High Point University’s Workman School of Dental Medicine held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 25 to celebrate the launch of HPU Health’s flagship dental location in the city of High Point.
HPU Health Plaza Dental, which is owned and operated by the university, will treat patients and provide HPU dental students with real-world learning opportunities under the guidance of three trusted dentists with decades of experience. Students will learn about the day-to-day operations of a fully functioning dental practice while helping patients of all socioeconomic backgrounds at the state-of-the-art facility located only a few miles from HPU’s campus. The practice, located at 231 Plaza Lane, Suite 101, in High Point, features 3D scanners, 3D printing, and an electronic health record portal.
HPU Health Plaza Dental is part of HPU Health LLC, a nonprofit academic dental network that owns and operates dental practices across the state, including in Greensboro, Durham, and Chapel Hill. There are currently 12 HPU Health locations, and more will be added this year as part of the dental school’s innovative approach to providing dental education to its students and offering affordable dental care to community members.
“We want our High Point community to know that this is your dental practice. This is another step for HPU into health care, where we’re providing care to all aspects of our community,” said Dr. Muhammad Ali Shazib, dean of the Workman School of Dental Medicine. “With this flagship location, we want to highlight what the practice looks like and what the patient journey feels like, so that when people come and visit here, they get a taste of what HPU Health is all about.”
HPU dental students begin training at HPU Health locations as early as five weeks into their first year of dental school. They initially work in various staff roles and immerse themselves in the business fundamentals of health care management at the dental practices before providing hygiene care, treatment, preventive services, and oral health education during their second year in the program. Students treat patients under the direct supervision of HPU Health faculty during their third and fourth years of dental school.
The Workman School of Dental Medicine welcomed its inaugural class of students last fall, and its second cohort—consisting of 60 new dental students—will start classes on August 4.
“The opening of HPU Health Plaza Dental is another reminder that we are High Point’s university,” HPU President Nido Qubein said. “This new facility will provide our students in the Workman School of Dental Medicine another way of giving back to the community. HPU Health is growing in remarkable ways across the state, and it will allow our students to gain a unique learning experience while providing dental care to thousands of North Carolinians.”
About High Point University
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.® HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with 6,335 undergraduate and graduate students. U.S. News & World Report has ranked HPU the No. 1 Best Regional College in the South for 13 consecutive years and the No. 1 Most Innovative Regional College in the South for 10 consecutive years. The Princeton Review ranked HPU the No. 1 Best-Run College in the nation in The Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition. HPU was also recognized among the Top 20 in the nation for Best College Dorms, Best Career Services, Most Active Student Government, Best Campus Food, and Most Beautiful Campus. For 15 years in a row, HPU has been named a College of Distinction, with special recognition for career development, business, and education programs.
The university offers 69 undergraduate majors, 74 undergraduate minors, and 18 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I, and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the web at highpoint.edu.
