Septodont North America, an innovative product development and manufacturing corporation dedicated exclusively to the dental profession, has made a major gift to NYUCD which the College has recognized with the naming of the Septodont Lecture Hall, formerly the Saklad Auditorium. Renovations are expected be completed by mid-August, 2013.
With seating for 443 people, the Septodont Lecture Hall will be NYUCD’s largest facility for student lectures, continuing education programs, and school-wide and community events. To perpetuate the memory of Dr. Maurice J. Saklad, Class of 1941, NYU alumni trustee, and longtime member of NYUCD’s prosthodontics faculty, the area adjacent to the Septodont Lecture Hall has been renamed the Saklad Atrium.
“Since its establishment in 1979, the Saklad Auditorium has been the site of nearly 32,000 classes for more than 28,000 students,” said Dr. Michael P. O’Connor, executive vice dean for administration and finance. “Thirty-four years of extreme utilization have contributed to extensive wear and tear, and the once-splendid auditorium facilities have become worn out and antiquated. Septodont’s visionary gift will allow NYUCD to transform the space into a 21st century facility that boasts the latest in technology, design, and function.”
The Septodont Lecture Hall will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and amenities such as a large new projection screen, tablet-arm seating to give students a place to rest their computers and notebooks, and 130 outlets from which to charge laptops and other electronic devices. Our students, faculty, staff, and guests will soon be able to enjoy a truly modern, comprehensive lecture hall.”
Additional upgrades include aisles to improve entry and exit to and from seats, new carpeting, acoustical improvements, installation of NYU banners, a new podium, new wireless microphones and ceiling speakers, a new digital media processor, recording capabilities for archiving and podcasting lectures, perimeter shelving for power-charging stations, and new ceiling lighting.
Septodont is a family-owned company established over 80 years ago in Saint Maur, France, the site of the global corporate headquarters. With manufacturing plants in France, India, Canada, and the USA, Septodont is known globally as a quality manufacturer of dental products. Septodont’s products are registered in over 150 countries worldwide.
“We are honored to be able to help make a difference at the NYU College of Dentistry. Our contribution to the modernization of the new Septodont Lecture Hall is an opportunity to further enhance the excellent educational environment that NYU is known for around the world,” said Oliver Schiller, third generation heir to the company and current CEO. “We recognize the quality of dentistry that comes out of this fine school as well as cutting edge research that will make such a positive difference in how dentistry is practiced in the future.”
“NYUCD is proud to name the Septodont Lecture Hall in recognition of Septondont’s extraordinarily generous and thoughtful gift,” said Dean Charles N. Bertolami. “We are confident that our academic community and visitors will appreciate the new look and feel of the space for years to come.”
About New York University College of Dentistry
New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) is the third oldest and the largest dental school in the US, educating more than 8 percent of all dentists. NYUCD has a significant global reach and provides a level of national and international diversity among its students that is unmatched by any other dental school.
About Septodont
Septodont has developed, manufactured and distributed a wide range of high quality products for dental professionals and is known world wide as a global leader in dental anesthetics. The family owned company employs over 1,000 people in six manufacturing plants in France, North America and India, and an international distribution network that is dedicated to serving the needs of dental professionals in more than 150 countries.
