The origins of what is now the Eastman Institute for Oral Health trace back to 1905, when philanthropist
George Eastman began funding free dental clinics in Rochester to provide underserved children with access to care. Building on this commitment, Eastman made a major gift in 1915 to establish the
Rochester Dental Dispensary, which formally opened in 1917. That same year, it graduated its first class of dental hygienists, the first such program in the United States. In 1928, the University of Rochester Medical Center created the first oral biology research center in the US. The center grew into the Department of Dental Research in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Formal ties with the
University of Rochester date to the 1920s, when Eastman Dental Center clinicians and University researchers collaborated on oral biology and dental research, URMC established what has been described as the nation’s first oral biology research center in 1928, and, in the ensuing decades, this work included
NIH-supported oral health studies. Over the following decades, these collaborations grew into joint appointments and shared programs, culminating in 1997 when the Eastman Dental Center formally merged with the
University of Rochester Medical Center. In 1941, the dispensary was renamed the
Eastman Dental Dispensary, and by 1965 it became the Eastman Dental Center, reflecting its growth as a hub for clinical service, training, and research. A significant milestone came in 1997, when the Eastman Dental Center formally merged with the
University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and the
University of Rochester, aligning its programs in clinical care, graduate dental education, and research under the URMC umbrella. In 2009, the institution was reorganized and renamed the Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH). The change elevated its position within URMC, placing it on par with the Schools of Medicine and Nursing and Strong Memorial Hospital.
Timeline ==Programs and Specialties==