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LMU-CDM History

The History of LMU-CDM

1723-Pierre Fauchard, a French surgeon publishes The Surgeon Dentist, A Treatise on Teeth (Le Chirurgien Dentiste). Fauchard is credited as being the Father of Modern Dentistry because his book was the first to describe a comprehensive system for the practice of dentistry including basic oral anatomy and function, operative and restorative techniques, and denture construction.

Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) chartered in 1897 as a living memorial to the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, with the mission to serve the underserved of rural Appalachia by providing educational opportunities


Plan for a college of dental medicine at LMU originated in 2005 by Autry O. V. "Pete" DeBusk, chairman of LMU Board of Trustees and founder and CEO of DeRoyal Industries. In 2020, the university accepted the challenge to provide dental education to the students in Appalachia and beyond and oral health care to some of the 2.2 million people who do not have access to oral health care in Appalachia and East Tennessee.


A feasibility study was conducted; in March 2021, LMU announced it was pursuing accreditation for Lincoln Memorial University-College of Medicine (LMU-CDM),

  • Denise Terese-Koch, BS, DDS, FAGD, MBA, EdD was selected as the founding dean for the College of Dental Medicine: August 2020
  • Renovation of the LMU Tower began for the LMU-CDM: March 2021
  • CODA Initial Accreditation was awarded in February 2021
  • SACS COC Level V Accreditation granted to LMU: August 2021
  • Dr. Qi Wang was named Interim Dean on May 28, 2024
  • CODA Interim Accreditation site visit scheduled for August 2024