RIDE FAQs
Where will I spend my first year?
The first year RIDE program will be provided at the Riverpoint campus in Spokane, Washington. This campus is a partnership between Eastern Washington University and Washington State University.
What is the campus like in Spokane?
The Spokane Riverpoint campus is located in downtown Spokane adjacent to the Spokane River (Click here to see a map). The Health Sciences Building (which houses the Department of Dental Hygiene) and the Academic Services Buildings will be the locus of most of the teaching activities for RIDE students (Click here to view photos). The campus has state of the art facilities and is in a great location.
How about the second and third years?
All students will complete their second and third years together at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle
Who will be teaching me in Spokane?
All faculty teaching in the RIDE program will be affiliate faculty of the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Their primary appointments will be in Eastern Washington University or Washington State University.
Are there differences between the RIDE curriculum and what students will get at University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle?
All courses taught will be equivalent to Seattle courses, although there may be variations in the order of subjects and methods utilized. Since RIDE students will take some courses with hygiene students and medical students, they will likely receive more academic content overall when compared with their Seattle colleagues. In addition all RIDE students will participate in regular community-based rotations after their first and second years and in their fourth year.
Is the RIDE program easier or harder?
Probably neither, just different. The RIDE program has an emphasis on interdisciplinary, small-group learning, and community experiences when compared with the traditional curriculum at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Also RIDE students will participate in distance learning for some of their courses (especially for oral biology, dental materials and a portion of dental public health sciences)
Are there any disadvantages to being in the RIDE program?
Being separated from the rest of the dental school class during the first year and part of the fourth year of dental school might be considered a disadvantage. However an advantage will be that the eight RIDE students will have a small group learning environment, and will participate in interdisciplinary groups with dental hygiene and medical students. There will also be an opportunity to meet the rest of the dental student class during orientation in early Fall. Another disadvantage might be the need to re-locate to Seattle after the first year in Spokane.
How much of the teaching will be electronic?
The exact number of courses is still under consideration. It is likely that two or three classes will have most of their materials delivered electronically (oral biology, dental materials and a portion of dental public health sciences). It is possible that there will be others.
How will RIDE students work with underserved patients during their first and fourth years?
All RIDE students will participate in a 4 week rotation at a clinical site for rural or underserved patients after their first year. They will also have opportunities to participate in shorter rotations after their second year (2-4 weeks). During the fourth year RIDE students will return to Eastern Washington for 4-6 months of clinical experience.
Where will I do my community rotations?
Students will rotate through selected sites around Spokane and in Eastern Washington. The UWSOD already has a number of excellent clinical rotation sites for dental student rotations in Eastern Washington; additional sites may be added.
