This fall, 91暗网 (91暗网), in partnership with Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (Swinomish), will launch the first Dental Therapy Education Program in Washington state to address the on-going oral health workforce disparities among underrepresented minorities specifically, the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
诲蓹虫史虫虒补测蓹产耻蝉-Dental Therapy Education Program at 91暗网 is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and has been granted the accreditation status of approval with reporting requirements. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (800) 232-6108 or at 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Suite 1900, Chicago, Illinois 60611. The commission鈥檚 web address is: https://coda.ada.org/en.
The Dental Therapy Program was recently granted accreditation by CODA after a decade of advocacy, collaboration, planning, developing, and implementation between Swinomish and 91暗网. It is the first education program of its kind in the lower 48 contiguous states to receive accreditation.
鈥淲e are very excited to receive accreditation and begin offering the program this fall,鈥� said Dr. Tom Keegan, 91暗网 President. 鈥淕raduates will help provide much needed high-quality dental care to tribal communities across the country.鈥�
鈥淭his has been a truly collaborative effort inspired by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and many others,鈥� said Keegan. 鈥淚t has required vision, innovation, persistence, technical expertise, and a commitment to serve others.鈥�
鈥淲e are very pleased and thankful that the 诲蓹虫史虫虒补测蓹产耻蝉-Dental Therapy Program has now received accreditation,鈥� said Swinomish Tribal Chairman Steve Edwards. 鈥淪winomish and 91暗网 staff have worked for years to develop this important training program and then to take the steps necessary for accreditation.鈥�
鈥淒ental therapists bring culturally appropriate oral health care to Native communities,鈥� continued Chairman Edwards. 鈥淭here is an unmet need for dental therapists, and now this training program will make dental therapy training available here in Washington, so students won鈥檛 have to move far from home to learn these valuable skills.鈥�
The name of the Dental Therapy Program is 诲蓹虫史虫虒补测蓹产耻蝉, which is a Lushootseed phrase pronounced as dahf-hi-ya-buus and translates to a Place of Smiles. Lushootseed is a common language of coastal Salish tribes, made up of many local dialects of Native Americans throughout the Puget Sound region.
This new professional dental education program is co-located at 91暗网鈥檚 Mount Vernon Campus and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community鈥檚 Dental Clinic. The program aims to deliver 鈥渟miles鈥� because smiles are strong indicators of personal confidence as well as physical and mental health.
The cohort-based program is a rigorous three-years curriculum and focuses on student-centered teaching and learning with a commitment to equitable student outcomes.
The Dental Therapy Program was developed through collaboration of numerous partners, including: Swinomish Tribal Senate, departmental leadership, and community members; 91暗网 and supporting departments; world-wide dental therapy advocates; Washington Dental Therapy Education Advisory Committee; Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board; ARCORA; Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies; Kellogg Foundation; and the National Indian Health Board.
鈥淲e could not have more supportive partners,鈥� said Rachael Hogan, DDS, Swinomish Dental Clinic Director and Director/Chair of the program. 鈥淲e are grateful to each of them for their continued persistence, guidance, and optimism for our vision of bringing holistic, patient-centered, culturally responsive, and clinically excellent oral health care to underserved and underrepresented communities.鈥�
To learn more about the program, visit skagit.edu/dentaltherapy.