Faculty Development
The American Dental Education Association concluded in 1999 that “dental education is now in a crisis” due to the shortage of dental faculty.1 The number of faculty vacancies in the clinical sciences more than doubled in recent years, and retirements will outpace new faculty assignments in the coming decade because 47 percent of all dental faculties are age 50 and older. Relatively low salaries for academics compared to practioners’ handicap recruitment.
While dental schools grapple with the problems of educating future practitioners in the face of inadequate numbers of instructors, this crisis presents an opportunity to align the demographics of dental school faculties with the demographics of the general population. The Dental Pipeline program sponsors efforts to recruit members of minority groups to positions in health education research and practice, with the goal that professional representation at least match representation in the general population.
The philanthropic community has implemented faculty development programs. Below are dental programs aimed at minority faculty development:
New York State Academic Dental Centers (NYSADC) Minority Dental Faculty Development Program (MDFD)
The New York State Academic Dental Centers is one of seven recipients of grants in the amount of $250,000 over six years to increase the number of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in academic dentistry. The grants will help develop careers of URM/Low Income (LI) junior faculty. NYSADC received the grant through the American Dental Education Association Minority Dental Faculty Development Program (MDFD), which is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Minority Faculty Development Program (MDFD)
A $2.4 million initiative established by W.K. Kellogg Foundation in November 2003 and administered by the American Dental Education Association. MDFD will put into place strategic initiatives that will attract, encourage, and produce underrepresented minority dental faculty who will pursue life-long successful careers in the professorate. In March 2004, the W.K. Kellogg/ADEA awarded seven grants to 10 U.S. Dental Schools to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in academic dentistry.
Harvard Medical School Minority Faculty Development Program (MFDP)
The California Endowment Scholars in Health Policy at Harvard University is a one-year, full-time, academic degree-granting program designed to create health professional leaders capable of advancing multicultural health interests in the public, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Each scholarship provides support including a $50,000 stipend, full tuition for a master's degree, health insurance, books, travel and related expenses, and financial assistance toward the support of a practicum project.
Faculty from the Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Graduate School of Business and Administration, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are involved in program development and implementation.
For further information contact:
Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS
Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership
Harvard University
164 Longwood Avenue, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02115-5818
Tel: 617-432-2413
Fax: 617-432-3834
Washington, DC 20202
Tel: (800) 433-3243
