Texas A & M Health Science Center
Baylor College of Dentistry

Texas A & M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry has been dedicated to combining higher education and research with community service since opening its doors more than 100 years ago. Each year HSC–BCD provides oral health care to approximately 193,000 adults and children, many of whom are underserved, through its on-site clinics and through area hospitals and community-based programs. The college offers a synergistic environment where students learn life lessons – in addition to dental medicine – from a diverse patient population.

HSC-Baylor College of Dentistry has a strong commitment to educating underrepresented minority students. The Bridge to Dentistry: Awareness to Graduation program serves as a comprehensive pipeline program targeting pre-kindergarten students through college graduates. The program is increasing its reach by partnering with three local colleges. More than 200 of the program’s college– and post–baccalaureate–level participants have matriculated at dental, medical or other health professions–related schools across the country. The 2007–2008 HSC–BCD first-year dental class leads the nation’s non–historically black and Hispanic dental schools in underrepresented minority enrollment.

Project Activities

1. Project Dental Awareness, a program designed to increase students’ awareness of dental health and dental careers. Project activities include on-site visits to elementary schools to present hands-on activities to students in grades Pre-K – 6. Students in grades 7-12 visit HSC-Baylor College of Dentistry for awareness activities. Students in grades 4-12 participate in Future Dentist Clubs.
2. The Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Program for 10th Graders, a one-week program, provides rising 10th-grade students an opportunity to increase their awareness of careers in dentistry.
3. The Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Program for 11th Graders, a one-week program provides rising 11th graders an opportunity to increase their awareness of dental careers and knowledge of dentistry.
4. The Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Program for 12th Graders, a six-week program, provides 12th-grade students an opportunity to prepare for and successfully take the SAT in order to increase their competitiveness for admission to college and to increase their awareness of dental careers.
5. The College Pre-Matriculation Program, a six-week program, provides rising college students an opportunity to strengthen their science background in preparation for entering a pre-dental college curriculum.
6. The Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Program for College Students, an eight-week program, provides college and post-college students an opportunity to prepare for and successfully take the Dental Admission Test, strengthen their academic background, increase their competitiveness for admission to dental school, and enhance their success once admitted to dental school.
7. The Post-Baccalaureate Program, a year-long program, provides students holding baccalaureate degrees an opportunity to gain admission into HSC-Baylor College of Dentistry upon successful completion of the program.
8. The Peer Tutoring Program and other academic support allow the HSC-BCD to retain and graduate its disadvantaged students.