438 - Evaluate the Outcome of Howard University Pediatric Dentistry Program from 2009-2024

Under-represented minorities (URM) are defined as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinos, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives (Mertz et al., 2016).  These individuals are labeled due to their disproportionally low representation within various career fields, such as healthcare, nursing, and law, compared to the nation’s population (Mertz et al., 2016).  Asians, on the other hand, are over-represented in the dentist workforce, compared to their proportion of the United States population (Mertz et al., 2016).  The lack of workplace diversity affects quality and access to care on a local and national level (Sullivan, 2004). 

The current dental workforce does not reflect the diversity of the nation’s population.  Currently, African Americans/Blacks make up 3.8%, Hispanics/Latinos make up 6.0%, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives make up 0.3% of the dental workforce (American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, 2023).  Pediatric dentistry is in the forefront as the most diverse in gender and race in comparison to other dental specialties.  Over the last decade, the largest growth of female dentists has been within pediatric dentistry (McKay and Quinonez, 2012).  In 2016, 6.1% of female dentists worked in pediatric dentistry compared to 2.8% of male dentists (Surdu et al., 2021). 

There is an increase in female dentists, with many of them specializing in pediatric dentistry.  Female enrollment increased from 51.3% to 70% in 2020 (American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, 2021).  In 2020, the percentage of under-represented pediatric dental residents was 18% (American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, 2021).  Currently, the total enrollment in pediatric dentistry programs is comprised of 72% females compared to 28% males (American Dental Association Policy Institute, 2023).  This comes in third with the most female dentists, behind oral medicine and dental public health, respectively (American Dental Association Policy Institute, 2023).  

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the outcome of Howard University Pediatric Dentistry program from 2009-2024.  The study is a geospatial analysis to see where past residents are practicing and what patient populations they are serving.  The study aims to see how many Board-Certified pediatric dentists graduated from the program as under-represented minorities, which also demonstrates the mission of the program in increasing minority pediatric dentists. 

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