UCSF School of Dentistry Visioning

When the University of California San Francisco's School of Dentistry faced the prospect of relocating due to campus expansion plans, they seized the opportunity to reimagine the future of dental education. Rather than simply replicating, or merely renovating their existing 1980s-era facility, UCSF engaged VDT to conduct a comprehensive visioning study to help the school reimagine the future of dental education. The study lays the groundwork for a transformative new space that will lead the way in establishing a new standard for educating dental students.

Led by a forward-thinking dean, Michael Reddy, with a mission to bridge the historical divide between dentistry and general medicine, the visioning process aimed to create a more collaborative educational environment. This environment will serve as a catalyst for change across the entire dental and medical industries.

Our team employed a multi-faceted approach to data gathering, including immersions and shadowing within the School of Dentistry, focus groups with various stakeholders, and interviews with thought leaders - including former members of the Obama Administration and California Governor Gavin Newsom. The process culminated in a grand visioning session, bringing together 25 key participants to synthesize the research and craft a unifying vision statement.

Themes that emerged from the study included collaboration within and across disciplines and research, “future-proofing” the school by anticipating the evolution of technology, and improving patient care and experiences through thoughtful design. However, there is no blueprint for shifting the status quo. Our team focused our peer research on analyzing highly-ranked institutions and recent renovations to identify areas for improvement in dental education facilities. This approach highlighted lessons learned that will help UCSF avoid pitfalls and continue improving the landscape of dental education.