In response to alarming statistics about the deadliness of oral cancer, New York University�s College of Dentistry (NYUCD) and NYUonline � the first for-profit e-learning venture of a major American university � announced today the launch of "Oral Cancer Diagnostics: Practicing for Life �," an interactive, Web-based continuing-education course about oral cancer for oral health-care providers. The course uses NYUonline�s self-paced, live, instructor-led e-learning technology to give oral health-care providers valuable "anytime, anywhere" training. It was developed in conjunction with the New York University College of Dentistry, the third oldest and the largest dental school in the United States.
NYUCD and NYUonline will provide the course to dental professionals across the country, including the 10,000 alumni of NYUCD, in an effort to improve diagnosis of oral cancer, which claims more lives each year than either melanoma or cervical cancer. The College of Dentistry is also working with MetLife to bring oral cancer education to the estimated 45,000 dentists who provide care under MetLife policies. In addition, NYUCD has initiated the Oral Cancer Consortium, comprised of various dental schools in New York and New Jersey, as well as the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, metropolitan-area hospitals, dental societies, and WABC-TV. The Consortium will encourage its dentists to take the course and provide patients with yearly exams as a matter of course. It also works to raise awareness among consumers about the risk factors involved with oral cancer and the need for early detection.
"The overall goal has been to save lives by making an annual visit to the dentist a must-have lifesaver in the same way that pap smears, mammograms, and PSA tests have become standard medical services," said Dr. Michael C. Alfano of the NYU College of Dentistry. "The course makes it easy for busy dental professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and training available in schools."
As part of the course, online enrollees are introduced to three patients: During their encounter with the first patient, they observe the components of an oral cancer screening, including a video of the extraoral and intraoral examination. The second patient has a suspicious lesion. To help them develop their diagnostic skills, enrollees learn about cancerous and precancerous lesions and contemporary diagnostic techniques, including the brush biopsy. The third patient presents seeking new dentures following treatment for oral cancer with a number of oral complications. Dental considerations for patients with oral cancer are discussed, with clinically applicable information to help provide treatment to these patients.
Established in 1865, the College is a leader in dental education, research, technology, and care. The College had a three-fold mission: training dentists and allied health professionals; providing low-cost patient care; and performing both basic and clinical research.
NYUonline (www.nyuonline.com) provides best-of-breed e-learning to leading corporations worldwide. NYUonline brings a new level of education and training to corporations by combining New York University�s teaching excellence with the most advanced technological e-learning solutions. NYUonline focuses on developing customized, high-end course offerings that can be delivered, using the Internet, to students� desktops, blending "anytime, anywhere," live and existing instructor-led training. NYUonline courses are an interactive and rich media learning experience. All courses are created in close partnership with New York University�s world-class faculty. Founded in 1998, NYUonline is the first for-profit e-learning subsidiary of a major American university.
