Pre-Dental Program Growing at TAMIU
The Pre-Dental Program at Texas A&M International University, a collaboration with the University of Texas Houston Dental Branch (UTHDB), has grown tremendously since its founding in 2004, said TAMIU assistant professor of biology, Dr. David Beck.
“This is a conditional acceptance program known as the Dental Early Admission Program, or DEAP,” Dr. Beck explained, “Students have to perform well on the DAT (Dental Admission Test) and maintain a strong GPA for consideration.”
The program offers highly qualified students with an interest in dentistry who demonstrate the ability to overcome adverse or disadvantaged circumstances to be considered for and receive conditional early acceptance at The UT Dental Branch. The UT Dental Branch already has similar agreements with Prairie View A&M, UT-El Paso, Texas A&M Kingsville, UT-Brownsville, and UT-Pan American.
Two current dental students, Valerie Martinez and Vickie Ramirez are nearing completion of their studies at UTHDB. TAMIU students Arturo Molina, Yvette Moreno and Martha Reyes were accepted in February.
Recently, Dr. Phil Pierpont, UTHDB DEAP coordinator, visited Laredo to interview possible DEAP students and introduce two Laredo TAMIU DEP students, Chris Gonzalez and Alejandro Barrera. Also present were the two student recipients of Laredo Dental Society Pre-Dental Scholarships for Spring 2011, Gonzalez and Nicole Webb.
Dr. Beck noted that the University is especially grateful to the members of the Laredo Dental Society who have provided scholarship support for deserving TAMIU students.
“We salute their partnership and their vision in helping these students to pursue their dreams of becoming dentists in the future,” Dr. Beck said, “The combination of these two offerings makes so much possible for our students.”
Founded in 1905, The University of Texas Health Science Center (UT Health) Dental Branch at Houston has graduated more than 6,000 dentists, 1,850 dental hygienists and nearly 1,500 post-graduate specialists. It offers 10 accredited programs: DDS, dental hygiene, two primary care general residency programs and six specialty programs in pediatric dentistry, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics, periodontics and orthodontics.
The School also offers a DDS/PhD in collaboration with the UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and a certificate in oral and maxillofacial surgery for MDs at the UT Health Medical School.
For additional information on the TAMIU DEAP, please contact Dr. Beck at 956.326.2587 or email dbeck@tamiu.edu
For information on UTHDB, visit http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/about-school
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