Arizona State University and Delta Dental of Arizona Launch Groundbreaking SMILE-AI Initiative
Arizona State University (ASU) is paving the way for the future of medical education through an innovative partnership with Delta Dental of Arizona. Together, they’re launching the Student-centered Medical Instruction and Learning in Oral Health powered by Artificial Intelligence (SMILE-AI) at the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering. This transformative program promises to embed oral health education directly into the training of future physicians, enhancing their ability to deliver comprehensive patient care.
Significant Investment for a Healthier Future
The SMILE-AI initiative is made possible through a generous investment of $578,947 from the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. This funding will help integrate oral health into the curriculum starting from the 2026–27 academic year, marking a significant step towards improving patient care by emphasizing the importance of oral health within the broader medical field. The initiative aims to ensure that medical students are well-equipped to recognize and treat conditions that impact both oral and systemic health.
Forward-Thinking Leadership
At the forefront of this initiative is Dr. Sarah "Holly" Hollingsworth Lisanby, the founding dean of the Shufeldt School. She articulates the importance of integrating oral health into medical education: “It is essential to prepare the next generation of physicians to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care.” Dr. Lisanby emphasizes that through the SMILE-AI program, ASU will create an innovative, interdisciplinary learning environment that mirrors the real-world healthcare landscape.
Impact on Patient Care
One of the most compelling aspects of SMILE-AI is its potential to influence patient care significantly. Upon completing the program, it’s estimated that graduates could positively impact up to 72,000 patients per class, per year. This statistic reflects the program’s ambition to not only educate future physicians but also to improve healthcare delivery across various communities.
Comprehensive Learning Experience
Leading the program is Kristen Will, the associate dean and clinical professor at the Shufeldt School. She states, “SMILE-AI is designed to give medical students both the knowledge and practical skills needed to incorporate oral health into everyday clinical practice.” This initiative will utilize augmented intelligence and interactive patient avatar cases, emphasizing collaborative, team-based care. This method aims to strengthen clinical reasoning and enrich students’ understanding of how oral health intersects with broader health issues.
A Commitment to Community Health
Delta Dental of Arizona’s commitment to advancing health and wellness in the state is well-established. The SMILE-AI program builds on their broader focus on medical-dental integration and community initiatives. Michael Jones, the president and CEO of Delta Dental of Arizona, emphasizes the importance of this integrated approach, stating that it will enable future physicians to effectively address health disparities and understand the critical connection between oral health and overall health.
Technological Innovations in Education
The SMILE-AI program is pioneering in its approach by embedding oral health curricula directly into the medical school experience. First- and second-year medical students will engage with augmented intelligence oral-health patient avatar cases, designed to enhance clinical reasoning and provide context on how oral health relates to systemic conditions over a person’s lifespan. This fusion of technology and education sets SMILE-AI apart as an innovative solution in medical training.
Support for Integrated Care
Barb Kozuh, executive director of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation, shares the foundation’s pride in supporting initiatives like SMILE-AI. This investment is a testament to their commitment to leveraging science, data, and technology to improve access to care and advance the concept of whole-person health. By focusing on integrated and equitable care, they aim to prepare future healthcare providers for the complexities of modern medical practice.
Collaborating for Excellence
In crafting a comprehensive curriculum, Arizona State University and Delta Dental of Arizona are collaborating with the Harvard School of Dental Medicine Initiative to Integrate Oral Health and Medicine. This partnership will ensure that the program emphasizes team-based care and adequately equips students with the foundational knowledge to view oral health as a crucial component of overall wellness.
The SMILE-AI program represents a pioneering effort to reshape medical education in Arizona, ensuring that the next generation of healthcare providers is well-prepared to deliver comprehensive and equitable care to their communities.
