Heartland Dental and Concorde Career Colleges Announce Groundbreaking Partnership to Develop Co-Branded Campus

Core Insights - Concorde Career Colleges and Heartland Dental have formed a partnership to establish a co-branded campus in Fort Myers, Florida, aimed at training dental hygienists and dental assistants to meet workforce demands [1][2][4] - The new campus is expected to train up to 120 dental hygienists and 72 dental assistants annually, utilizing Concorde's curriculum and support services [2][4] - Heartland Dental will cover the construction costs and provide scholarships to students, reflecting its commitment to education and workforce development in the dental field [2][3] Company Overview - Heartland Dental is the largest dental support organization in the U.S., with over 23,000 employees and more than 1,750 supported dental offices [1][8] - Concorde Career Colleges operates 17 campuses across eight states, focusing on healthcare education, including dental programs [7] - The partnership aims to address the projected job growth of 7% for dental hygienists and dental assistants from 2022 to 2032, with even higher growth rates in Florida [4][6] Educational Programs - Concorde's dental hygiene program combines online and in-person instruction, allowing students to enter the workforce in as few as 17 months [4][6] - The dental assistant diploma program prepares students for employment in as few as eight months, integrating foundational dental care concepts with practical externships [4][6] - Concorde currently has over 1,900 students enrolled in its dental programs across multiple campuses [4]