The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Hyndman Area Health Centers, and Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center are partnering to establish a Regional Training Center in Johnstown, the third location to offer Pitt dental training and care in rural Pennsylvania communities. The center will train general practice dental residents, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.
“In Pennsylvania, nearly 2 million residents live in areas facing a dental shortage,” said Marnie Oakley, DMD, dean of the Pitt School of Dental Medicine.
“Pitt Dental Medicine is committed to developing programs to help address the critical decline in dental auxiliaries across the profession. We fully understand the impact of this trend on our profession, especially in rural areas,” Oakley added.
Patients will be able to receive routine dental care at the new Regional Training Center in Johnstown, beginning in July 2027. Hyndman Area Health Centers (HAHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center, will house the dental center. Patients can continue to be treated in Hyndman’s existing location in downtown Johnstown until the new center is open.
“A patient’s oral, physical, and behavioral health are all intertwined. HAHC already provides medical care in Johnstown, and now being able to provide regular dental exams and cleanings near where our patients live can really make a difference in helping to improve the overall health in the community,” said Brian Stratta, MD, CEO and CMO of HAHC. Dental hygiene students will provide dental cleanings, and licensed dentists completing a residency program will provide most other dental care.
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, under the leadership of Rodney Reider, CEO, will be the hospital partner, hosting residents in the General Practice Residency program. “Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center is proud to partner with the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and Hyndman Area Health Centers to expand access to dental education and care in our region,” said Reider. “This innovative program will help train the next generation of dental professionals while addressing critical oral health needs across our rural communities. By bringing advanced training opportunities and expanded dental services closer to home, we are strengthening the healthcare workforce and helping improve the overall health and well-being of the communities we serve.”
The Regional Training Center offers residents of Johnstown and the surrounding area the opportunity to enroll in two hybrid educational programs. The Dental Hygiene Hybrid Program is a two-year, bachelor’s degree program. One year of prerequisite courses is required and may be taken online through the University of Pittsburgh or at a local community college. The Dental Assistant Hybrid Training Program is a nine-month program that trains dental assistants to work in private practice dental offices.
Both hybrid programs include classroom training delivered online and clinical training performed at the Regional Training Center. This format allows students to complete either program without having to relocate and sets the stage for them to stay in their community as they seek employment.
This program follows the model established at two other Regional Training Centers, in Titusville and Bradford, both opening in July 2026. “We’re helping each region to enhance their community’s overall health and economic development by creating new workforce opportunities in the health care field,” Oakley said.
Susan Mann, president of the 1889 Foundation, and Jeannine McMillan, executive director of the Center for Population Health, two Johnstown organizations that are committed to improving rural health outcomes, were critical to pulling together the partnership.
“This program will provide the education and preparation students need to become successful dental professionals and will help to enhance access to dental care in our rural communities,” said Mann.
“I’m looking forward to watching this program develop and seeing how it supports both the educational and community health needs in this region,” McMillan said.
For information on how to apply to the hybrid dental hygiene or dental assistant programs, visit the Pitt Dental Medicine Regional Training Centers website.
About the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Established in 1896 as an independent institution named the Pittsburgh Dental College, the School of Dental Medicine was incorporated into the University of Pittsburgh in 1905. The school offers a four-year predoctoral program leading to a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), an international Advanced Standing Program for graduates of foreign dental schools, and postgraduate residency or fellowship programs in 12 disciplines. Additionally, the School of Dental Medicine offers the only dental hygiene certificate program in Pennsylvania affiliated with a major university, as well as a dental hygiene baccalaureate degree program. Pitt Dental Medicine’s comprehensive clinical offerings include the Multidisciplinary Implant Center and the Center for Patients with Special Needs, one of the few centers in the United States dedicated to training future dentists to care for patients with a wide range of disabilities. Recognized for excellence in research, the School of Dental Medicine is consistently ranked among the top schools for National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) support. For more information about the School of Dental Medicine, visit www.dental.pitt.edu.
About the Regional Training Centers
The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and partners in rural communities are working to bring dental care to areas in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that are underserved due to lack of dental professionals. The first two regional training centers, in Titusville and Bradford, will formally open in July 2026.
