SIU School of Dental Medicine secures first international partnership

 

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) has established an international partnership with UIC Barcelona/Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. By signing a strategic agreement with the Faculty of Dentistry in Spain, both Schools intend to strengthen international cooperation in dental education.

“This milestone marks the School’s first international partnership, making it especially significant. Our collaboration with UIC Barcelona reflects our commitment to global learning and academic exchange that enriches the entire SIU SDM community,” said Nathalia Garcia, DDS, MS, assistant dean for Career Development. “For students, this initiative offers the chance to experience dentistry in a broader context, learning from diverse teaching approaches, observing varied clinical environments, and building connections that expand their perspectives and deepen their understanding of the profession.”

Under this agreement, SIU SDM and UIC Barcelona students will have the opportunity to attend classes, seminars and dental procedures, as well as take part in discussions and academic activities at the host institution. Through these placements, participants will expand their overall understanding of the current challenges in oral health, engage in intercultural learning and international cooperation, discover innovative teaching methodologies in dentistry and explore new avenues for professional development in an international academic context.

Lluís Giner, Ph.D. in Medicine and Surgery and dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, underscored the strategic relevance of this agreement for UIC Barcelona, highlighting that “this partnership with the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine strengthens our commitment to internationalization and to offering our students enriching academic experiences. Thanks to this agreement we can continue to promote excellence in dental education and strengthen our ties with leading international institutions.”

Garcia added, “This partnership also opens doors for shared innovation and collaborative growth across both institutions. We are proud to take this important step and look forward to the opportunities it will inspire.”

Students, residents, faculty and staff at the SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) manage approximately 30,000 patient visits each year at its patient clinics in Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville. These patient care experiences provide students and residents the training they need to graduate and become highly skilled dentists and specialists.

The School of Dental Medicine is a vital oral health care provider for dental patients in southern and central Illinois, as well as the St. Louis metropolitan region. SIU SDM provides a dental home for approximately 10,000 active patients in any given year.

 

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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality education that powerfully transforms the lives of all individuals who seek something greater. A premier metropolitan university, SIUE is creating social and economic mobility for individuals while also powering the workforce of the future. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Home to a diverse student body, SIUE is situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis.