Smile Bright
To meet the needs of its expanding student population and provide increased dental care, the College of Dentistry is building a world-class Dentistry Clinic and Education Building. Joy and Ralph Ellis ’52 are supporting the new facility in memory of their longtime friend, M.D. “Dee” Ogden ’56, their family dentist for more than 50 years.
Known for his compassionate nature and close rapport with patients, Ogden ran a dentistry practice in Dallas. Selfless by nature, he often volunteered to serve impoverished communities and provided free dental work to the homeless. In recognition of the couple’s gift, an operating room in the General Practice Wing of the new facility will be named in Ogden’s honor. “I can’t imagine any person more deserving than Dee to be remembered by the dental school,” said Ralph.
The College of Dentistry is the largest single provider of oral health care in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and many of its patients are low-income or homeless. The new 165,000-square-foot space will allow the college to increase its student enrollment by 25 percent and its patient visits from 100,000 to 150,000 annually.
The college seeks $10 million in private funds for the facility, which is expected to open in fall 2019. To support the facility, contact Melissa Ogden—Dee Ogden’s daughter and director of development for the College of Dentistry—at (214) 828-8449 or mogden@txamfoundation.com.