the development of the dental school. Lyon College has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to foster joint efforts in teaching, research, and professional development. Additionally, collaborations with the Arkansas Department of Health and Arkansas Oral Health Coalition aim to increase awareness of oral health in the state.

Veterinary School Campus

The Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine will be situated on a newly formed multi-acre campus at Exit 21 in Cabot, adjacent to Game Time at The Grounds city park. The Cabot City Council has approved a plan for the city to lease facilities to Lyon College for the development of the veterinary school.

A key feature of this location is the planned construction of the Cabot Animal Services Center on the same campus, which is expected to aid in the school’s accreditation process. This arrangement stems from a memorandum of understanding signed last year between the City of Cabot and Lyon College, focusing on collaboration in community outreach, educational programming, and animal care services.

Funding and Community Support

The development of these professional schools has garnered significant support. Senator John Boozman championed a $15 million federal appropriation for the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine. The college has also worked closely with the Arkansas dental community to secure educational support for the school.

Dr. Taverner expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts that have made these developments possible:

“We are beyond thankful for the time and collaborative efforts of so many who worked in good faith to open these schools.”

As Lyon College moves forward with these ambitious projects, the impact on healthcare education and services in Arkansas is expected to be substantial, potentially addressing shortages in both dental and veterinary care across the state.