Eastman Institute for Oral Health Granted $3.5 Million Funding for Inauguration of Faculty Development Center
University of Rochester Medical Center Establishes Primary Care Dental Specialty Center
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) has taken a significant step forward in dental education with the establishment of the first Primary Care Dental Faculty Development Center at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH). This initiative is a collaborative effort between EIOH and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The five-year, $3.5 million program, supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), aims to train 12 junior faculty members in a wide range of key skills. These skills include integrating oral health and primary care credit, setting up a teledentistry program, increasing access to rural and underserved populations, and training other faculty in their home institutions.
Dr. Jennifer Holtzman, D.D.S., M.P.H., Dental Officer with HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce, acknowledged the challenges dental schools face in recruiting and retaining faculty. She expressed her appreciation for the partnership, stating that it addresses the critical shortage of dental insurance.
Dr. Eli Eliav, D.M.D., Ph.D., EIOH Director, echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude for HRSA's partnership. Dr. Sean McLaren, D.D.S., chair of EIOH Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program, and Dr. Walter J. Psoter, D.D.S., Ph.D., EIOH Professor, will serve as co-leaders for the program.
The majority of the curriculum will be delivered online through individual and group sessions, with three weeks of onsite learning in Rochester, New York. The Center's purpose is to prepare junior faculty to become interprofessional clinical educators capable of addressing issues of diversity and health equity, as well as leaders in primary care dentistry. The Center will serve as a resource and training hub for junior primary care dental faculty in the U.S.
Evidence suggests that faculty in health professional schools can serve as role models, and well-prepared primary care clinical instructors can positively influence dental students' and residents' dental practice choices. The program aims to support the academic careers of junior faculty, promote clinical education in community-based training sites, and strengthen health insurance recruitment and retention.
The curriculum for the Primary Care Dental Faculty Development Center will be delivered over two cycles, each lasting two years. Details and the application for the program can be found on DentalEducatorCenter.urmc.edu.
This initiative is a significant step towards addressing the critical shortage of dental faculty and improving dental education in the U.S. By training junior faculty members to become leaders in primary care dentistry, the program aims to increase access to dental care for underserved populations and promote a more equitable and diverse dental workforce.
