By now, many of you have probably heard about the budgetary problems of the State of Missouri . Like some 44 other states across the nation, tax revenues for FY '02 and FY '03 are projected to be significantly lower than they were for FY '01. In the State of Missouri, depending on whose estimates you are dealing with, the reduction in state revenues has been anywhere from $500–900 million. This has meant budget cutbacks, program retrenchments, staff reductions and a large-scale withholding of funds for state-supported programs and services.

The University of Missouri System and, more particularly, the UMKC School of Dentistry have not been exempt from this process. We have been asked to cut money from the budget year that ended June 30, and we've had to take a sizeable reduction again for the budget year that began July 1.

To cope with these budget shortfalls, the University of Missouri System has offered eligible faculty and staff a voluntary early retirement incentive program. We face the possibility of losing 43 senior people in the School of Dentistry . We also face the possibility of not receiving any budgetary support to replace them!

So, to put things in a nutshell, we're facing some lean times. Our situation will be difficult for at least the next 12 months. But it will not be impossible and, in the long run, will not seriously impact any of our major goals and objectives. We have been through lean times before. They pass and we will move forward.

When I turn my attention to non-financial matters at the School of Dentistry , to things of lasting importance, I find there is much to be cheerful about. We continue to attract outstanding faculty and students, who bring great credit to the school and profession with their talents, contributions and achievements. I am deeply proud of them all.

In particular, I am pleased that 20 of our local alumni responded this past year to an invitation to join our WOC (without compensation) faculty. They each volunteer a half to a full day per week in our emergency clinic and outreach programs. They make a huge difference. We simply could not provide the level or quality of services we do without them and the many other WOC faculty members at the school who give so generously of their time and energy.

Their efforts, combined with those of our full-time/part-time faculty and students, enable us to treat over 2,200 patients per week in our clinics and outreach programs. Many of these patients have no other means of getting dental care. They lack the funds and they need help. Day-in, day-out, we provide them with care that's compassionate, clinically competent, appropriate and affordable.

These services are needed now more than ever. One of the casualties of the state's budget process was the Adult Dental Medicaid Program. Benefits for persons age 22 and older were terminated as of July 1. In the greater Kansas City area alone, some 60,000–80,000 low-income people will be affected. A large proportion of these have medical complications and special needs, so we anticipate that many of them will seek us out. As always, they will be welcomed and their immediate needs will be taken care of by compassionate faculty, staff and students.

Our research programs are stronger than ever. This past year, we received over $6 million in sponsored support, our best year ever. And thanks to a large NIH construction grant, we plan to expand our research facilities this fall and further position ourselves to take a leading role in greater Kansas City 's Life Sciences Initiative.

Finally, our alumni continue to be very generous. Despite the economic slowdown and the bad news from the stock market this past year, the number of alumni giving to our annual fund campaign increased by over 25 percent.

Michael J. Reed, B.D.S., Ph.D
Dean

Explorer Summer 2002 Index