Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Program Supports Future Dentists

Students from communities that are underrepresented in the health care professions often face hurdles and barriers beyond those of other students. To address those inequities and to increase acceptance rates to programs in the health care professions, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, and public health, in 1989 the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) established a program, now known as the Summer Health Professions Education Program, or SHPEP, a free summer program designed to assist students who wish to explore interests in a broad range of health care fields and develop some of the skills and competencies that they will need to become successful applicants to health profession programs. Read more.

Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester Jin Xiao’s Leadership Recognized Nationally

Jin Xiao, DDS, Eastman Institute for Oral Health associate professor, was selected for the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM), the prestigious program in North America that prepares women for senior leadership roles in schools of medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy. Dedicated to developing the professional and personal skills required to lead and manage in today’s complex health care environment, the program offers special attention to the unique challenges women in leadership face. Read more.

Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine: New Program Allows Pre-College Students to Dive Into Dental Sciences

Seizing an opportunity to explore the world of dentistry – and get a glimpse of life as a dental student – 20 students from across the United States took part in Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine’s new Dive Into Dental Sciences summer program. It was part of a university-wide program that provides high school students an opportunity to experience a week of one of several careers planned by schools across campus. For those who were interested in dentistry, they participated in a variety of hands-on activities in the SDM’s preclinical laboratory, under the tutelage of Stony Brook dental students, staff and faculty. Read more.

NYU College of Dentistry PROHmotion Blog: Must It Take So Long to Become a Dentist?

Are there ways to shorten the total time to a dental degree and make it more affordable without compromising the quality of education and patient care? The evidence points to a resounding, “Yes!” It is in just a few countries — the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and some Canadian provinces among them — that most dental schools require a four-year university degree for admission. Almost every other country does not. If you live in China, Japan, Brazil, or most of Europe, you can apply to dental school directly from high school. The time these students spend in dental school is a year or two longer than the time spent here, but they enter the dental workforce years in advance of their U.S. peers. Could the United States adopt a similar model? Read more.

Awards

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine Receives 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award

For the third year in a row, the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine’s Destination Dental School (DDS) has received the Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual award — a national honor recognizing colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) — UB will be featured in the September 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine, along with 82 other recipients. Read more.

Faculty

Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester Periodontics Chair Dr. Jack Caton Stepping Down

After more than 50 years of visionary and dedicated leadership, Jack G. Caton, DDS, MS, (Perio ’73, MS ‘73) will step down as chair of the Eastman Institute for Oral Health Periodontics Department on December 31. He will continue serving in his role as associate director for education, the director of the master’s program and a faculty member in the department of periodontics. Read more.

NYU Dentistry Welcomes Back NYSDA President Dr. Prabha Krishnan

On July 11, 2024, NYU Dentistry welcomed back New York State Dental Association President Dr. Prabha Krishnan, ‘91, PG Perio ‘93, to her alma mater. In her inspiring talks with students, faculty, and staff, Dr. Krishnan emphasized the importance of mentorship and leadership in organized dentistry and the value of creating an inclusive environment for the benefit of the profession.

More News

NYU College of Dentistry & D.C. Reps are Moving AHEAD!

On July 23, 2024, Barbie Vartanian, NYU Dentistry’s director of oral health advocacy & policy initiatives, took part in a roundtable discussion in Washington, DC, at which Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) presented key facets of the HEADs UP Act (Healthcare Extension and Accessibility for Developmentally Disabled and Underserved Population), which aims to address the health inequities experienced by individuals with developmental disabilities by securing the designation as a Medically Underserved Population. The role of academia and the importance of training the next generation of dental providers to be competently and compassionately prepared to serve this population was addressed, as were issues including loan forgiveness, enhanced reimbursement for providers, and infrastructure for the expansion of federally qualified health centers.