Dates of the Project: December 2010 through December 2011
Field of Work: Expanding the number of underrepresented minorities in dentistry
Problem Synopsis: Racial and ethnic minorities have long been underrepresented in medicine and dentistry.
Synopsis of the Work: The National Dental Association, the Hispanic Dental Association, and the Society of American Indian Dentists formed the Dental Mentorship Council in 2009, to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in dental schools and the profession. From 2010 to 2011, the council worked to enroll more mentees in the program.
Key Findings/Results: The Dental Mentorship Council held three meet-and-greet events in Dallas, Phoenix, and Richmond, Va., in 2011, to introduce prospective minority dental students to the mentorship program and pair them with mentors. A total of 62 people participated in the events, and 41 new mentees enrolled in the program.