Yeshiva University Opens First New Dental School in NYC in More Than a Century

Founding Class Marks Landmark Opening with Three-Day Orientation and First Classes at State-of-the-Art Herald Square Campus

Yeshiva University College of Dental Medicine students greet one another at their three-day orientation

It’s official: the first students at Yeshiva University’s new College of Dental Medicine (YUCDM) are in their seats, classes are underway, and a new era in New York City dental education has begun.

The milestone week opened with a high-energy three-day orientation that brought YUCDM’s newly transformed campus to life. From June 16–18, the inaugural cohort—chosen from a remarkable pool of nearly 2,000 applicants nationwide for just over 150 coveted seats—met faculty and classmates, toured the cutting-edge facility, explored the classrooms, advanced simulation labs, and clinical training spaces where they will master their craft, and began forming the bonds of a class making history.

The opening marks the culmination of more than two-and-a-half years of planning, development, and construction, transforming a historic 10-story Herald Square building into one of the nation’s most advanced centers for dental education. With an innovative three-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program, world-class faculty, industry-leading technology, and extensive clinical training, YUCDM begins its first year as a bold new force in dental education and patient care.

“The launch of Yeshiva University’s College of Dental Medicine is a landmark moment for New York City and a bold expression of YU’s mission to educate leaders who improve the world,” said Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University. “As we welcome our first class, we are not simply opening a new school—we are helping shape the future of healthcare, preparing outstanding clinicians and leaders who will serve communities with excellence, compassion, and purpose.”

YUCDM’s 36-month DDS program is offered by only a small number of dental schools nationwide. Fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and registered by the New York State Education Department, the program allows students to enter the profession sooner while maintaining rigorous academic and clinical standards and reducing the financial burden associated with an additional year of tuition and living expenses.

That same forward-looking approach is reflected in YUCDM’s physical home. Originally constructed in 1902 as the flagship Saks department store, the Herald Square facility sits directly across from Macy’s and at the center of Manhattan’s academic, medical, and civic life. Yeshiva University rebuilt every floor of the facility and invested in cutting-edge technology, including advanced simulation systems, digital imaging, 3D printing capabilities, and modern clinical training environments designed to support intensive, hands-on learning.

YUCDM has also forged relationships with leading industry partners, including Henry Schein, the world’s largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based dental and medical practitioners, whose multimillion-dollar gift has helped support the school’s development.

“The extraordinary response from applicants affirms both the demand for a new model of dental education and the excitement surrounding what we are building here,” said Dr. Edward Farkas, Founding Dean of YUCDM. “We are opening fully subscribed, fully accredited, and fully ready to deliver a rigorous, clinically focused curriculum from day one. Our students are joining a program built for the realities of modern dentistry and grounded in clinical excellence, innovation, and service.”

Central to YUCDM is Yeshiva Dental Health, a 130-chair clinical training facility designed to serve both as a teaching center and a source of affordable, high-quality dental care. Expected to serve hundreds of patients each day, the clinic will provide students with early and sustained exposure to real-world clinical practice while expanding access to care in a city where dental services remain out of reach for many residents.YUCDM becomes the newest addition to Yeshiva University’s expanding portfolio of graduate health sciences programs, which includes occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, speech-language pathology, and a fast-track nursing program launched in 2024. Together, these initiatives position the University as a leading force in healthcare education and workforce development.