EL PASO, Texas—El Paso could be getting a dental school. The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso has announced a $25 million donation for the Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine.
Officials say the contribution from the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation will support the first new dental school in Texas in nearly 50 years. The plan — to open the school by 2020 — needs approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and accreditation.
School President Dr. Richard Lange says West Texas is underserved when it comes to dentistry. Texas has dental schools in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, graduating about 300 students annually.
University System Chancellor Robert Duncan says the El Paso community has taken leadership in providing health care in the region.
