Pitt Dental Medicine’s Dental Assisting Apprenticeship Program proudly celebrated the first graduating class of 2024 of this novel program.
Aimed at addressing the need for more dental assistants in Pennsylvania—and nationally—the Dental Assisting Apprenticeship Program will continue into 2024 as the Dental Assisting Training Program (DATP). This program combines online training with real-life experience in dental offices and clinics across the Commonwealth. The hybrid format of the DATP allows for the trainee to train in their community— increasing the probability that they will remain there to work; have a closer connection to the community; and strengthen community members’ access to dental care.
“It is important to start thinking outside of the box and be creative when it comes to how we educate our students to meet not only the workforce demands but also the diverse needs of our patient population,” said Kelly Wagner, RDH, MS, Assistant Professor, Director of the Dental Hygiene Program, and Director of Quality Assessment & Improvement. To that end, Pitt Dental Medicine is exploring alternative and hybrid education models and pathways that can help to educate a larger, more versatile workforce.
Rural communities face higher rates of disease and have greater barriers to care. Recruitment of dental professionals to rural areas continues to be a great challenge in Pennsylvania. “We are working to expand educational opportunities in dental hygiene and dental assisting, with a goal to recruit a diverse dental workforce who will play a critical role in improving access to care in many communities with great need across the Commonwealth.” adds Wagner.
Currently, there are 30 trainees in the program—all of whom are in Pennsylvania. The program is available for trainees nationwide, however the current focus is to expand into the tri-state region.
For more information about becoming a student, or being a participating clinical site in Pennsylvania, please visit the Dental Assisting Training Program webpage.
Watch coverage of the Dental Assisting Apprenticeship graduation on WPXI TV.