This summer, the new Lyon College School of Dental Medicine officially welcomed its first class of 80 students. The new dental school is located in the heart of Little Rock’s Riverdale neighborhood. We are grateful to Lyon College and its board, President Melissa Taverner, and Dr. Burke Soffe, the school’s founding dean, for their dedication to our City and to the oral health care of all Arkansans.
The Lyon College School of Dental Medicine solidifies Little Rock’s place as the center for health care for the entire region. The inaugural class, the Class of 2028, represents students from 17 states, with 43% from Arkansas. We welcome these new residents to the City of Little Rock!
The three-year Doctor of Dental Medicine program emphasizes rigorous academic preparation, hands-on clinical training, and a strong commitment to service, with a goal of expanding access to oral health care across Arkansas and the region.
That commitment to service is already evident through the school’s Give Kids A Smile Day event scheduled for Friday, July 18. This free oral health screening for children and adults is from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, 5 Allied Way, Building 5.
