Press release
Henry Schein, National Dental Association, and Schattner Foundation Advance Dental Careers in Underrepresented Communities
Second Year of Innovative S.M.I.L.E. Healthcare Pathway Program Empowers Young Minds to Change the Face of Diversity in Dentistry MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS
About this update from Henry Schein, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\nSecond Year of Innovative S.M.I.L.E. Healthcare Pathway Program Empowers Young Minds to Change the Face of Diversity in Dentistry\n\n\n MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nHenry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the National Dental Association (NDA), and the Schattner Foundation just completed the second year of an innovative program designed to inspire students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to enter the dental profession.\n\n\nThe S.M.I.L.E. (Student Mentoring with Immersive Learning and Enrichment) Healthcare Pathway Program aims to advance oral health equity by pairing students from diverse backgrounds with dental professionals as part of a three-year pilot program.\n\n\nThe 2024 program was held July 7-12 at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee. This year, 35 ninth and tenth-grade students from Alaska, Arizona, Alabama, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C. attended the program, which provided an enriching experience that introduced the students to the diverse career opportunities available within dentistry.\n\n\nThe 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, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, and A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health.\n\n\n“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 S.M.I.L.E. 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.”\n\n\nThrough this one-week residency program, students benefited from:\n\n\n\nMentorship from experienced dental professionals and dental students;\n\n\n\nHands-on learning of real-world procedures and practical skills development;\...