Dental Director Seneca Nation Health System, New York, United States
Abstract: Native American application to professional health care education severely lags behind that of other under-represented minorities. Considering Dentistry, 11,759 students applied to dental school (DDS/DMD programs) in 2021; yet only 19 (0.1%) identify as American Indian / Alaska Native. This presentation explores research related to the under-representation of Native Americans in health professional schools focusing on societal, historical and institutional barriers to post-graduate professional education and introduces novel concepts to address such challenges. The authors will introduce participants to, and provide updates on the fifth year of, The Native American Pre-Dental Student Gateway Program initiative between the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and The Seneca Nation Health System; focing on the collaborative efforts between tribal government, tribal support organizations and state education partners that have sought to reduce this alarming demographic disparity by introducing Native American students to careers in dentistry and provide resources and support to help facilitate successful application and acceptance into pre-doctoral dental education. This presentation will demonstrate the successes, limitations and results from 5 years of multi-institutional collaboration and give participants a blueprint to create similar immersive programs with their own tribal, educational and institutional community partners.
Source of Funding: 25,000.00 from United South and Easter Tribes Inc. Tribal Support partner. 5,000 grant from Native American Parent Partner Resources, Tribal Support partner and 7,200 from The Souther Plains Tribal Health Board
