Strategic Plan
Advancing oral health through innovation, discovery, education and a stronger workforce for South Carolina.
The MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine is shaping a bold future for oral health. Our strategic plan transforms that vision into action by uniting our strengths in education, research, clinical care and community engagement. Together, we are expanding access to care, advancing discovery and innovation, preparing the next generation of oral health professionals and creating a healthier future for South Carolina and beyond.
Strategic Foundation
Our strategic foundation defines the vision, values and mission that guide how we educate, discover, serve and advance the future of oral health.
Vision
To innovate the future of oral health and wellness.
Values
Our values shape how we pursue this work. They guide how we learn, lead, collaborate and serve, providing a shared standard for the decisions we make and the impact we seek to create.
- Compassion: We act with kindness, empathy and dignity.
- Collaboration: We achieve common goals through teamwork and partnerships.
- Innovation: We drive transformation by embracing innovative ideas, discoveries and practices.
- Integrity: We do the right thing and commit to accountability in words, actions and use of resources.
- Respect: We value everyone and their many perspectives to build trust and a sense of belonging.
Mission
To develop transformative leaders and oral health providers to improve wellness. Our commitment to education, research, service, and patient care will be driven by a collaborative and entrepreneurial approach that will result in global impact on the profession.
Strategic Goals
Our strategic goals chart the College’s path forward by strengthening the health of our communities, accelerating innovation and discovery, and preparing a future-ready oral health workforce. Through these priorities, we are advancing how oral health professionals learn, how care is delivered and how the College serves South Carolina and beyond.
Years 1 to 3
- Improve access to the College's services, including select specialty oral health, through the exploration of new oral health delivery models
- Improve access to the College's services through new business models and alignment with MUSC Health billing practice protocols
Years 3 to 5
- Improve access to oral health services through an integrated network of rural general practice residency programs
- Enhance the care experience for MUSC patients through strategic co-location of dental offices within MUSC Health primary care sites
- Improve access to oral surgical care through regional dental-only ambulatory surgical centers
Years 5 to 10
- Expand oral health services and delivery of oral health education and interventions through collaborative partnerships
Years 5 to 10
- Expand research portfolio by supporting entrepreneurial activities to enhance commercialization
- Grow emerging and existing areas of research excellence
Years 10 to 20
- Be known as the premier provider of digital dentistry patient care
- Become nationally and internationally known for our digital dentistry curricula
Years 1 to 3
- Strengthen workforce recruitment and retention strategies through a peer-led workforce development committee
Years 5 to 10
- Strengthen alumni engagement through new infrastructure
Years 1 to 3
- Improve our graduates’ success through enhancements to the predoctoral curriculum
- Strengthen faculty and staff success through new mentorship initiatives and professional development
Years 5 to 10
- Increase the number of dental graduates by expanding the pre-doctoral program in other regions of South Carolina
- Explore new residency programs based on the needs of the state
- Explore new professional programs with partnering institutions such as technical colleges