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The facility includes five advanced treatment rooms and is expected to serve 30 to 40 patients daily through a multidisciplinary model bringing multiple specialties together under one roof.
By Shula Rosen
A new national center dedicated to dental care for people with disabilities has opened in Jerusalem, expanding access to specialized treatment while strengthening professional training and research in a field long marked by shortages.
The Robert I. Schattner Center for Oral Health for People with Disabilities was established at the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine and is designed to treat patients with physical, cognitive, and complex medical conditions.
The facility includes five advanced treatment rooms and is expected to serve 30 to 40 patients each day through a multidisciplinary model bringing multiple specialties together under one roof.
The center was made possible through a partnership between the Schattner Foundation, Henry Schein Inc., and the Bergman Family Charitable Foundation. Representatives of all three organizations attended the inauguration alongside senior university and medical officials.
Faculty leaders said the center addresses a persistent gap in Israel’s health system, where people with disabilities often struggle to receive routine dental care.
Prof. Avraham Zini, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, said in a press release, “The establishment of the Robert I. Schattner Oral Health Center represents a major step forward in our mission to make oral health accessible to all. People with disabilities often face immense barriers to receiving proper dental care. This center will provide not only treatment but also training for future generations of dentists to care for this population with professionalism, empathy, and expertise.”
Dental students at Hebrew University-Hadassah already receive instruction in treating patients with special needs. The new center will deepen that training, support clinical and basic research, and serve as a base for continuing education courses aimed at community dentists.
Stanley Bergman, chairman and chief executive officer of Henry Schein and a member of the Bergman Family Charitable Foundation, said the initiative will have long-term impact. “This center will serve as a transformative resource not only to provide care for individuals with special needs in Israel and throughout the Middle East, but importantly will help to train the next generation of dental professionals,” he said.
University Director General Naama Kaufman-Fass said the project expands decades of public service. “This center will be a beacon of hope. A place where innovation meets humanity, where families are supported with empathy, and where care is delivered with dignity,” she said.
Health Ministry officials said the center aligns with national policy to reduce disparities, while Hadassah Medical Organization leaders emphasized its role in training future clinicians to deliver accessible, humane care.
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