Administrators, faculty, student and staff have all been actively involved in the planning and design of the new Healthcare Delivery and Innovation building, scheduled to open in fall of 2026. Now that we’ve had a peek at what the building will look like, we’ve asked to hear about the project from those directly involved in the process.
They’re looking forward to the future opportunities the building will bring, with Dr. Steven Haas, Dean of the UMKC School of Dentistry, describing the strategic planning that’s gone into the project over the last year.
Dean Steven Haas pictured at the Ovation for Healthcare Innovation Event.
“As we have been planning and designing this incredible project, we have never lost sight of our vision for the building. Our intent has always been to make the building a beacon of the Health Sciences District, designed holistically to be student and community centered,” says Haas, “This will be done through integrated experiences that advance healthcare by elevating innovation, thereby improving outcomes. The Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building will be highly versatile and collaborative so that we can provide the best possible education to our students and be of the upmost service to our patients. Its unique design will allow it to be functional and adaptable, so we can continue to respond to the rapid changes we see in healthcare and will revolutionize our programs for the next 50 years and beyond.”
Dr. Lance Godley, Associate Dean of Clinical Programs says the building clinics and labs will enhance what is already one of the country’s best clinical dental education experiences.
Dr. Lance Godley, right, pictured with Jeff Primos, Assistant Dean of Business Affairs and Strategic Development, left, and Dr. Steven Haas, Dean, center, at the Ovation for Healthcare Innovation Event.
“The vision of the building design is to be flexible enough to accommodate new technologies and techniques that are not even conceived of yet for patient care,” says Godley, “It has also been designed to be more efficient and community-facing to serve our patients better. By combining these two elements, we have created a dental clinic for the future that will deliver person-centered care by affording people dignity, compassion, and respect and offering coordinated treatment and personalized care through new and developing technologies.”
Dr. Eric Gottman, Director of Clinical Operations noted the project comes at a perfect time as the school prioritizes keeping up with the fast pace of changing technology in dentistry.
Dr. Eric Gottman, right, pictured with Layne Konneman, dental student, at the Ovation for Healthcare Innovation Event.
“The new facility will not only allow us to apply digital technologies, but we will be able to enhance the overall patient experience and the dental care they receive in a warm, welcoming environment. By incorporating the School of Medicine and the Health Equity Institute, we will be able to better address the healthcare shortages and needs in our community,” says Gottman. “The integration of these programs within one building will provide substantial learning opportunities all our students and give them the tools necessary to become compassionate healthcare professionals in their communities.”
Dr. Liz Kaz, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, believes moving the predoctoral dental and dental hygiene clinical operation won’t only have an impact on learning, but ultimately on the patient care provided by the school.
Dr. Liz Kaz, right, pictured with Dr. Mary Walker, Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs, left, at the Ovation for Healthcare Innovation Event.
“Classroom and laboratory learning will be maximized in the building as students will have expanded and ease of access to advanced equipment and dental technologies planned for the dental clinics., ” says Kaz, “This will provide the perfect melding to prepare students to offer the highest quality dental care now and well into the future. This is truly a transformative experience for our students, patients, faculty, and staff!”
Tanya Villalpando Mitchell, Professor and Chair of the Division of Dental Hygiene, is looking forward to the doors this opens for both dental and dental hygiene students to be of service.
Tanya Villalpando Mitchell giving a presentation at the UMKC School of Dentistry.
“The new building will provide students the opportunity to learn in a progressive and innovative clinical environment while serving the residents of Kansas City and surrounding communities with excellent dental care,” says Mitchell, “The UMKC School of Dentistry will continue to serve the community, but in a new space where knowledge, training, and education will produce dentists and dental hygienists ready to enter the workforce as competent clinicians.”
Mitchell also says it’s exciting to finally be able to have a visual of what this project will look like.
“The new building has a modern look and will be a wonderful addition to the UMKC campus making the School of Dentistry visible and accessible to all seeking oral health care.”
Jeff Primos, Assistant Dean of Business Affairs and Strategic Development, believes the building will be a success in efficiency and aesthetics for both students and patients.
Jeff Primos, middle, pictured with dental students at the Ovation for Healthcare Innovation Event.
“Although our current building has served us well for 50 years, we’ve dedicated ourselves to the goal of efficiency in the space so that students won’t be competing with everyone in the clinic and patients won’t experience logjams,” says Primos.
“The design of the facility is so that students will be able to provide beginning-to-end care in a centralized location, rather than our current situation which, for example, has separate clinics for oral surgery, endodontics and emergency services all in different areas. With its predominantly glass design, the building will also boast much sought after natural light for student and patients to enjoy, yet still be energy efficient and employ redundancies modeled after hospitals.”
Our students, faculty and staff are just as amped up by the remarkable opportunity the new facility offers. Stay tuned for more thoughts from the UMKC School of Dentistry!
To view building renderings and get more details on other units in the building, click here.