Does race play a role in dental school admissions? The dental admissions process serves as both boulders in the pathway to a dental career and an untapped resource for growing the profession. As a result, attention must be given to addressing how racism may impact the admissions process. Diversity, equity and inclusion are a part of every dental school’s institutional agenda. Pathway programs and scholarships have been used as tools to increase enrollment of underrepresented groups in dentistry. Yet, there is little evidence to suggest that these programs are successful or sustainable. In this presentation, we will review the results of a recent study that explored pathways to the dental profession for Black, Latinx and American Indian students and how pathway programs can lead to more equitable admissions processes.

The presentation will conclude with a conversation around future next steps. Given the historical problem of racism and stagnant increases in the number of Black, Latinx and American Indian new dentists, there are opportunities for dentists, organizations, philanthropy and other stakeholders to address these problems, creating new opportunities for students and the profession.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the effects of racism in oral health in the United States.
2. Analyze the results of a recent study on better approaches to recruit historically underrepresented students into dental education, including Blacks, Latinx and American Indians.
3. Implement potential strategies that dentists and organizations can implement to combat this problem and support recruitment.

This webinar is based on two recent activities by NCDHE speakers.

1. Evans CA, Smith, PD. Effects of racism on oral health in the United States. Community Dent. Health 2021; 38:138-41. Presented at the recent IADR meeting.
2. Fleming E, Raskin SE, Agyemfra M, Anige N. Building Sustainable Approaches to the Recruitment and Retention of Black, Latinx, and American Indian Students Interested in Dental Careers. Unpublished study

Original Release Date: October 5, 2021

Expiration Date: October 5, 2024

Questions? Contact learn@adea.org

Disclaimer

The purpose of this presentation is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional care and is not intended for use for the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this presentation express their own experience, opinions and conclusions. Guest statements do not express the viewpoint of ADEA. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity or therapy should not be construed as an ADEA endorsement.

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 webinar. To earn continuing education (CE) credit for participation in the webinar, the online evaluation must be completed in full by October 5, 2024. 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.