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%.

Jesuit Dental School Recruitment Collaborative for Native American StudentsJesuit Dental School Recruitment Collaborative for Native American StudentsFrank J. Ayers, DDS ; Kelly A. Gould, RDH, MA, Mark A. Latta, DMD, MS

Creighton University School of Dentistry

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 DentistsNative American Dentists• The most effective way to place dentists into underserved The most effective way to place dentists into underserved areas is to recruit students from these areasareas is to recruit students from these areas

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 DentistryPathways to Dentistry

•Summer enrichment programSummer enrichment program•Post-baccalaureate programPost-baccalaureate program•Direct applicationDirect application•Financial aidFinancial aid

Summer Enrichment ProgramSummer Enrichment Program

•One-month program from June 15th to July 10th 2009 One-month program from June 15th to July 10th 2009 •6 Native American students – high school seniors, 1st, 6 Native American students – high school seniors, 1st, 2nd or 3rd year college students2nd or 3rd year college students•Covers transportation, tuition and living expensesCovers transportation, tuition and living expenses

Pre-dental Post-Baccalaureate ProgramPre-dental Post-Baccalaureate Program

•Begins June 2009Begins June 2009•3 Native American students3 Native American students•Non-science majors or students who need to strengthen Non-science majors or students who need to strengthen credentials for dental applicationcredentials for dental application•Covers full tuition ($30,000) for 13-month programCovers full tuition ($30,000) for 13-month program

References:References:Price SS, Brunson WD, Mitchell DA, et al. Increasing the Price SS, Brunson WD, Mitchell DA, et al. Increasing the enrollment of underrepresented minority students: experiences enrollment of underrepresented minority students: experiences of the dental pipeline program. JDE 2007;71(3):339-347.of the dental pipeline program. JDE 2007;71(3):339-347.Formicola A, Bailit H, D’Abreu K, et al. The dental pipeline Formicola A, Bailit H, D’Abreu K, et al. The dental pipeline program’s impact on access disparities and student diversity. program’s impact on access disparities and student diversity. JADA 2009;140(3);346-353.JADA 2009;140(3);346-353.

This project was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood This project was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving health and health care for all exclusively to improving health and health care for all Americans. For more information visit Americans. For more information visit www.rwjf.org

Photograph by Don Doll, S.J., Creighton UniversityPhotograph by Don Doll, S.J., Creighton University

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments•Five students in post-baccalaureate program Five students in post-baccalaureate program •Two students in summer enrichmentTwo students in summer enrichment•Partnership with Society of American Indian DentistsPartnership with Society of American Indian Dentists•Targeted recruitment materialsTargeted recruitment materials•Collaborative recruitment visitsCollaborative recruitment visits

ConclusionsConclusionsDental schools play an important role in ensuring diversity Dental schools play an important role in ensuring diversity in the profession and access to oral health care. When in the profession and access to oral health care. When Jesuit universities collaborate, they can make a Jesuit universities collaborate, they can make a difference in who goes to dental school and who receives difference in who goes to dental school and who receives dental care.dental care.