Inclusive Environment

Inclusive Environment—Develop and sustain an inclusive environment in which faculty, students, residents, fellows and administrators work together to create the future of dental education in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

ADEA Releases Key Findings of Climate Study

In January 2022, ADEA launched its inaugural Climate Study and invited U.S. and Canadian dental schools and allied dental programs to participate in the study at no cost. Nonprofit HR, an external consulting group, worked with ADEA staff and the ADEA Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment (ADEA CDECA), which is composed of ADEA members, to develop the survey instrument, collect the data, analyze the data and lead focus groups. The climate study was made available in English, French and Spanish and measured the perceptions of students, faculty, staff and administrators in 10 key areas: overall climate, well-being, sense of belonging, inclusive environment, humanistic environment, inclusive culture, welcomeness, equitable policies and practices, cultural competence and harassment and discrimination.

Additionally, this landmark Climate Study included 305 total participants included 88% (66 total) of eligible U.S. and Canadian dental schools, a total of 179 ADEA allied dental education programs (75% eligible) and 60 non-member allied dental education programs (25% of all non-member allied dental education programs). With the assistance of our deans, allied dental education program directors and ADEA’s dedicated volunteer members, ADEA surveyed 54,842 faculty, students, staff and administrators, capturing 18,666 unique responses from 15,995 survey participants for a participation rate of over 29.19%. This baseline data will be used for future comparative analysis. ADEA and the participant schools and programs will spend the next year working collectively to develop strategic initiatives to foster a more humanistic dental education environment.

In October 2022, each dental school and allied dental education program participating in the study received customized copies of their individual participants data which was reported in the aggregate to protect the anonymity of participants. These individualized, confidential Climate Study reports were sent to participating dental school deans and allied dental program directors via a secure platform. In November 2022, Phase 2 of the climate study was completed with the finalization and submission of the ADEA Climate Study Report to the ADEA CEO and President by Nonprofit HR.

In fall 2022, Nonprofit HR consultants presented key findings to the ADEA Board of Directors; ADEA Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee; dental school deans; ADEA CDECA members; and participants at the ADEA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Workshop. A summary of high-level key findings and related data tables are available on the ADEA website.

Additionally, ADEA facilitated an ADEA eLearn webinar in November 2022 open to ADEA members and non-members. A similar webinar was held in January 2023 for the Canadian dental schools and allied dental education programs. In 2023-2024, reports and articles based on the 2022 climate study data will be published in ADEA’s Journal of Dental Education. In January 2023, the ADEA Climate Study entered Phase 3 with ADEA staff working closely with Nonprofit HR consultants to develop toolkits, strategic roadmaps, and sharing best practices to support a more humanistic environment. This includes the integration of strategic initiatives to address key findings at the dental school/allied dental education program levels and across dental education. Overall, 305 or 80% of eligible ADEA dental schools and allied dental education programs participated in the study. Thus, with their continued support and commitment, the collaborative efforts of academic dentistry and on-going Climate Study work have the potential to significantly change the landscape of dental education over the next decade.

ADEA and Others Offer Webinar, “What’s Next for Title IX?”

On July 20, 2022, ADEA Access, Diversity and Inclusion (ADI) and Advocacy and Government Relations (AGR) held the “What’s Next for Title IX?” webinar which focused on the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement that the Department of Education (ED) would review Title IX regulations and release a new proposed rule. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program. The proposed rule is expected to be sweeping and address key issues, such as how transgender students will be treated under Title IX and how schools must handle allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

The speakers included Anne Meehan, J.D., Assistant Vice President, Government Relations, American Council on Education (ACE); Sheela Raja, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist, University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry; and Scott Schwartz, D.D.S., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The session was moderated by three ADEA staff members Sara Bendoraitis, M.S., Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Learning; Bridgette DeHart, Director of Federal Government Relations and Advocacy; and Brian Robinson, Program Manager.

