Arizona State University is betting that the future of healthcare starts somewhere most medical schools barely touch: your mouth.
In a new partnership with Delta Dental of Arizona, ASU is launching SMILE-AI, a program designed to embed oral health directly into medical education at the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering. It’s a move that sounds simple, but signals a meaningful shift in how future physicians will be trained.
Backed by a $578,947 investment from the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation, the initiative reframes oral health as essential to whole-body care. Instead of existing on the sidelines, it becomes part of how doctors are taught to diagnose, treat, and think about patients from day one.
“Medical-Dental Integration is increasingly recognized as a critical driver of improved health outcomes,” says Michael Jones, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Arizona. “By integrating oral health curriculum into medical education through SMILE-AI, future physicians will be better equipped to address health disparities, understand the connection between oral health and overall health, and ultimately improve the health and wellness of their patients and communities.”
Launching with the 2026–2027 academic year, the program goes beyond traditional coursework. First- and second-year students will train using augmented intelligence-powered patient avatar cases. These interactive scenarios are designed to strengthen clinical reasoning and show how oral health connects to systemic conditions across a patient’s lifespan.
The curriculum is being developed in collaboration with Harvard University School of Medicine’s Center for Integration of Primary Care and Oral Health, reinforcing a broader shift toward team-based, interdisciplinary care.
“The Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is proud to support innovative programs like SMILE-AI that leverage science, data and technology to improve access to care and advance whole-person health,” says Barb Kozuh, executive director of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation.
Inside the Shufeldt School, the program aligns with a larger vision. Students are trained as physician-engineers, earning both an MD and a Master of Science in medical engineering in four years while blending medicine, technology, and data-driven thinking.
“Through SMILE-AI, we are creating an innovative, interdisciplinary learning environment that reflects how care should be delivered in the real world,” says founding dean Sarah Hollingsworth Lisanby.
The program is led by Kristen Will, associate dean and clinical professor, who emphasizes practical application. “SMILE-AI is designed to give medical students both the knowledge and practical skills needed to incorporate oral health into everyday clinical practice,” she says.
The initiative also builds on Delta Dental of Arizona’s broader commitment to community health. Since 2010, the organization has invested more than $22 million in oral health education, disease prevention, and food assistance programs across the state.
At ASU, SMILE-AI reflects a bigger evolution already underway. Through ASU Health, the university is rethinking how care is designed, delivered, and taught, with a focus on innovation and real-world impact.
Insider Takeaways
- SMILE-AI integrates oral health into ASU’s medical school curriculum from the start.
- The program is funded by a $578,947 investment from Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation.
- Students will train using augmented intelligence patient avatar cases.
- The curriculum is developed with Harvard Medical School’s oral health integration center.
- The initiative builds on more than $22 million invested in community health programs across Arizona.
To learn more, visit medicine.asu.edu.
