Palo Alto College celebrates launch of new dental hygiene program

November 21, 2023

Marketing and Strategic Communications

Alamo Colleges District-Palo Alto College celebrated the launch of its Dental Hygiene Program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the newly established state-of-the-art dental hygiene clinic on Friday, Nov. 17.

"Palo Alto College is honored to mark this momentous occasion as we introduce our state-of-the-art Dental Hygiene Program and clinic,” said Palo Alto College President, Dr. Robert Garza. “With the invaluable support of Bank of America and the ongoing commitment of our community, we are poised to make a lasting impact in both education and healthcare here on the southside of San Antonio."

The unveiling coincided with an announcement of a generous $350,000 donation from Bank of America, reinforcing the program's foundation and underlining the collective support for this vital initiative.

“The new dental hygiene program stands as a light to those who need affordable dental care in San Antonio’s underserved southside and provides a pathway to those who are looking to become dental hygienists,” said Jennifer Cantu, Bank of America San Antonio Market Executive. “Bank of America is honored to play a role in supporting this important program, which will undoubtedly transform the educational aspirations and quality of life for San Antonio residents.”

In May 2017, Bexar County voters approved a $450 million capital improvement bond for the Alamo Colleges, with $60 million allocated for the Rio Grande Building which houses the 13,273-square-foot modern dental hygiene clinic. This cutting-edge facility has been meticulously designed to cater to the specialized needs of Dental Hygiene students, providing an immersive environment for hands-on training while facilitating low- or no-cost clinical services to better the overall health of the south side community.

Boasting Initial Accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), a significant achievement valid for two years, the Dental Hygiene Program is headed into its final accreditation stage scheduled for Spring 2025. The clinic itself features a collaborative classroom, a state-of-the-art radiology lab, and 30 dental cubicles/operatories equipped with advanced x-ray units. Additionally, the facility includes a dental panoramic extraoral imaging machine and a sterilization room, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience for students.

Central to its mission, the program aims to extend its reach to the community by offering dental hygiene treatment to neighboring residents through the on-site clinic. By the third year of operation, the clinic anticipates serving up to 1,000 uninsured or under-insured, limited-income children and adults annually, thereby addressing critical oral healthcare needs in the region.

As Palo Alto College paves the way for the future of dental hygiene education, the institution remains committed to providing unparalleled opportunities and services to its students and the broader community. For more information about the Dental Hygiene Program or the application process, visit alamo.edu/pac/dental-hygiene.

About Palo Alto College

Palo Alto College, part of the Alamo Colleges District, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, is a Rising Star winner of the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, and is celebrating its 35-year anniversary. With over 10,000 students, Palo Alto College is accredited to offer associate degrees and short-term certificates. The College is located on the south side of San Antonio at 1400 W. Villaret Blvd. at I-410 and Texas Hwy 16 and online at alamo.edu/pac.

About Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).