Inclusion of Racial and Oral Health Equity in Dental School Curricula

Sunday, April 16, 2023

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Location: Space Coast

CE: 2.0

Attendee Limit: 50 Registration Fee: $50

Speaker(s)

Christina A. Demopoulos, DDS, MPH

Professor
UNLV School of Dental Medicine
Karen Raju, BDS, MPH

Associate Specialist
University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry
Richie Kohli, BDS, MS

Associate Professor
Oregon Health & Science University
SD

Sohini Dhar, BDS, MPH,

Assistant Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center- San Antonio, School of Dentistry
Dental Public Health Consultant

Disclosure(s):

Christina A. Demopoulos, DDS, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose

Karen Raju, BDS, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose

Richie Kohli, BDS, MS: No financial relationships to disclose

Sohini Dhar, BDS, MPH,: No financial relationships to disclose

Oral health equity, racism and the physiologic impacts of racism are discussed in pre- doctoral and post-doctoral dental education to some extent in Dental Schools across the United States. However, there is limited instructional courses on Critical Race Theory (CRT). Robust efforts are needed to ensure dental students are competent in providing anti-racist and unbiased oral health care. This workshop will provide a summary of the recent publication by the authors on ‘Racial and oral health equity in dental school curricula’ in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry. The workshop will highlight the gaps in dental education related to health equity and racism and emphasize recommendations to address this public health issue. The workshop will have an interactive learning model where 9-10 groups with 4-5 members each will discuss case studies related to the need of inclusion of topics like racism, equity, and CRT in dental education curriculum.

Learning Objectives:

Identify gaps in the amount of content presented on oral health equity, racism, and the physiologic impacts of racism in dental education
Determine the need for instructional courses on Critical Race Theory (CRT) in dental school curriculum
Outline a framework for including oral health equity and racism in dental school curriculum