The current status of allied dental faculty: a survey report.
Allied dental program directors have expressed increasing concerns about possible current and future shortages of allied dental educators. As a result, the ADEA Board of Directors created a task force to investigate the current status of allied dental faculty, including the degree of cultural diversity, and to identify whether current and/or potential future shortages of educators exist. A survey was sent to all accredited allied dental program directors. Results indicated that a current faculty shortage exists for dental assisting and dental hygiene programs, with a projected greater future shortage for all allied dental education disciplines, primarily as a result of retirement of current faculty members. The data collected also revealed a lack of diversity in allied dental faculties, especially in dental hygiene and dental assisting programs. Recommendations for action steps included investigating: 1) the use of technology to provide the faculty expertise necessary to allow more affordable quality education in almost any location and to maximize available resources; 2) alternative ways to reward faculty; 3) loan forgiveness as an incentive for exemplary graduates to pursue educational career goals; 4) an ongoing database to monitor the status of allied dental educators; and 5) best practices in higher education to attract a more diverse student body and faculty in terms of gender, ethnicity, and race.
Nunn
Patricia J
PJ
Department of Dental Hygiene, University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, USA. patricia-nunn@ouhsc.edu
Gadbury-Amyot
Cynthia C
CC
Battrell
Ann
A
Bruce
Stephen Ives
SI
Hanlon
Linda L
LL
Kaiser
Catherine
C
Purifoy-Seldon
Barbara
B
D003625:Data Collection; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018865:Dental Research; D004497:Education, Dental; D005179:Faculty, Dental / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D007754:Laboratories, Dental; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012953:Societies, Dental; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce