PREPARING DENTAL PROFESSIONALS FOR THE WORLD AS IT IS GOING TO BE.®
Message from the Dean
Recognizing the rapidly changing landscape of healthcare, education and society, the Workman School of Dental Medicine prepares learners today for the challenges of tomorrow. Every learner is unique and has different long-term goals after leaving dental school. Our innovative curriculum allows our students to explore all aspects of a career in oral healthcare while being taught by our world-class faculty and staff. Combined with our state-of-the-art technology, the WSDM curriculum - which we call CARE (Clinician-AdvocateResearcher-Entrepreneur) - provides an integrated and personalized dental education that prepares our students to be leaders in oral health care for the next 50 years.
Education at WSDM includes training through traditional methods and also emerging ones, like haptics simulation, virtual/augmented reality, artificial intelligence, 3D scanning, design and printing. We are proud to be the home of one the largest haptics dental simulation centers in the world.
At WSDM, we understand the link between oral and systemic health. That is why we have intentionally created an integrated curriculum with a focus on dental and medical outcomes. To deliver on our commitment to caring for the whole person, we chose to use the most comprehensive and widely adopted electronic patient record system in the world, EPIC®. We are among the first in the nation to launch an academic oral health system (HPU Health – Oral Health Network). Our network includes practices that are acquired in the community, ensuring we provide our students with an authentic experience in patient care, management, clinical trials and interprofessional education.
What makes WSDM stand out are its people. Our faculty and staff provide unwavering support and have a commitment to lifelong mentorship. Learners can feel confident that they’ll be respected and valued for who they are, and that each day our people are focused on providing them what they need now to succeed in the future. Throughout their education, students will be immersed in life skills learning labs that deliver experiences to help them grow their situational awareness, adaptability and empathy, as well as provide knowledge in healthcare administration and effective teamwork and management.
Our learners have access to mentors from our HPU innovators in residence and world leaders in dental industry, which include distinguished personalities such as Steve Wozniak (co-founder, Apple), Marc Randolph (co-founder, Netflix), Dr. Rick Workman (CEO, Heartland Dental), Dr. Wardah Inam (CEO, Overjet), Steve Thorne (CEO, Pacific Dental Services), and many more.
So whatever your aspirations may be, our team is ready to partner with you to pursue your desired life of success and significance. Thank you for visiting the HPU Workman School of Dental Medicine. We pride ourselves on “putting those who need our care, at the center of everything that we do.”
Ali Shazib, BDS, DMD, Dip. ABOM
Dean
Workman School of Dental Medicine / HPU Health – Oral Health Network
High Point University
Dr. Ali Shazib is the Dean for the Workman School of Dental Medicine. Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he received his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Boston University and completed his residency in Oral Medicine at Harvard University, where he provided patient care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He resonates with all parts of the CARE Model. Dr. Shazib was drawn to High Point University due to its inspiring environment and caring people.
An Extraordinary Vision Realized Meet
Dr. Kevin Cain, MBA, Ph.D.
Founding Senior Associate Dean for the Workman School of Dental Medicine and HPU Health, the nation’s first Academic Oral Health Network.
Dr. Kevin Cain’s visionary leadership, innovative ideas, and unwavering commitment helped bring the Workman School of Dental Medicine from vision to reality and further advance HPU Health’s mission to serve, educate, and transform care.
HPU Admissions Model
High Point University’s Workman School of Dental Medicine seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds, unique experiences, and extraordinary aspirations who are prepared for an immersive, self-directed, and patientcentered learning journey that is unlike any other. While a foundation in science is desirable preparation for dental school, well-prepared candidates also possess knowledge in humanities, social sciences, and the arts.
The admissions model of the Workman School of Dental Medicine is designed to help create a culture that represents our core values which include:
• Collaboration
• Growth
• Integrity
• Compassion
• Innovation
Throughout the application process, candidates are encouraged to show their readiness for the CARE Curriculum and for becoming future-ready oral health practitioners.
Dental Medicine Scholars Program
The Workman School of Dental Medicine offers an accelerated dual-degree opportunity, enabling highly qualified learners to earn a combined baccalaureate and doctoral degree in as little as six years of study at HPU.
