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 the students.
Jonathan Armijo, Vice President of the DDS Class of 2027 and STAHR Dental Scholars Program Mentor and Alumni, says, “I’m looking forward to being one of the first dental classes to use the new clinic as well and seeing the capabilities of the new building! A new look for the dental school is so exciting, and I am incredibly excited to be a part of this transition from the old clinic to the new. Having medical and dental clinics combined in the same building will offer a more holistic approach and a new learning opportunity for us students. “Armijo was impressed by the renderings. “The open layout and the windows are really what catch my eye. What an honor it will be to work in such a beautiful building along with my peers and faculty. With such an all-encompassing space, UMKC will be a leader in health science for decades to come.”
It’s not just the aesthetics of the building that stood out. Armijo says it’s what’s inside that will make an even bigger impact. “This new building will create an amazing learning space with all the newest technology. The building will be a beacon for students applying in the future and will be a great asset to the dental school. The future classes will be learning with newer technology as well as staying close to the roots of dentistry.”
Sage Newton, DDS Class of 2027, says, “The windows are the first thing I am looking forward to! In all seriousness though, this new clinic really does seem state of the art with how much detail has gone into the location of each room and all. I am really looking forward to a building that makes the day flow a little easier for patients and students.”
Newton explained that the new building will impact him as he’s one of the first to do clinical work there, “It will come with a lot of excitement and maybe a few challenges as using new things do. Overall, I know it will help me be a better student doctor when seeing patients in clinic. This new building will even speed things up in the clinic when it comes to radiographs, impressions, and more as Dean Haas discussed one day moving more digital. This new building will impact the community because hopefully we will get some attention drawn to it that will make pre-existing and new patients want to seek more treatment they need! The building will be stunning, so it will be hard to not want to come in and check out what it has to offer.”
Logan Ebert, DDS Class of 2027, says, “I’m looking forward to the new building mostly for the new designs lab and the ability to care for the surrounding patients in KC with a better clinical experience!”
As for how it will impacted the Class of 2027, Ebert says, “It gives us hope and a sense of excitement to be able to work in a new building that has state of the art technology to work with! For classes after us, they will be working in a top of the line clinical and academic setting which will enrich their dental foundation before they graduate from UMKC! Dean Haas and the Rinehart Board seem very committed to maximizing the benefits of the new building for the future classes that come to enroll. They are working tirelessly to ensure the best outcome for the future students at UMKC.”
Lauren Bailey, President of the Dental Hygiene Class of 2025, says, “The new Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building will be a state-of-the-art addition to the UMKC Heath Sciences System. The building will not be finished before I graduate, however I am excited for the incoming dental hygiene classes to experience the advanced technology and expanded hours that this new building creates space for. The Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building will also allow both Dental and Dental Hygiene students to serve the Kansas City community in a more efficient manner through the use of high-quality equipment and labs while continuing to maintain the high standards of care that the UMKC School of Dentistry is known for.”
Alli Bones, DDS Class of 2027, echoed Newton’s sentiment. “One thing that I’m really looking forward to is having windows in the clinic. This will create a more refreshing environment for patients, students, and faculty. Another thing to look forward to is the new floor plan, which should create a better flow in the clinic.”
With the new building, Bones says, comes new opportunities. “The world around us has constantly evolving technology, and we will be able to utilize that technology to provide better care to patients. In addition, this newer technology provides us students to learn different techniques. This will benefit students to come for many years. Hopefully, this building we attract more patients, and we will be able to provide treatment to more patients in the community.”
Our faculty and staff are just as excited about the new facility. 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.