Abstract

1. Jesuit Dental School Recruitment Collaborative for Native American Students Frank J. Ayers, DDS ; Kelly A. Gould, RDH, MA, Mark A. Latta, DMD, MS Creighton University School of Dentistry • Purpose This project brings together like-minded Jesuit universities to implement the best practices of the national Dental Pipeline program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to increase the number of Native American students in dental school. • Pathways to Dentistry • Summer enrichment program • Post-baccalaureate program • Direct application • Financial aid • Summer Enrichment Program • One-month program from June 15th to July 10th 2009 • 6 Native American students – high school seniors, 1st, 2nd or 3rd year college students • Covers transportation, tuition and living expenses • Pre-dental Post-Baccalaureate Program • Begins June 2009 • 3 Native American students • Non-science majors or students who need to strengthen credentials for dental application • Covers full tuition ($30,000) for 13-month program • Accomplishments • Five students in post-baccalaureate program • Two students in summer enrichment • Partnership with Society of American Indian Dentists • Targeted recruitment materials • Collaborative recruitment visits • ConclusionsDental schools play an important role in ensuring diversity in the profession and access to oral health care. When Jesuit universities collaborate, they can make a difference in who goes to dental school and who receives dental care. • Native American Oral Health • Children have 4 times higher decay rate • Adults have higher tooth decay and periodontal disease • Most oral disease is untreated • Native American Dentists • The most effective way to place dentists into underserved areas is to recruit students from these areas Abstract Disparities in oral health care are linked to a lack of diversity in the dental profession. Native American students who are well connected to areas, such as reservations, that have been designated as dental shortage areas are more likely to return to their homes to meet critical oral health needs. In order to make an impact in this area, Creighton University School of Dentistry, Marquette University School of Dentistry and Gonzaga University have formed a recruitment collaborative to increase the annual national enrollment of Native American students by 10%. References: Price SS, Brunson WD, Mitchell DA, et al. Increasing the enrollment of underrepresented minority students: experiences of the dental pipeline program. JDE 2007;71(3):339-347. Formicola A, Bailit H, D’Abreu K, et al. The dental pipeline program’s impact on access disparities and student diversity. JADA 2009;140(3);346-353. This project was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving health and health care for all Americans. For more information visit www.rwjf.org Photograph by Don Doll, S.J., Creighton University