The University at Buffalo (UB) School of Dental Medicine (SDM) is one of the nation’s premier centers for dental education, research, and patient care. In 2021, UB SDM’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) led a climate survey and subsequent focus group discussions identifying important areas for growth, including the need to build up and support a more diverse student applicant pool, attract and retain a diverse faculty and staff body, and promote and sustain an inclusive environment. In response, UB established responsive and proactive programs and policies to increase diversity in dentistry and uplift all members of this community.
UB SDM’s summer pathway programs provide underrepresented or disadvantaged students an exciting introduction to the dental profession and leadership in dentistry. Through lectures, hands-on activities, admissions, and Dental Admissions Test (DAT) preparation, networking, and capstone research projects, students learn about life as a dentist and dental student, strengthen their future dental school applications, and cultivate their research capacities. UB’s award-winning pathway programs differ from traditional pathway programs; programs are no cost to participants. Graduates also receive DAT study resources, reimbursement for a DAT test, and a waived application fee to UB SDM – all expenses totaling over $1,500 per graduate. Ninety-seven percent of surveyed program graduates continue to pursue a career in dentistry. The percentage of participants who believed they were knowledgeable about research in dental medicine increased from 7% to 73% pre- to post-program and perceived preparedness to apply to dental school jumped 50 percentage points.
Through the Support Training, Early-career Enhancement and Retention (STEER) Fellowship Program, UB SDM establishes intentional and formal mentoring for early- to mid-career professionals (faculty and allied dental health staff). STEER’s mentor training program, coupled with formal mentorship programs for early-/mid-career dental faculty and allied dental health staff meet identified professional development gaps. The formal curriculum includes trainings in areas of need based on participant inputs and financial support for national conference participation. In summer 2023, STEER launched with nine mentors and five faculty fellows; a staff program will launch in January 2024. Through pre- and post-surveys, and formative and summative assessments, leadership will measure STEER’s impact on climate at the school, leadership and coaching skills, received recognition, perceived professional growth, knowledge of advancement, professional networks, and satisfaction and belonging.
Finally, UB SDM’s efforts to infuse EDI into its culture are paying off. Its innovative, virtual curriculum for incoming students sets expectations and standards about EDI, structural marginalization as a public health problem, and our collective responsibility to build inclusive communities. For three years the incoming class of ~95 students made gains in knowledge around, for example, implicit bias, micro-aggressions, and structural marginalization. UB SDM has established protocols and policies to support faculty, staff, and students to respond to and prevent adverse incidents. These formal mechanisms create spaces for individuals to safely and anonymously report inappropriate behaviors. Also, UB SDM’s multi-faceted approach to celebrating the importance of diversity in the dental profession has led to creative newsletters, videos, publications, presentations, and awards. Collectively, SDM’s established programming meets explicit needs determined by its base: students, faculty and staff. With support from leadership, UB SDM’s efforts have increased diversity while sustaining a welcoming environment for all.
The University at Buffalo (UB) School of Dental Medicine (SDM) is one of the nation’s premier centers for dental education, research, and patient care. In 2021, UB SDM’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) led a climate survey and subsequent focus group discussions identifying important areas for growth, including the need to build up and support a more diverse student applicant pool, attract and retain a diverse faculty and staff body, and promote and sustain an inclusive environment. In response, UB established responsive and proactive programs and policies to increase diversity in dentistry and uplift all members of this community.
UB SDM’s summer pathway programs provide underrepresented or disadvantaged students an exciting introduction to the dental profession and leadership in dentistry. Through lectures, hands-on activities, admissions, and Dental Admissions Test (DAT) preparation, networking, and capstone research projects, students learn about life as a dentist and dental student, strengthen their future dental school applications, and cultivate their research capacities. UB’s award-winning pathway programs differ from traditional pathway programs; programs are no cost to participants. Graduates also receive DAT study resources, reimbursement for a DAT test, and a waived application fee to UB SDM – all expenses totaling over $1,500 per graduate. Ninety-seven percent of surveyed program graduates continue to pursue a career in dentistry. The percentage of participants who believed they were knowledgeable about research in dental medicine increased from 7% to 73% pre- to post-program and perceived preparedness to apply to dental school jumped 50 percentage points.
Through the Support Training, Early-career Enhancement and Retention (STEER) Fellowship Program, UB SDM establishes intentional and formal mentoring for early- to mid-career professionals (faculty and allied dental health staff). STEER’s mentor training program, coupled with formal mentorship programs for early-/mid-career dental faculty and allied dental health staff meet identified professional development gaps. The formal curriculum includes trainings in areas of need based on participant inputs and financial support for national conference participation. In summer 2023, STEER launched with nine mentors and five faculty fellows; a staff program will launch in January 2024. Through pre- and post-surveys, and formative and summative assessments, leadership will measure STEER’s impact on climate at the school, leadership and coaching skills, received recognition, perceived professional growth, knowledge of advancement, professional networks, and satisfaction and belonging.
Finally, UB SDM’s efforts to infuse EDI into its culture are paying off. Its innovative, virtual curriculum for incoming students sets expectations and standards about EDI, structural marginalization as a public health problem, and our collective responsibility to build inclusive communities. For three years the incoming class of ~95 students made gains in knowledge around, for example, implicit bias, micro-aggressions, and structural marginalization. UB SDM has established protocols and policies to support faculty, staff, and students to respond to and prevent adverse incidents. These formal mechanisms create spaces for individuals to safely and anonymously report inappropriate behaviors. Also, UB SDM’s multi-faceted approach to celebrating the importance of diversity in the dental profession has led to creative newsletters, videos, publications, presentations, and awards. Collectively, SDM’s established programming meets explicit needs determined by its base: students, faculty and staff. With support from leadership, UB SDM’s efforts have increased diversity while sustaining a welcoming environment for all.
