2023 DDS Report

Scientific workforce diversity is essential to excellence within STEM fields. According to the National Institutes of Health, women, individuals from low-income families, individuals identifying as an underrepresented minority (URM) or Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian and Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander and Hawaiian, and individuals with disabilities are underrepresented in biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences workforce. Although this percentage has increased over the past decade, the change is modest. Additionally, according to the American Dental Associations Health Policy Institute, 10% of dentists are URM, with Black and Hispanic/Latinx dentists significantly underrepresented. These numbers are well below the proportions reported for the same groups in the U.S. Census. Women are also significantly underrepresented within the faculty of dental schools. 

The University at Buffalo's (UB) School of Dental Medicine (SDM), one of the nation's premier centers for dental education, research and patient care, ranks number 7 in the nation and number 11 in the world. We are committed to supporting and training the next generation of dentists and reducing oral health disparities across the United States. To this end, we have invested significantly in pathway programs. 

In 2018, UB SDM, in collaboration with the Seneca Nation Health System, established the Native American Pre-Dental Student Gateway Program, a pathway program for students who have tribal affiliations. In 2021, UB SDM's Office of EDI launched Destination Dental School. Our pathway programs have provided joint programming since 2022. Since 2021, the DDS program has graduated 74 fellows representing 25 states and 47 colleges and universities. 

The 2023 DDS cohort met over 7 weeks during the months of June and July. The first six weeks, held virtually every Saturday, introduced the disciplines/specialties of dentistry, the DAT, the admissions process, academics in dental school, and provided additional and optional DAT tutoring. Following our virtual meetings, participants traveled to Buffalo for a full week of in-person, intensive training at the SDM where over 70 faculty, students and staff supported rotations within specialty clinics, hands-on-activities (resin placement, suturing, alginate impressions, bleaching trays, and 3D root canals), DAT tutoring sessions, mock interviews, resume clinics, research presentations and local excursions. 

1. Goal 1: Understand day to day life as a dentist and as a dental student. 
   Participants get insight into the different disciplines of dental medicine through presentations and panel discussions, and participate in hands-on-activities that increase hand skill development.
2. Goal 2: Strengthen future dental school applications.
   Participants learn about the DAT and recommended study habits, participate in intensive tutoring sessions, and take practice DAT exams. Participants prepare for the dental school admissions process by learning about admissions policies and procedures from students, faculty and staff, participating in mock interviews, and working on dental school application materials.
3. Goal 3: Learn how to propose and develop a research topic.
   Participants’ capstone projects center around a research topic in oral health. Teams learn best practices in conducting research and present their findings during in-person capstone research presentations. 

Pre- and post-program surveys measured change in participants perceived knowledge, preparedness and likelihood of applying to dental school. 90% of participants responded to the pre-program survey and 97% responded to the post-program survey. 

Percentage of participants who believed they were knowledgeable about...

Perceived preparedness to 'apply to dental school' increased from 15% to 69%, likelihood of applying to dental school from 96% to 100%, and likelihood of applying to the UB School of Dental Medicine from 78% to 100%.

In 2022 and 2023, Destination Dental School was a recipient of the INSIGHT into Diversity Magazine’s Inspiring Programs in STEM Award, a national recognition for colleges and universities that encourage and support students from underrepresented groups to enter careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through mentoring, teaching and research. Our pathway programs also contributed to UB SDM receiving Insight Into Diversity’s Higher Education Excellence and Distinction award in 2023. 

The DDS and Gateway program were organized by the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. 

This program exceeded my expectations. It gave me a beacon of hope for my future to know that I can do it and will do it one day. I am better prepared to apply and attend dental school because of the DDS program at UB. 

DDS not only surpassed our expectations but also assisted in the development of confidence and a sense of belonging. Everyone we spoke to throughout this program served as a source of inspiration and motivation for us. The dental students talked about their journeys and experiences with a sense of humility and vulnerability.

I am more aware of the need for future dental professionals like myself who will close gaps, be a great representation and fill a need for many communities that lack adequate dental care. 

[DDS] only strengthened my desire towards dentistry to see first hand what it's like, how to get there, and hearing from people who had to go through struggles and still made it. I found it so cool to meet so many different people with different backgrounds that all have different interests within the field of dentistry. I was able to learn from not only administration and students, but from my peers. 

[DDS] has made me want to be a dentist even more and made me feel more confident...[and] determined with the idea that I will become a dentist and I will break any barriers standing in my way by persevering and most importantly not giving up. Moreover this program makes me feel more comfortable as a first generation African American woman because I realize there are people like me and I am not alone in this profession/process and I know no matter what I go through in this process I have people I can reach out to and relate to and together we will all be future dentist[s] and make the world a better place. 

When asked what barriers impact their ability to attend dental school, participants responded in order of frequency: 

• Finances
• DAT
• Personal
• GPA
• Supportive community that upholds EDI
• Dental school system/admissions
• Mentorship

When asked what resources would help participants to successfully complete dental school, they responded, in order of frequency:

• Financial support
• Networks
• Mentors
• Study resources
• Pathway programs
• Community-based dental programs
• Affinity groups
• Support systems
• Personal
• Application information