Henry Schein, National Dental Association, and Schattner Foundation Advance Dental Careers in Underrepresented Communities
Henry Schein (Nasdaq: HSIC), the National Dental Association, and the Schattner Foundation completed the second year of their S.M.I.L.E. Healthcare Pathway Program. This initiative aims to inspire students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue dental careers. The 2024 program, held at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, included 35 ninth and tenth-grade students from diverse backgrounds.
The program expanded to include Hispanic, Alaska Native, American Indian, and Indigenous students. It offered mentorship, hands-on learning, career exposure, and a capstone project. The initiative addresses the disparity in dental workforce diversity, with Black or African American dentists representing only 3.8% of the total, despite making up 14% of the general population.
Henry Schein (Nasdaq: HSIC), l'Associazione Nazionale dei Dentisti e la Fondazione Schattner hanno completato il secondo anno del loro programma S.M.I.L.E. Healthcare Pathway. Questa iniziativa ha l'obiettivo di ispirare studenti provenienti da contesti svantaggiati a intraprendere carriere nel settore odontoiatrico. Il programma del 2024, tenuto presso la Scuola di Odontoiatria del Meharry Medical College, ha incluso 35 studenti di nona e decima classe provenienti da diverse origini.
Il programma si è ampliato per includere studenti ispanoamericani, nativi dell'Alaska, nativi americani e studenti indigeni. Ha offerto mentoring, apprendimento pratico, esposizione professionale e un progetto finale. L'iniziativa affronta la disparità nella diversità della forza lavoro odontoiatrica, con i dentisti neri o afroamericani che rappresentano solo il 3,8% del totale, nonostante costituiscano il 14% della popolazione generale.
Henry Schein (Nasdaq: HSIC), la Asociación Dental Nacional y la Fundación Schattner han completado el segundo año de su Programa S.M.I.L.E. Healthcare Pathway. Esta iniciativa busca inspirar a estudiantes de orígenes subrepresentados a seguir carreras dentales. El programa de 2024, realizado en la Escuela de Odontología del Meharry Medical College, incluyó a 35 estudiantes de noveno y décimo grado de diversos antecedentes.
El programa se expandió para incluir a estudiantes hispanos, nativos de Alaska, nativos americanos e indígenas. Se ofreció mentoría, aprendizaje práctico, exposición profesional y un proyecto final. La iniciativa aborda la disparidad en la diversidad de la fuerza laboral dental, con dentistas negros o afroamericanos que representan solo el 3,8% del total, a pesar de constituir el 14% de la población general.
헨리 샤인(Henry Schein)(Nasdaq: HSIC), 국가치과협회(National Dental Association) 및 샤트너 재단(Schattner Foundation)은 S.M.I.L.E. 헬스케어 경로 프로그램의 2년 차를 완료했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 다양한 배경을 가진 학생들이 치과 경력을 추구하도록 영감을 주는 것을 목표로 합니다. 2024년 프로그램은 메해리 의과대학의 치과학교에서 열렸으며, 다양한 배경을 가진 35명의 9학년 및 10학년 학생들이 참여했습니다.
이 프로그램은 히스패닉, 알래스카 원주민, 아메리칸 인디언 및 토착 학생들을 포함하도록 확장되었습니다. 멘토링, 실습 학습, 경력 exposure 및 최종 프로젝트를 제공했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 치과 인력 다양성의 불균형을 해결하며, 흑인 또는 아프리카계 미국인 치과의사가 전체의 3.8%에 불과하다는 점에서 일반 인구의 14%를 차지하는 것과는 대조적입니다.
Henry Schein (Nasdaq: HSIC), l'Association Nationale des Dentistes et la Fondation Schattner ont achevé la deuxième année de leur Programme S.M.I.L.E. Healthcare Pathway. Cette initiative vise à inspirer des étudiants issus de milieux sous-représentés à poursuivre des carrières dentaires. Le programme 2024, qui s'est tenu à l'École de Dentisterie du Meharry Medical College, a inclus 35 étudiants de la neuvième et de la dixième année de divers horizons.
Le programme s'est élargi pour inclure des étudiants hispaniques, des natifs de l'Alaska, des Amérindiens et des étudiants autochtones. Il a offert un encadrement, un apprentissage pratique, une exposition professionnelle et un projet final. L'initiative vise à réduire l'écart de diversité dans la main-d'œuvre dentaire, les dentistes noirs ou afro-américains représentant seulement 3,8 % du total, bien qu'ils constituent 14 % de la population générale.
