For years this editorial board has encouraged and applauded the development of Orlando’s Medical City at Lake Nona. We believe its success is critical to building a broader, stronger economy in Central Florida — an economy that goes beyond tourism and construction.

So we can’t help but be drawn to a proposal to locate a new University of Central Florida College of Dental Medicine at the Medical City. The proposal, to be considered this week by UCF’s Board of Trustees, calls for a dental school that would open in 2014 and graduate about 100 dentists a year.

A dental school would be a natural fit with the medical facilities already operating or under construction at Lake Nona. They include the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, UCF’s College of Medicine, the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Nemours Children’s Hospital. A dental school would be another Medical City magnet for highly trained professionals and research grants. You know…jobs.

UCF projects the dental school would pump $73 million into the region’s economy during its construction, and at least $69 million a year during its operation.

Continue Reading: UCF dental school at the Medical City would boost the region’s health care and economy