Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootsville has announced that its NEOMED Foundation received a $10 million commitment from the Dr. Dominic A. and Helen M. Bitonte Family Foundation in support of the university’s recently approved dental college.

The largest individual commitment to the NEOMED Foundation will support the areas of greatest need restricted to the college’s establishment, including staffing, support, and an endowment. In honor of the commitment, the college will be named the Bitonte College of Dentistry.

“As physicians and the sons of a dentist, Gary and David Bitonte have a first-hand appreciation of the critical access to care and concerns Northeast Ohioans have held for some time,” said NEOMED president John T. Langell. “The Bitontes have a history of giving back and their commitment to this much-needed dental college is a reflection of their family’s lifelong calling, contributions and caring for residents of Northeast Ohio and beyond.”

“Gary and I talked about it, and we said, ‘Wow, this is a fabulous thing for NEOMED. It’s a fabulous opportunity for the community and for Northeast Ohio,” said David Bitonte. “And to add a third dental school to the state of Ohio, which is in need of dentists, we thought that was a wonderful way to honor our parents. We didn’t quite know how we would do it or what we would do [if NEOMED moved forward]. But we held a number of meetings with NEOMED to arrive at the opportunity that’s presented today.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/andresr)