ADEA eLearn
Entrustable Professional Activities: A Practical Framework for Competency-Based Dental Education
Includes a Live Web Event on 10/22/2025 at 12:00 PM (EDT)
Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are increasingly being applied in dental education to connect competency-based learning with clinical practice. EPAs—defined as observable and measurable tasks that learners must perform safely and effectively—offer a structured framework for assessing readiness and ensuring graduates are prepared to meet patient needs in varied and potentially unfamiliar contexts.
This interactive webinar will introduce key concepts of an entrustment framework using EPAs, explain how EPAs support competency-based education and highlight what implementation looks like in predoctoral dental curricula. Through discussion and examples, attendees will gain practical insight into how EPAs can strengthen curriculum development, assessment and learner preparedness for independent practice.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the key concepts of an EPA framework and why they are important.
- Describe how EPAs support competency-based education.
- Demonstrate how EPAs are implemented in predoctoral dental education.
Original Release Date: Oct. 22, 2025
Expiration Date: Oct. 22, 2028
Questions? Contact learn@adea.org
CE Information
The American Dental Education Association is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.
An evaluation form is available to participants after the conclusion of the live webinar. To earn continuing education (CE) credit for participation in the webinar, the online evaluation must be completed in full by Oct. 22, 2028. After completing the evaluation, webinar participants can print and save the CE Verification Form.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
The American Dental Education Association designates this activity for 1.0 continuing education credit.
All speakers agree that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.
Theodora E. Danciu, D.M.D., D.M.Sc.
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Speaker agrees that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.
Phillip Marucha, D.M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Periodontology
Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry
Phil is a Professor of Periodontology at the OHSU School of Dentistry since 2020. He served as Faculty of Periodontics at The Ohio State University (1990-2003), Chair of Periodontics and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Illinois at Chicago (2003-2013), and Dean at OHSU School of Dentistry (2013-2020). In addition to his involvement in dental education for 35 years, he has also been an active basic/clinical researcher. Most recently, he has served as the co-chair of the ADEA Compendium EPA Workgroup.
Speaker agrees that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.
Rocio Quinonez, D.M.D., M.S., M.P.H.
Professor and Associate Dean for Curriculum
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry
Rocio Quinonez is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentist and Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada. She holds joint appointments in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry/Public Health and the Department of Pediatrics at the UNC School of Medicine. She served as Predoctoral Program Director in Pediatric Dentistry from 2007-2017. In 2018, she became the Associate Dean for Educational Leadership and Innovation at UNC and was charged to lead a new dental curriculum for the Adams School of Dentistry. Her current role transitioned to Associate Dean for Curriculum to better reflect the new program’s implementation. She has authored over 100 peer reviewed manuscripts and book chapters and is the recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics National Oral Health Service Award, the Charles Craig National Teaching Award, and the UNC Dental Alumni Outstanding Lifetime Service Award. She practices at the Adams School of Dentistry and is an active member of UNC Health medical staff.
Speaker agrees that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.
Laura Romito, D.D.S., M.S., M.B.A.
Professor and Associate Dean of Education and Academic Affairs
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Dr. Romito earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from The Ohio State University. She completed a general dental practice residency at the University of Nebraska before entering private dental practice in 1990. In 2005, she joined the faculty of the Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) and served as a director and clinical instructor for various courses including biomedical sciences, evidence-based dentistry, and clinical restorative dentistry. Her interests include interprofessional education, curriculum development, and assessment. Dr. Romito helped establish the Indiana University Interprofessional Practice and Education and Center and served as its Assistant Dean for Faculty Development and Engagement. At the IUSD, she is a tenured Professor and Associate Dean of Education and Academic Affairs.
Speaker agrees that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.
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