The results of part two of the national board exam for the 44 UNMC dental students who graduated this year are in and the UNMC College of Dentistry is celebrating. The graduating class of 2007 had the highest overall average score in the nation on the examination taken by all of the nation’s dental students.
Students in their final year of dental school take Part 2 of the American Dental Association’s National Board Examination via computer sometime during their senior year. UNMC recently learned that, when all the scores in the United States were compiled and averaged, its students finished first on the test. There are 56 dental schools in the United States.
“We have never finished number one before,” said John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the College of Denistry. “I’m really proud of our students and the faculty who taught them.”
In looking at records dating back to 1991 the UNMC College of Dentistry has only reached the number two spot for highest average score on part two of the national board exam, he said. The average comprehensive standard score for UNMC College of Dentistry students was 84.9, which is 4.1 points above the national average of 80.8.
“Students entering the UNMC College of Dentistry have had the highest grade point average for 10 years out of the past 14,” Dr. Reinhardt said. “During the past 14 years the UNMC College of Dentistry or Harvard’s School of Dental Medicine have been the only two schools that have had the distinction of having the highest entering G.P.A.”