200996 INNOVATIVE DENTAL HYGIENE EDUCATION Model: The Dental Hygiene Clinical Enrichment Experience

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Maxine Janis, RDH, MPH , Minority Faculty Fellow - Assistant Clinical Professor, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
Northern Arizona University (NAU) dental hygiene students and faculty actively recruit American Indian students into health professions to assure infusion of American Indian health professionals return to respective tribal communities.

With a strong learner-centered education curriculum, clinical enrichment experiences allow dental hygiene students to actively become involved in a variety of comprehensive health related activities. Included are health promotions/disease prevention education activities. Students assess, plan, develop, implement, evaluate, and document public health projects throughout their education experiences creating a depth of knowledge in the principles of public health.

NAU's Dental Hygiene program offers a variety of clinical enrichment experiences with Indian Health Services, tribal health facilities, Veterans Administration, military bases, community health centers and special care settings. Highlighting the value of these experiences enriches learning, service and social responsibility.

NAU dental hygiene students complete approximately 2500 hours of dental hygiene services in public health or community health centers. Dental Hygiene students participate in clinical enrichment experiences.

Through these educational enrichment experiences dental hygiene students provide patient care to a variety of populations in traditionally rural and underserved areas, as well as, patient care and education to American Indian populations, and portable care for patients with disabilities of the southwest region. These unique dental hygiene educational enrichment experiences address many of the health disparities related to access to care.

Learning Objectives:
Describe dental hygiene clinical enrichment education experiences Demonstrate how innovative approaches in dental hygiene education increase access to care

Keywords: Access to Care, American Indians

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As the faculty Program Coordinator of dental hygiene clinical enrichment experience learning at Northern Arizona University Dental Hygiene Program, I have experience working with students at various public health rotation sites and can speak to access to care and workforce shortage issues in Public Health rural and underserved areas.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Addressing Oral Health Workforce Issues
See more of: Oral Health