Summary: Dentsply Sirona partnered with the National Dental Association (NDA) to graduate eight dentists of color from its Speaker Development Program, advancing diversity and equity in the dental industry. This initiative aligns with Dentsply Sirona’s sustainability strategy and ongoing efforts to support minority dentists and elevate their voices through education and leadership opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

  • Empowering Minority Dentists: Dentsply Sirona’s Speaker Development Program helps dentists of color enhance their communication skills and expand their influence within the profession.
  • Sustained DE&I Commitment: The partnership with the NDA reflects a broader strategy to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion while addressing systemic inequities in dentistry.

Dentsply Sirona announced the successful completion of its Speaker Development Program by a class of eight dentists of color from the National Dental Association (NDA). The program is part of Dentsply Sirona’s ongoing partnership with the NDA and underscores the company’s commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) within the dental industry.

Expanding DE&I Initiatives Through Targeted Programs

Dentsply Sirona first launched a speaker development program for female dentists called ‘First to 50’ in 2020, with more than 90 graduates having completed the course since its inception. This year, Dentsply Sirona added to this initiative by collaborating with the NDA to create a cohort exclusively open to dentists of color in the United States. The dental professionals were given access to a structured speaker development program for all levels of experience, with the aim of elevating their voices and enabling them to share their knowledge with their communities and colleagues.

“We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of these talented dentists,” says Julie Mroziak, vice president, restorative solutions, and executive sponsor of the Global DE&I Council at Dentsply Sirona. “The program has helped them hone their skills and equipped them with the necessary confidence. We are now very much looking forward to seeing them prosper and become influential speakers and leaders in their field.”

Aligning DE&I Efforts with Sustainability Goals

The collaboration on the speaker development program is part of the ongoing and impactful partnership between Dentsply Sirona and the NDA and aligns with the company’s sustainability strategy “BEYOND: Taking Action for a Brighter World.” The partnership, now in its third year, is led on Dentsply Sirona’s side by its employee resource group (ERG) BOLD@DS (Black Organization for Leadership & Development@DS), which aims to transform the experiences of Black employees and allies.

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NDA’s Mission and Continued Collaboration

At this year’s annual NDA conference, Dentsply Sirona contributed to the educational side of the event by sponsoring two instructional courses for the conference’s attendees, which expounded on the relevance of digital dentistry as well as aligner solutions. Dentsply Sirona also presented cutting-edge dental technologies and solutions at two booths.

With a network of more than 10,000 minority dentists, the NDA works to improve the delivery of oral healthcare in underserved communities as well as improve the educational opportunities of minorities underrepresented in the oral health field.

“As our partnership with Dentsply Sirona celebrates its third year, we remain as committed as ever to advance diversity and inclusion within the dental industry and to provide ongoing support and resources to minority dentists,” says Nicole Cheek, president of the NDA. “We are grateful to have such a dedicated partner as Dentsply Sirona who works alongside us towards our shared goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable dental profession.”

Image courtesy of Dentsply Sirona