The pathway to dentistry for minority students: from their perspective.
The small number of minorities in the field of dentistry is a serious concern. While the United States as a whole has become more diverse with minorities making up 25 percent of the total U.S. population, only a handful (14 percent) are currently practicing dentistry, and only 11 percent entering dental schools are underrepresented minorities. Pipeline, Profession, & Practice: Community-Based Dental Education is a national foundation-sponsored program designed to address this issue in dental education. To understand the reasons why dentistry attracts so few underrepresented minority (URM) students, we conducted focus groups and in-depth interviews to determine the challenges facing minority students when they apply to and attend dental school. Ten focus groups were conducted with a total of ninety-two minority students (fourteen undergraduate students and seventy-eight students currently enrolled in dental schools) at six universities in four geographic regions. In addition, four in-depth interviews were held with faculty advisors who teach, mentor, and recruit minority students. The major findings of the study are as follows: 1) early and frequent exposure to dentistry and dentists in practice is essential for minority students to consider this profession; 2) while many dental schools have earnestly tried to recruit minority applicants, most URM students find out about dental programs by a family member or friend and not as a result of an intentional recruiting effort; and 3) hearing directly from minority students could be a solid first step in understanding the dental school experience from a different vantage point. This study has important implications for the methods dental schools use to both recruit minority students and foster a learning environment that is sensitive to students from diverse backgrounds.
Veal
Keith
K
Columbia University Center for Community Health Partnerships, 630 W. 168th Street, P& S Box 100, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Perry
Michael
M
Stavisky
Judith
J
Herbert
Kim D'Abreu
KD
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D002321:Career Choice; D003813:Dentistry; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000191:economics; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D017144:Focus Groups; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008611:Mentors; D008913:Minority Groups; D010560:Personnel Selection; D013335:Students, Dental; D014146:Training Support; D014481:United States