PIKEVILLE — The University of Pikeville (UPIKE) broke ground Friday on the Tanner College of Dental Medicine (TCDM), marking a major step in expanding dental care access across the region. Governor Andy Beshear, UPIKE President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D., and other state and local leaders attended the ceremony.
The new college will focus on educating dental professionals dedicated to serving rural and underserved communities, UPIKE announced.
Its first group of students is slated to start in June 2026.
The establishment of TCDM is supported by a generous $25 million gift from the Tanner family and is expected to greatly improve healthcare in Eastern Kentucky.
Governor Beshear praised UPIKE’s leadership and the Tanner family’s contribution.
“This project brings together so much of what Team Kentucky has been fighting for. Our administration is an education-first administration, and this new Tanner College of Dental Medicine is expanding higher learning in a crucial field right here at UPIKE. Healthcare is a basic, fundamental human right that every American deserves, and this institution will help ensure that people can secure that care close to where they live,” said Governor Beshear.
“Because of investments like this, we’re not only creating jobs and improving healthcare, but we’re giving the next generation of Kentuckians the opportunity to dream big. Students from Eastern Kentucky will be able to become dental specialists without leaving their home region, and that’s what we all want—jobs, educational opportunities, and healthcare for our children so they can dream as big as they want and chase those dreams right here.”
President Webb echoed the governor’s remarks, celebrating the college’s potential to make a difference in the region.
“We think it says a lot when 30% of our alumni stay in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and practice. That’s an important thing because our commonwealth deserves the very best of healthcare. I remember a pivotal moment when the Tanner family sat across from me and committed $25 million to this project and then challenged us to raise another $10 million. As of last week, we’ve surpassed that goal, raising $35.1 million in total. This is a testament to the tremendous need for improved oral healthcare in Eastern Kentucky,” said Webb.
“Local dentists have been telling us for years that they can’t meet the needs of Medicare and Medicaid patients, and this project will be a game-changer for the region. We are deeply grateful to the Tanner family, the people of Eastern Kentucky, and to God, whose guidance makes all of this possible.”
UPIKE has expressed excitement for the future, noting that the new college will complement its Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Optometry and further strengthen its mission to improve healthcare access.
TCDM will play a vital role in addressing high rates of oral disease in Central Appalachia, especially oral cancer, which is more prevalent in this area, officials said.