A dental school and a bank: partnership for community service

The University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry/Nara Bank, a public-private partnership, is a model of collaboration between an academic institution and the private finance world. At the outset, none of those involved anticipated these diverse entities would have common ground. But through a series of open and frank discussions, the leadership of the School of Dentistry and Nara Bank identified business opportunities that are not only mutually beneficial, but also central to their respective core values of providing community service. To date, this partnership has generated a commitment from Nara Bank to provide funding and facilities support for community-based health fairs, the creation of a patient care fund, and practice loans for recent graduates who commit to practicing in underserved areas. The concept of a public-private partnership of dissimilar business entities offers the possibility of a new means of support for dental schools.