43 - "Knowledge is Power: Increasing the Dental Public Health Residency Pipeline Among Underrepresented Minorities"

Abstract:

Objectives: According to a 2016 article entitled "White Paper: Dental Public Health Residencies" at the postdoctoral level, few dental schools offer advanced training in the dental public health specialty that specifically prepares dentists for a career in the dental public health (DPH) specialty. The purpose of our research is to improve Meharry Medical College dental students' knowledge of the DPH specialty through monthly University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) 1-hour virtual seminars that will seek to identify barriers encountered during the DPH application process.

Methods: This research will include a 10-item pre and post survey distributed through SurveyMonkey that will be emailed to all dental students (D1-D4). Questions will include an assessment of the dental students' knowledge of the dental public health residency process along with the identification of barriers to the DPH residency application process among underrepresented minority students. All students who complete the pre and post survey and attend at least 2 seminars will receive a $15 Walmart Gift Card.

Results: Among the survey participants, 90% were female, 36% were D3 students, 60% had "little knowledge about careers in dental public health", 56% were uncomfortable with applying to DPH programs that charged tuition and 75% expressed an interest in applying to DPH programs but did not have the financial resources to apply.

Conclusion: Dental institutions are responsible for educating the next generation of DPH professionals. Similar seminars are necessary to increase the DPH Residency Pipeline to prepare students to become competent during the DPH residency application process.

Source of Funding: 2022 AAPHD Small Grant Awardee