The program includes a minimum of two years of undergraduate coursework in a desired major (e.g., biology, chemistry, etc.), which count toward a Bachelor of Science in Oral Health. Application to the Dental Medical Scholars (DMS) accelerated option can begin when a learner has completed at least one year of study at HPU. Transfer students are not eligible to apply. If accepted for the DMS option, the next four years are enrolled in the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program. Learners who meet the course requirements are awarded the Bachelor of Science after two years within the DMD program. There is limited opportunity for candidates to take courses out of sequence, repeat courses, or take courses at another institution during the summer. Accelerated DMD students have the option to live on HPU’s campus during their undergraduate years and during the first two years of the DMD program.
Candidates must complete an official application to the DMD program to be considered. Candidates who meet the DMS requirements are guaranteed an interview for the program. DMS candidates will be notified about their admission by Fall of their application year. Acceptance into the program is based on a holistic review of the candidate’s readiness for dental school and is not guaranteed even if the requirements are met.
The WSDM team reserves the right to withdraw an acceptance at any time if academic or personal concerns cause the program to question a learner’s ability to function as an oral health professional. The school also reserves the right to require that learners spend additional time at HPU as an undergraduate if the school feels it is necessary to ensure academic or personal maturation or to meet the requirements for the baccalaureate degree.
Meet Dr. Jazmin Cromartie-Hicks
Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Student Admissions and Engagement
Dr. Jazmin Cromartie-Hicks’s pursuit to become a dentist began right here at High Point University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2013. She joined the Workman School of Dental Medicine as inaugural faculty in August 2021. As a Clinical Assistant Professor, she supervises and instructs both students and residents as an attending dentist in the HPU Health practice network. As chair of the DMD Admissions committee, she also advises pre-dental students looking to learn more about the dental school admissions process.
“I am deeply honored to return to my alma mater as faculty at the Workman School of Dental Medicine. It is a privilege to contribute my energy and passion for this profession and extend my expertise to create an inspiring environment and extraordinary experience for every patient, student, resident, and faculty member.”
After obtaining her Master’s degree from Wake Forest University, Cromartie-Hicks earned both her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and Advanced Education in General Dentistry Certificate with distinction from East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine.
The CARE Curriculum
The Workman School of Dental Medicine’s Clinician-AdvocateResearcher-Entrepreneur (CARE) Curriculum prepares learners for the future of dental medicine. Intentionally designed, the curriculum leads the country in an innovative, research-based approach that immerses learners in authentic practice experiences within their first semester. We provide opportunities for learners to develop lifelong skills that help them adapt to emerging needs and serve their communities.
CARE Curriculum Phases
The CARE Curriculum has four phases that have specific goals for all learners to achieve during their time at the HPU Workman School of Dental Medicine.
PREREQUISITE PHASE (PLAN) PRACTICE PHASE (PCT)
CARE Curriculum
CLINICIAN. ADVOCATE. RESEARCHER. ENTREPRENEUR.
FLIPPED/ACTIVE Classroom Model
Our classrooms are anything but passive. You’ll prepare with guided pre-work, then use class time for direct learning, and hands-on case based discussionbuilding skills faster with a deeper understanding than traditional lectures allow.
Pass/Fail Curriculum
We focus on mastery, not competition. Our Pass/Fail curriculum grading reduces stress, promotes collaboration, and encourages you to prioritize learning over chasing points-promoting opportunities for self-reflection and growth.
Personalized Support (REMEDIATION)
We consider remediation as a growth opportunity, not a setback. With one-on-one coaching from education staff, tailored resources, and faculty mentorship, you’ll strengthen your skills and build your confidence-transforming challenges into stepping stones towards excellence.
Our CARE curriculum is woven into every learning experience. You will become a holistic and compassionate clinician, ready to serve patients in various communities with your skills, heart, and some of the most innovative techniques of our profession.
Fully Integrated Learning
From Day 1, you’ll observe how biomedical and behavior sciences, and practice management all connect to real patient care. Simulation training includes VR haptics, high fidelity mannequins, simulated patient encounters, and early exposure to authentic practice environments.
