Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships

We held our 4th Youth Summit of the year at At Still University -Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health on Friday, October 25th. ATSU-ASDOH & Department for Diversity and Inclusion at ATSU have hosted us for the past three years and we’re so grateful for our relationship and their commitment to pathway programs like ours! Students came from all over Arizona, including Sells, Tucson, and Phoenix and to spend the day with a group of amazing dental students who walked them through using a handpiece, restoring a tooth with resin and checked out the latest technologies in digital dentistry. This Summit was generally funded by Delta Dental Institute and the Benco Dental Family Foundation sponsored the White Coat Ceremony and donated Pro-Sys VarioSonic electric toothbrushes. AND the kids went home with ‘Savings Swag Bag’ offered by WaFd Bank-Oro Valley, Arizona branch which included a piggy bank so they can start saving for dental school! It was a great day and the students were truly inspired by everyone involved, especially to see role models who looked like them. From this experience, they saw themselves in the oral health professions and asked great questions on how to achieve this newfound goal! Thank you #mentorsforthemovement #diversityindentistry #wediditsocanyou #inclusionindentistry #representationmatters #dentalnonprofit

✨ Check out the article about the amazing Diversify Dentistry Youth Summit™ at UCLA School of Dentistry and funded by Delta Dental Institute. High school students from Santa Monica and Westchester experienced hands-on activities and got a taste of life as a dental student. This event highlights the need for a more inclusive and diverse future in dentistry to drive health equity. Dr. Edmond Hewlett noted, “This was a historic day; the largest pre-college enrichment event ever held at our School, and the start of a beautiful friendship between DIDM and UCLA School of Dentistry.” Don’t miss the full story! Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gah-aspV or on our website: https://lnkd.in/g9W5gtF9 #DiversifyDentistry #YouthSummit #FutureDentists #UCLADentistry #RepresentationMatters #DiversityinDentistry

Congratulations to our DIDM Board Leaders on their inductions to the American College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy Inc this past weekend in New Orleans! Dr Laila Hishaw Dr. Jonelle Anamelechi Dr Darwin Hayes DDS MHA FAGD Dr. Dentonio Worrell (not pictured) Many mentors were also inducted and we are very proud of all of them for serving so passionately in our organization, the oral health profession and impacting the lives of others! Please comment below if you are a new Fellow so we can celebrate you! #diversityindentistry #leadersindentistry

We express our sincere gratitude to UCLA School of Dentistry for graciously hosting us and providing a remarkable experience for the attendees of our Youth Summit! Read all about it in their latest news release. #Repost | A week ago, the School of Dentistry hosted its largest pre-college enrichment event to date, bringing together local high school students, UCLA D.D.S. students, and professional mentors from across the country for the Diversify Dentistry Youth Summit. Learn more about this impactful initiative – the brainchild of Diversity In Dentistry Mentorships, Inc.'s founder Dr Laila Hishaw – at https://lnkd.in/gah-aspV

Congratulations to American Dental Education Association (ADEA) on their Pathway to Smiles program funding from Delta Dental Institute. We know this grant will further empower ADEA to make an even greater impact in strengthening pathways into our profession for underrepresented communities. We are so grateful for ADEA’s support of our Diversify Dentistry Youth Summits. Their belief in us has been instrumental in expanding the Summit to dental schools nationwide. We are deeply grateful to ADEA for championing our mission from the very beginning. It is truly an honor to be recognized alongside them!

We are thrilled to announce our $5,000 GEHA Solutions Grant to support our innovative, nationwide mentorship program! A heartfelt thank you to GEHA Solutions for your commitment to addressing oral health inequities through meaningful partnerships and funding opportunities. We are especially grateful to Jenna Mills and Gene Willis for their unwavering efforts to uplift the oral health profession and empower organizations like ours to make a lasting impact.  We also extend our warmest congratulations to our fellow awardees, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry and Brown Girl, RDH - Martelle Coke. Your work in reducing health disparities and promoting representation is truly inspiring. It is an honor to be recognized alongside you!  To read the full article: GEHA Solutions Supports Increased Diversity Through Oral Health Equity Scholarships - National Association of Dental Plans (nadp.org) #MentorshipMatters #HealthEquity #RepresentationMatters #GEHASolutions #OralHealth #DiversityinDentistry

Today, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day and our commitment to increasing Native American representation in dentistry. Thanks to the support from the Delta Dental Institute Oral Health Diversity Fund, along with the Society of American Indian Dentists, strides toward a more inclusive future are being forged. 🌍💙 Congratulations @saidentistry #IndigenousPeoplesDay #RepresentationMatters #DiversityInDentistry

2024 Diversify Dentistry Youth Summit at UCLA School of Dentistry was a transformational event that has inspired a group of smart young people to consider a career in the oral health profession! Thank you to all our Mentors, UCLA SOD students and Drs. Edmond Hewlett & Erin Courtney Lobo-Marwah for all their work to bring the Summit to their Institution—America’s #1 Public University. Thank you to the Administrators and teachers of LAUSD and SMMUSD for allowing your students to experience this event! There were amazing Mentees! We appreciate the heroes behind the scenes at DIDM & UCLA: Brittany Dundon, Ben Alkaly Jessica, Mayra & Dom! We couldn’t have done it without you! Big Congratulations to our 2024 Mentor of the Year - Dr. Joshua Golden and Mentee of the Year - Dr. Leah Bennett Your dedication and service do not go unnoticed! Another great Summit generously funded by Delta Dental Institute 💚 Big thanks to Benco Dental Family Foundation for sponsoring the White Coat Ceremony 🥼 and gifting the mouth models and electric toothbrushes 🪥 Next stop ATSU- Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health 10/25/24

Ever wonder what happens the night before a Youth Summit?

Thank you Delta Dental Institute! We are beyond grateful for you generous, continued support and dedication to the oral health profession and communities we serve! Congratulations to all the 2024 Awardees and the great work they are doing!