Summary: The SMILE Healthcare Pathway Program, a collaborative effort by Henry Schein, NDA, and the Schattner Foundation, completed its second year to inspire students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in dentistry. The program included mentorship, hands-on learning, and exposure to dental career pathways, focusing on advancing oral health equity and diversity.

Key Takeaways:

  • Diverse Student Engagement: The program expanded to include students from Hispanic, Alaska Native, American Indian, and Indigenous backgrounds.
  • Focus on Oral Health Equity: SMILE aims to address the disparity in the dental workforce and promote healthcare equity.
  • Practical and Societal Education: Students learned both practical dental skills and ways to tackle oral health disparities in their communities.

Henry Schein Inc, the National Dental Association (NDA), and the Schattner Foundation completed the second year of the Student Mentoring with Immersive Learning and Enrichment (SMILE) Healthcare Pathway Program. SMILE was designed to inspire students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to enter the dental profession. The SMILE program aims to advance oral health equity by pairing students from diverse backgrounds with dental professionals as part of a three-year pilot program.

2024 SMILE Program at Meharry Medical College

The 2024 program was held July 7-12 at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tenn. This year, 35 ninth and tenth-grade students from Alaska, Arizona, Alabama, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, DC, attended the program, which introduced the students to the diverse career opportunities available within dentistry.

The partners expanded the 2024 program to include students from Hispanic, Alaska Native, American Indian, and Indigenous backgrounds, partnering closely with the Hispanic Dental Association, the Society of American Indian Dentists, Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, AT Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, and AT Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health.

Addressing Disparities in Dentistry

“Current statistics indicate that Black or African American dentists make up only 3.8% of the total dentist workforce in the United States but represent 14% of the general population. This disparity persists across minority communities, hindering access to care and career opportunities,” said David Kochman, chief corporate affairs officer at Henry Schein. “The SMILE Program is just one initiative from Henry Schein and our partners that is aimed at increasing diversity within the oral health industry. We are excited to spark interest among these students and cultivate the next generation of oral health professionals.”

Program Benefits and Learning Opportunities

Through this one-week residency program, students benefited from:

  • Mentorship from experienced dental professionals and dental students;
  • Hands-on learning of real-world procedures and practical skills development;
  • Career pathway exposure to discover a multitude of dental career options; and
  • A Capstone project culminating in a presentation focused on translating their learnings into tangible action.

“Having the opportunity to host this event was more than educating students about dental care, it was about bringing communities together, promoting health care equity, and fostering an environment that can create a healthier future for all,” said Cherae Farmer-Dixon, DDS, MSPH, FACD, FICD, dean of the Meharry School of Dentistry. “Partnering with Henry Schein, the NDA, and the Schattner Foundation helped signify our commitment to inspiring a new generation of dental professionals from all walks of life. While we cannot bridge this divide immediately, we must deliberately focus on building partnerships, identifying obstacles to full participation, and removing them.”

Empowering Future Generations of Dental Professionals

While practical sessions covering topics such as, “How Teeth are Removed,” “Dental Model Pouring,” and “Impression Making” were included, the program extended beyond technical instruction to explore the broader societal implication of oral health disparities. Participating students were taught ways to address these inequities that impact their communities.

“The SMILE Healthcare Pathway Program is yet another step in advancing the National Dental Association’s mission to not only increase access to care, but also increase the number of African American oral health professionals—a group that remains underrepresented in our field,” said Nicole Cheek, DDS, NDA president. “By empowering these young minds, we are not just promoting oral health equity—we are catalyzing real, lasting change in the health outcomes of our communities. This program is not merely about opening doors—it’s about dismantling barriers and ensuring that the future faces of dentistry truly reflect the diverse populations we serve.”