EPA MODEL Simulation to Practice
We use Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) to track your readiness for clinical care. In simulation and live settings, you’ll be assessed with clear metrics and rubrics with color-coded indicators so you’ll always know where you stand and how to improve your performance.
Students at the Workman School of Dental Medicine gain hands-on, real-world experience practicing alongside faculty dentists in school-owned and operated community clinics throughout the Piedmont Triad region and surrounding areas.
Starting their first semester, students will spend a significant amount of time rotating through HPU Health practices to observe and provide patient care. All experiential learning occurs in authentic practice environments under the supervision of some of the top clinicians and professionals in the state and country. Student participation in practice will increase with each semester, culminating in full immersion during a student’s third and fourth years in the program.
Technology and Innovation
Learners will provide comprehensive clinical care, utilizing state-of-the-art technology, such as intraoral scanners, 3D printers, CAD/CAM design and artificial intelligence. This will involve robust pre-clinical simulation training utilizing virtual reality/haptics and simulated dental office encounters.
Full Integration with Health Care
HPU Health will be fully integrated with health care systems utilizing the EPIC electronic health record. This will allow team-based and integrated care for our patients. Our learners will have the ability to refer undiagnosed medical conditions to non-oral health care providers and manage oral/dental needs for patients who are referred to us by our medical colleagues. This form of integrated care is the future of health care and will allow our graduates to thrive in a team-based environment.
Authentic Learning Environment
Learners will gain full exposure to real practice environments that include private practice, group practice, community practice and hospital practice.
Extensive Clinical Portfolio
Learners will perform procedures of varied complexity with direct faculty supervision. These experiences will be accumulated into a personalized clinical portfolio, which will highlight the procedure, complexity, and autonomy of their clinical experiences through their time within the HPU Health network.
Practice-Readiness
Given their experiences rotating within the HPU Health network, graduates of the Workman School of Dental Medicine will be able to thrive in any environment and will have an competitive advantage for future opportunities. Graduates of the Workman School of Dental Medicine will feel confident in their ability to provide care that is timely, comprehensive, and teambased. Learners will also be able to understand and manage the business and financial aspects of a dental practice.
HPU Health and Service Learning
Days of Clinical Service
Sandy Cates Day
This day of service is in honor of Dr. Sandy Cates, the first community clinician to see and endorse the vision of HPU Health-Oral Health Network. Cates passed away just 9 months after joining HPU Health as inaugural faculty. Held on Dr. Cates’ birthday, this annual day of service provides free dental services to those in need in honor of his legacy of compassion community care, his vision, and positive impact on the Randleman community.
MLK Day of Service
“A day on, not off” for the Workman School of Dental Medicine, and an opportunity to serve in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. HPU Health’s MLK Day of Service 2026 provided $16,404 of free dental treatment, reflecting our ongoing commitment to service and expanding access to care.
HPU Health and Service Learning Days of Clinical Service
service honoring veterans, first-responders, and teachers.
NCDS Foundation Missions of Mercy (MOM) Clinic
Faculty, staff and students at the Workman School of Dental Medicine volunteered in the NCDS Missions of Mercy (MOM) clinic in High Point, NC in March 2025. Over the course of three days, over 600 patients were provided free dental treatment.
Our Industry Partners
Innovative Simulation
Our state-of-the-art simulation lab is powered by Dentsply Sirona. Here students gain tactical simulation training to learn how to prepare fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, etc. This allows learners to train for clinical competency on innovative equipment.
Digital Dentistry
Our digital labs are dedicated to in-house 3D printing of dental appliances and prostheses (crowns, night guards, dentures, etc.). Our collaboration with Dentsply Sirona, Align Technologies, and SprintRay enables us to maintain a fully functional lab to care for the needs of our patients within the HPU Health Oral Health Network.
Artificial Intelligence
Students will have access and exposure to the latest artificial intelligence diagnostic technology to augment comprehensive treatment planning and enhance patientcentered care.
Haptics Lab
This lab houses the largest install of Sim-to-Care haptic trainers in the world. This technology was derived from flight simulations and adapted to provide dental simulation. Haptics technology integrates virtual reality for training purposes. In this lab, learners have the ability to scan a patient’s mouth and upload the scan to the haptics units allowing practice of an actual procedure multiple times before completing it on a patient.
