SAN ANTONIO (May 22, 2014) — A $250,000 gift from Florida dentist Jeffrey P. Feingold, D.D.S., M.S.D., and his wife, Barbara, will benefit the School of Dentistry at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the construction of the Center for Oral Health Care & Research, scheduled to open in July 2015.
The center’s primary public entrance, more than 1,500 square feet of the building’s first floor, will be named the Dr. Jeffrey P. Feingold Atrium. A plaque and portrait of the couple will be displayed.
“We are exceptionally honored by Dr. Feingold’s interest in the university and the School of Dentistry, and the association of his name will add prestige to our school and the Center for Oral Health Care & Research,” said William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, president of the Health Science Center.
Dr. Feingold, D.D.S., M.S.D., is the founder, chairman and CEO of MCNA Insurance Company, the largest privately held dental insurance company in the country. MCNA, a leading administrator of dental benefits for Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and Medicare programs, serves nearly 4 million members across the United States. The company’s regional office in San Antonio has more than 300 employees that serve Medicaid and CHIP enrollees throughout Texas.
“In the Center for Oral Health Care & Research, our faculty will expand upon a 40-year tradition of first-class patient care, research and education,” said William W. Dodge, D.D.S., dean of the School of Dentistry. “The improved environment will enable us to offer a superior multispecialty practice — the full scope of dentistry in one setting. Dr. and Mrs. Feingold’s generosity will be a significant part of our patients’ experience.”
Dr. Feingold is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and has been a licensed Florida periodontist since 1971. While a resident at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health in Rochester, N.Y., Dr. Feingold was involved with developing clinical protocols for dental sealants in children. This focus on the prevention of tooth loss and early detection of tooth decay is credited with developing MCNA Dental into one of the country’s leading dental health maintenance organizations.
The Center for Oral Health Care & Research, located on Floyd Curl Drive in the South Texas Medical Center, will consist of four floors. The first two will be dedicated to faculty-led care of patients in various specialties of oral health. The building will also be home to advanced education for dental residents and leading-edge dental research. The third and fourth floors will be used for general dentistry, including clinical training for third- and fourth-year dental students and dental hygiene students.
“Dr. Feingold’s legacy will shape the future of dental education, research, patient care and community service for generations to come,” Dr. Henrich said.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, one of the country’s leading health sciences universities, ranks in the top 3 percent of all institutions worldwide receiving National Institutes of Health funding. The university’s schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have produced more than 29,000 graduates. The $765 million operating budget supports eight campuses in San Antonio, Laredo, Harlingen and Edinburg. For more information on the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit www.uthscsa.edu.