Nine dentists from as far away as Cuba and India will begin their dream of practicing in the United States at the UMKC 牙科学院 thanks to a new program at the school.

先进的常设牙科教育计划, 该项目于今年1月在该校启动, will enable these practitioners and all those who follow them in the program to work as dentists in the United States. 没有这样的程序, dentists from other countries face limited options to practice oral health care in the U.S.

“It’s going to be a life-changing opportunity for these students,Gustavo Leal说, 高级常务项目的临时主任. “These students are fighters who have been working hard to achieve this dream.”

The advanced standing students will finish their dental degree in 2 1/2 years, compared to students in the traditional degree program, 谁上四年学. The shorter timeline condenses two years of coursework into six months, 包括实验室, 讲座, pre-clinic skills training and exposure to different disciplines. 据Leal说, students in the program proved in their skill tests and board exams that they had the knowledge base and skills to handle the accelerated timeline.

The students will join the existing third-year students in the fall of 2024, 接下来的两年都是同样的时间线. The first cohort of nine students began the program in January and are slated to graduate in 五月 2027.

院长史蒂文·哈斯说, 2010年左右, dental schools started to open avenues for internationally trained dentists, enabling them to avoid the burden of going back to school for an additional four years. 在美国有93个这样的项目, UMKC is one of many universities offering a similar path to practicing in the United States. 对该计划的需求不言自明. UMKC received 380 applications for the nine spots available in its first class.

对哈斯, these practitioners represent a critical influx of oral health care providers who can address the shortage of oral health care providers in Missouri, 其中111个县被认为服务不足, 根据农村卫生信息中心. Haas said that Dekalb County in northwest Missouri has only one dentist for 10,480 people.

“We know that we need dentists in these rural areas,” Haas said. “By opening up our classes to internationally trained dentists, we’re able to get more oral health care providers out there.”

All third- and fourth-year students complete rotations in a variety of settings, 包括乡村牙科诊所.
Haas said that it’s important that the program diversify the oral health care workforce as well.

“我们的人口正在发生变化，”哈斯说. By 2050 or 2060, our population will look a lot different. I think dentistry should mirror that demographic shift.”

Haas said that current students will benefit from the infusion of this geographically diverse group of students.

For advanced student Flavia Santos Bada, the program will enable her to practice in the U.S. and help support her family, especially her father, who needs specialized medical care.

原产于古巴, Bada immigrated to the United States in 2018 after graduating from dental school there. She joined her parents and sister, who had moved to the U.S. for better medical care for Bada’s father, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

家庭对她来说很重要，UMKC很适合她.

“The school’s focus on putting patients first captured my attention,” Bada said. “I want to treat people, not just as my patients, as if they were my family.”

哈德里克·帕特尔, UMKC’s Midwestern location was critical in his decision to apply to the advanced standing program. Originally from India, he was practicing as a dental assistant in Nebraska. 他说他在中西部已经很舒服了, 所以当UMKC的项目开放时, 他立即申请了.

His first few months in the program have confirmed his excitement for the school.

“What has stood out is how many of the faculty are UMKC alumni,” Patel said. “我认为这很能说明这所学校. They wanted to come back to UMKC to ensure students achieve the same success they have.”

据Leal说, the program introduces more diversity into the student body, providing them with a much different perspective at a personal level as well as professional level. The advanced practice students have worked in the field and provide expertise to current students.

“I am excited to see their progression and how they incorporate themselves with the other dental students,利尔说。. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to grow while providing an opportunity for these practitioners to achieve their dreams.”