Henry Schein (Nasdaq: HSIC), die Nationale Zahnärztevereinigung und die Schattner-Stiftung haben das zweite Jahr ihres S.M.I.L.E. Healthcare Pathway-Programms abgeschlossen. Diese Initiative zielt darauf ab, Schüler aus unterrepräsentierten Hintergründen zu inspirieren, zahnmedizinische Berufe zu ergreifen. Das Programm 2024, das an der Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry stattfand, umfasste 35 Schüler der neunten und zehnten Klasse aus verschiedenen Hintergründen.
Das Programm wurde erweitert, um hispanische, einheimische Alaskas, amerikanische Ureinwohner und indigene Schüler einzubeziehen. Es wurden Mentoring, praktische Lernmöglichkeiten, Berufserfahrungen und ein Abschlussprojekt angeboten. Die Initiative befasst sich mit der Ungleichheit in der Diversität der zahnärztlichen Belegschaft, da schwarze oder afroamerikanische Zahnärzte nur 3,8% der Gesamtzahl ausmachen, obwohl sie 14% der allgemeinen Bevölkerung darstellen.
- Expansion of the program to include more diverse student backgrounds
- Partnership with multiple dental associations and universities to broaden reach
- Addressing the disparity in dental workforce diversity
- Providing hands-on learning and mentorship opportunities for underrepresented students
- None.
Second Year of Innovative S.M.I.L.E. Healthcare Pathway Program Empowers Young Minds to Change the Face of Diversity in Dentistry
The S.M.I.L.E. (Student Mentoring with Immersive Learning and Enrichment) Healthcare Pathway Program aims to advance oral health equity by pairing students from diverse backgrounds with dental professionals as part of a three-year pilot program.
The 2024 program was held July 7-12 at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in
The partners expanded the 2024 program to include students from Hispanic, Alaska Native, American Indian and Indigenous backgrounds, partnering closely with the Hispanic Dental Association, the Society of American Indian Dentists, Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, and A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health.
“Current statistics indicate that Black or African American dentists make up only
Through this one-week residency program, students benefited from:
- Mentorship from experienced dental professionals and dental students;
- Hands-on learning of real-world procedures and practical skills development;
- Career pathway exposure to discover a multitude of dental career options; and
- A Capstone project culminating in a presentation focused on translating their learnings into tangible action.
“Having the opportunity to host this event was more than educating students about dental care, it was about bringing communities together, promoting health care equity, and fostering an environment that can create a healthier future for all,” said Dr. Cherae Farmer-Dixon, Dean of the Meharry School of Dentistry. “Partnering with Henry Schein, the NDA, and the Schattner Foundation helped signify our commitment to inspiring a new generation of dental professionals from all walks of life. While we cannot bridge this divide immediately, we must deliberately focus on building partnerships, identifying obstacles to full participation, and removing them.”
While practical sessions covering topics such as, “How Teeth are Removed,” “Dental Model Pouring,” and “Impression Making” were included, the program extended beyond technical instruction to explore the broader societal implication of oral health disparities. Participating students gained knowledge on ways to address these inequities that impact their communities.
“The S.M.I.L.E. Healthcare Pathway Program is yet another step in advancing the National Dental Association's mission to not only increase access to care, but also increase the number of African American oral health professionals—a group that remains underrepresented in our field,” said Dr. Nicole Cheek, NDA’s 100th President. “Moreover, these future Oral Health Ambassadors are gaining a profound understanding of the vital connection between oral health and overall health, recognizing that the mouth cannot be separated from the body. By empowering these young minds, we are not just promoting oral health equity—we are catalyzing real, lasting change in the health outcomes of our communities. This program is not merely about opening doors—it's about dismantling barriers and ensuring that the future faces of dentistry truly reflect the diverse populations we serve.”
For more information about the S.M.I.L.E. Program and to gain insights from participant experiences, please watch this video https://henryschein.wistia.com/medias/s2e9mitq09 or visit the official S.M.I.L.E. Program website: https://ndaonline.org/smile-program.
About Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for health care professionals powered by a network of people and technology. With more than 25,000 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that help improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, as well as other alternate care sites.
Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 300,000 branded products and Henry Schein corporate brand products in our distribution centers.
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Ann Marie Gothard
Vice President, Global Corporate Media Relations
annmarie.gothard@henryschein.com
(631) 390-8169
Source: Henry Schein, Inc.
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