Mapping paths to equitable dental care: a study on the practice locations of oral health sciences graduates and underserved communities
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Citation
Abstract
The Master's in Oral Health Sciences (OHS) program, a collaborative initiative between Boston University's Graduate Medical Sciences and the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, has been instrumental since its establishment in 2005 in providing a pathway for students from underrepresented backgrounds to gain admission to dental school. Designed to strengthen academic qualifications for entry into dental school, this program has been crucial in fostering diversity within the dental profession.Access to dental care is a critical public health concern, particularly in underserved or economically impoverished areas. This research endeavors to explore the career trajectories of pre-dental students who successfully completed the OHS program, pursued dental education, and subsequently became practicing dentists. Our primary objective is to evaluate the geographical distribution of these dental graduates, with a specific focus on whether they returned to similar hometowns or cities to their own upbringing, especially those marked by underservice in dental care.
Data for this study were sourced from deidentified OHS matriculation and graduation records. A comprehensive dataset, including demographic information such as race, ethnicity, gender, disadvantaged and first-generation status, OHS admission years, and career status, was compiled. Underrepresented minority (URM) status, encompassing Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, was a key focus within the dataset. Furthermore, student career outcomes post-dental school were gathered from online platforms, including social media networks and LinkedIn.
The study evaluated data from 276 students enrolled in the OHS program between 2005 and 2018. This cohort presented a diverse range of demographics, including 47.5% male and 52.2% female, 16.3% disadvantaged, 10.1% first generation students and 28.3% from groups under-represented in dentistry enabling an in-depth examination of career outcomes for students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Through an examination of the practice locations of OHS graduates, we have observed a significant proportion opting to practice in areas marked by dental care shortages and socioeconomic challenges. Specifically, among the 276 OHS graduates, a substantial proportion, accounting for 41.7% of the total, chose to practice in underserved areas. Among the 45 OHS graduates categorized by their disadvantaged status, 42.2% of the graduates opted to practice in underserved areas, aligning their practice locations with the communities they grew up (although not statistically significant (χ2 (1) = 0.007, p = 0.9341). Further, among the 78 graduates from underrepresented groups, an even larger percentage, 57.7 %, opted to work in underserved areas. The results indicated that there was a statistically significant association between URM status and their likelihood of working in underserved areas, χ2 (1) = 0.0007, p = 11.489. The results not only shed light on the success of the OHS Pathway Program in enhancing diversity within the dental profession but also revealed a distinctive preference among graduates to return to underserved communities to practice.
Additionally, the study underscores the significance of pathway programs and the importance of enrichment programming to support disadvantaged and underrepresented students. These are key to the success of the MS in Oral Health Sciences program. By providing mentorship, academic and professional development resources, and social support, through enrichment and a near-peer mentoring program, not only do graduates' gain professional development but also build the academic and self-confidence they need to be successful in dental school and beyond. Training in such a culture cultivates a sense of social responsibility and commitment to community and addressing disparities.
Further investigation is necessary to understand the factors contributing to dental outcome difference and to explore long-term career outcomes, particularly in terms of location preferences for serving communities in need.
This study underscores the correlation between OHS graduate students and their preferences to serve in areas with underserved populations, encouraged by a strong foundation in the OHS Pathway Program. It emphasizes the growing importance of creating pathway programs similar to OHS to enhance diversity within the dental profession and address healthcare disparities.
Description
2024