The Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery has opened a state-of-the-art, 7,100 square-foot Patient Treatment Center at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM). Upon dedicating the suite on Thursday, June 27, 2013, Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter called it “a model for other Surgery programs to emulate” and cut the ribbon to the new space along with Chair of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Associate Dean for Hospital Affairs Dr. Pushkar Mehra.
The suite was renovated to include a new procedure room equipped with the latest technology, including an ergonomic gas boom to deliver medical gases to patients and an LED overhead light, which delivers the brightest natural light for any surgical procedure. The suite was outfitted with a new Sirona Orthophos XG-5 Panoramic X-ray (Pan-Ceph) unit for diagnostic and treatment planning and to provide our surgeons more accurate and reliable images of their patients.
Each treatment bay has a digital X-ray unit installed in it. The waiting areas now have large flat screens for providing patient education and entertainment prior to treatment. And all of the office areas were upgraded with new workstations, office furniture, and carpeting. New lockers and a new break room were added.
Dr. Mehra commented that, upon completion of this renovation, Oral Surgery now feels at home at both Boston Medical Center and the School of Dental Medicine.
Dean Hutter said, “I am so very gratified that the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, especially the Oral Surgery Group Practice, demonstrated their confidence in this project and our School by helping to fund this extensive renovation. I am personally grateful to each of you for the leadership and support you have provided.”
Supporting the project were: Dr. Pushkar Mehra; Immediate Past Chair of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Dr. David Cottrell; Assistant Professor Dr. Hussam Batal; Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Pre-doctoral Education Dr. Richard D’Innocenzo; Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Steven Bookless; Eyad Haidar DMD 95, PROS 97. Dean Hutter and Chair Mehra also recognized Executive Director of Finance & Operations Tim McDonough and Director of Facilities & Operations Andrew Burke for all of their efforts and support in making the Suite a reality.
Dean Hutter welcomed special guests at the suite dedication: Chief Executive Officer and President of Boston Medical Center Ms. Kate Walsh; Associate Provost for Graduate Medical Sciences at Boston University Medical Campus Professor Linda Hyman; Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine Dr. Kenneth Grundfast; Boston University Medical Campus Executive Director of Facilities John Barton; GSDM Alumni Association President Dr. Mitch Sabbagh; and President of the Boston University Alumni Council Shadi Daher DMD 90, OMFS 94.
Following the ribbon cutting, guests toured the new facility. Photos of the suite dedication and the new facility are available on Facebook and Flickr.
