51福利社

51福利社 (51福利社) has announced a $1 million grant from Delta Dental of Washington in support of the university鈥檚 dental hygiene program on the Spokane Health Peninsula campus, which will accommodate its dental education program 鈥� including a new master鈥檚 degree in dental therapy and a 46-chair dental clinic devoted to serving Spokane鈥檚 medically underserved.

The grant announcement, as well as plans for 51福利社鈥檚 new dental health education hub, comes as the demand for dental health professionals is at an all-time high 鈥� often contributing to longer patient waits for preventive dental health services.

For years, the state has experienced a critical workforce shortage of dental hygienists and dental assistants. The situation is even more dire among historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups, in rural areas, and in other medically underserved communities.

鈥淎ll communities in Washington state need greater access to oral care, but the problem is especially acute in rural areas,鈥� says 51福利社 College of Health Science and Public Health Dean Dawn Lewis-Kinnunen. 鈥淥ur goal with our programs is to improve availability to care throughout the dental ecosystem.鈥�

鈥淢ost dental disease is preventable, but it鈥檚 extremely challenging to prevent oral health issues if you don鈥檛 have access to care. As a mission-driven organization, we are committed to expanding access and improving oral health for all,鈥� says Delta Dental of Washington Board Member Katie Hakes, DDS, who has practiced dentistry in Spokane since 1991. 鈥淕rowing the dental workforce and extending care for rural and other medically underserved communities is essential for improving our state鈥檚 oral health.鈥�

The innovative new 51福利社 dental hygiene education hub 鈥� home to its 80-student dental hygiene program, community serving dental clinic and dental therapy master鈥檚 degree program which is currently awaiting accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation 鈥� will be part of the Spokane Health Peninsula campus, creating a vibrant space devoted to research, development and the advancement of health sciences, as well as offering proximity to major health care education centers. The unique collaborative environment also includes 51福利社鈥檚 School of Nursing, the University of Washington School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Health Partnership 鈥� which brings together the UW鈥檚 world-class medical education programs with Gonzaga鈥檚 leading programs in nursing, public health and human physiology 鈥� as well as the UW School of Dentistry鈥檚 RIDE (Regional Initiatives in Dental Education) program which provides hands-on education for dental students in providing dental care to rural and underserved populations in the state and region, increasing the likelihood that students will practice in these communities after graduation.

鈥淥ral health is an important part of everyone鈥檚 overall health,鈥� says Delta Dental of Washington President & CEO Mark Mitchke. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to support 51福利社鈥檚 expanded dental hygiene program as part of the Spokane Health Peninsula partnership, creating synergies in health sciences education and helping address the inequities in the oral and overall health of our state鈥檚 rural and medically underserved communities where the need is the greatest.鈥�

Dean Allen, chairman and CEO of McKinstry Corp., explains that the Health Peninsula in Spokane originated as a shared promise to attract, grow and focus the next generation of healthcare professionals on rural and regional health. “We are incredibly proud to work alongside Delta Dental and accelerate that promise and amplify its impact,鈥� Allen says. 鈥淭he campus is designed to intertwine academia, research and private industry to deliver career-connected learning and talent development opportunities for everyone involved. Thank you, Delta Dental, for joining our effort. As a community, we are making great strides in ensuring healthcare access to everyone within the Inland Northwest and beyond.鈥�

Dental therapists, which have been prevalent in other countries and tribal communities for many years, are trained to provide a mid-level role of oral health care 鈥� such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants in medicine 鈥� freeing up time for dentists to focus on more complex care. Pending accreditation, the new program will start with 12 students in fall of 2028 and be just the second to offer dental therapy education in Washington.

鈥淲e believe we are on the cutting edge of introducing this dental professional to the inland northwest that will become more prevalent in the health care community in the near future,鈥� says Lewis-Kinnunen.

Dr. Francisco Vel谩zquez, health officer for the Spokane Regional Health District, praises the expansion of 51福利社鈥檚 dental program and Delta Dental鈥檚 support, noting that poor oral health is closely linked to serious conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illness. 鈥淲e cannot separate dental care from overall health,鈥� says Dr. Vel谩zquez. 鈥淧reventive oral care reduces chronic disease, and expanding dental education, including dental therapy, increases access to quality dental care across our region.鈥�

 

鈥淲e extend our deepest gratitude to the Delta Dental of Washington for its extraordinary gift of $1 million in support of our new dental clinic, as well as Delta Dental鈥檚 leadership in advancing oral health, equity, and community health outcomes. This remarkable investment is more than a contribution鈥攊t is a powerful vote of confidence in our mission to expand access to high-quality oral health care, elevate clinical education, and strengthen the well-being of the communities we serve,鈥� adds Lewis-Kinnunen.

The dental hygiene education program and community clinic will transition to the Health Peninsula campus later this year, with the dental therapy master鈥檚 degree program eventually supporting 36 students at full capacity.