Simulated Patient Labs
The intent of these rooms is to ensure life skills and well-rounded patient care delivery. We simulate everything outside of clinical hand skills in these rooms. Learners are graded on taking patient vitals, documenting medical history, developing patient centered treatment plans and patient conversation interactions.
Digital Innovation Lab
This space supports state-of-the-art design and 3D printing for dental appliances such as study models, retainers, crowns, bridges, mouthguards, and dentures.
Workman School of Dental Medicine
Post-doctoral
Advanced Education In General Dentistry (AEGD)
Programs
This CODA-accredited Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency program combines didactic education and clinical experience beyond that of the pre-doctoral program.
Our AEGD Residency is designed to broaden our resident’s professional knowledge and clinical skills to the point that they can provide a broad spectrum of dental services for patients with complex needs. The program will promote long-term Continuing Dental Education to keep learners abreast of new innovations and treatment options in oral healthcare.
The AEGD Program Residents work within the HPU Health network of state-of-the-art specialty hubs and community practices.
Fellowship in Digital Dentistry
This unique 12-month fellowship certificate program focuses on integrating advanced digital technologies throughout every phase of treatment, emphasizing in-depth treatment planning and the execution of restorative and surgical implant procedures, all through the lens of cutting-edge digital workflows.
Fellowship in Oral Oncology
Pictured from left to right: Dr. Ben Dyer, Founding AEGD Program Director; Dr. Hatice Burcu Tuzcu Ucunoglu; Dr. Keia Lusk; Dr. Kenneth MoralesWalton; Lauren Witke, AEGD Program Manager
This 12-month, full-time Oral Medicine Oral Oncology Fellowship program is tailored for dentists aspiring to excel in oral oncology and the treatment of oral conditions in cancer patients. Candidates must possess a DMD, DDS or equivalent degree. Throughout the program, fellows will engage in clinical training to assess, diagnose, and address oral diseases in cancer patients, with a strong emphasis on effective communication and collaboration within an interprofessional care framework involving dentists, mid-level providers, trainee physicians, and attending physicians. The clinical training will take place primarily at the affiliated cancer hospitals, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in High Point, NC and Novant Health Cancer Institute in Winston-Salem, NC. The Oral Oncology fellowship is made possible through a prestigious grant awarded from Delta Dental Foundation, focused on enhancing access to care for North Carolinians with cancer.
Dr. Rick Workman
HPU’s Dental Innovator in Residence and Benefactor of the School
Dr. Rick Workman is HPU’s Dental Innovator in Residence and founder of Heartland Dental. Workman has nearly 40 years of experience in health care as both a practicing dentist and a pioneering business leader.
Dr. Rick Workman, and his wife, Angie, laid the foundation for the state’s only private dental school through a generous donation from the Rick and Angie Workman Foundation. This transformational gift has allowed HPU to lead the way in oral health care education. The Workman family first visited the then HPU School of Dental Medicine and Oral Health six months after the announcement of the program, and were in full support of the mission, vision, and values of the proposed dental school. The Workman School of Dental Medicine is named in honor of Workman, who believes HPU’s values and focus on life skills are unique and needed today in higher education.
Workman is part of a long list of in-residence faculty at HPU. The Access to Innovators Program at HPU connects students with expert leaders in a variety of industries. This access to global professionals provides unparalleled networking and mentorship opportunities for students in all courses of study. Just a few other in-residence faculty members include Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, HPU’s Innovator in Residence; Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph, HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence; and former President and CEO of Tufts Medical Center Dr. Ellen Zane, HPU’s Health Care Executive in Residence.
Today, Workman provides leadership advice to more than 1,600 dental offices nationwide through various speaking engagements. Heartland Dental supports dentists as they provide high-quality care to offices in 37 states through non-clinical, administrative support services. For the fifth consecutive year, Workman has been named one of Incisal Edge’s Top 15 Most Influential People in Dentistry and the second most influential person in dentistry in its inaugural edition. He graduated from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.
Careers
• Dental Anesthesiology
• Dental Public Health
• Endodontics
• General Dentistry
• Industry/Entrepreneurship
• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Oral Medicine
• Orofacial Pain
• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Research
• Teaching
