30 Years Of Rural Rotation

Rural Health Preceptors

Thirty years ago, alumni Dr. Eric Brannon (’84), Dr. Regina Brannon (’83) and Dr. John “Chip” Perrine (’84) were among the very first dentists to host students for a more real-world experience outside the dental school’s instructional clinic.

Celebrating the program, those three, along with former faculty member and department chair Dr. Richard Meckstroth who took the program from a few practices to up to 90 partnering practices, were recognized for the continued success of the rural rotation experience. As service-oriented West Virginians and oral healthcare professionals, they were presented with wooden Mountaineer statues, a reminder of their commitment to improving the well-being of patients and mentoring future dentists and dental hygienists in the state.

 “Our School of Dentistry was a pioneer in the development of this type of integrated outreach and has made this service learning program one of a kind and one to emulate,” Dr. Valerie Perrine, associate dean for student affairs, community health and outreach, said. “It is the premiere model nationwide thanks to the vision and care taken to form, cultivate and grow the program coupled with the unwavering Mountaineer spirit and loyalty of our WVU alums, and the commitment to service from our school of dentistry students.”