ADEA Holds Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Workshop

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Workshop on Oct. 26, 2022, in St. Louis, MO, was a joint symposium of the ADEA Office of Access, Diversity and Inclusion and the ADEA Journal of Dental Education (JDE), featuring scholars and authors from the September 2022 JDE special issue on expanding and improving social justice, equity, access, diversity, inclusion and health equity in the academic health professions and oral health. Focusing on lessons learned, the JDE special issue is forward thinking in its effort to drive change and present contemporary solutions necessary to address the difficult systemic challenges related to anti-racism, gender equity and equality for all persons.

The theme of the Workshop was Impact 2030: Building a Culture of Inclusivity. Reed Tuckson, M.D., FACP, gave the keynote presentation, “The Evolving Challenges of Diversity and Inclusion for Contemporary Health Professional Education.” Dr. Tuckson presented the significant, and rapidly evolving, contextual landscape of American society and the related implication for population health. His keynote highlighted the challenges and opportunities for advancing comprehensive health care for people of color and other marginalized groups.

Nonprofit HR also presented key findings from the ADEA Climate Study, followed by a panel discussion that featured representatives from the ADEA Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment. The panelists discussed potential climate study implications and key take aways. Additionally, they highlighted how the survey findings and related data have been used on their campuses.

Eight concurrent breakout sessions were also offered as part of the DEIB workshop by JDE special issue article authors. The authors were distinguished experts on a range of topics, including antiracism and structural competency, recruitment and admissions practices, gender equity and opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community, strategies to increase faculty of color, and access to oral health care for vulnerable populations.

The DEIB workshop had 179 registrants, which surpassed the goal of 160. The last in-person DEIB workshop in 2019 had 138 registrants. Additionally, 31 posters were presented at the workshop.

ADEA Fall Meetings Diversity Plenary Session

A joint plenary session, “Faculty Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Academic Dentistry: Analyzing the Past and Present to Shape the Future” was presented at the 2022 ADEA Fall Meetings on Oct. 27 in St. Louis, MO. The session provided a panel discussion where Lisa Cain, Ph.D.; Michelle Brady, B.D.S.; Marita Inglehart, Dipl. Psych., Dr. phil., Dr. phil. habil.; and Emilia Istrate, Ph.D., M.A.I.S., discussed achieving dental faculty diversity and inclusion as diversity, equity and inclusion are essential for achieving excellence in teaching, research and clinical care in dental institutions.

The presentation was based on their article from the September 2022 issue of the ADEA Journal of Dental Education, “Faculty Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Academic Dentistry: Revisiting the Past and Analyzing the Present to Create the Future.” The session engaged attendees with discussion of trends in the diversity of faculty from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic (HURE) backgrounds and/or women; the challenges and best practices related to achieving diversity by recruiting, retaining and promoting faculty from HURE backgrounds; the challenges and proposals for best practices in promoting and increasing the number of women in leadership positions; and proposals for best practices in creating an inclusive and equitable environment for the retention and promotion of women and faculty from HURE backgrounds.

Office of Access, Diversity and Inclusion Presentations and Publications in 2022

Presentations

  • Sara Bendoraitis, M.S., and Sonya Smith, Ed.D., J.D. Presenters. The Importance of Inclusive Language. ADEA staff virtual training. June 10, 2022
  • Pam Berry-Banks, D.H.A., and Tony Mancuso. Presenters. Beyond the Pandemic: A Time for Enthusiasm and Growth. 32nd Annual Society of American Indian Dentists national conference. June 24, 2022
  • Sara Bendoraitis and Lorenzo Shaw-Graham, Facilitators. Educating Health Professions Educators to Address the “isms.” Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) meeting. June 27, 2022.
  • Pam Berry-Banks. Facilitator. Student Town Hall, Summer Health Professions Education Program Site-Visit Columbia University. July 7, 2022.
  • Pam Berry-Banks. Facilitator. Student Town Hall, Summer Health Professions Education Program Site-Visit Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. July 8, 2022.
  • Karen West, D.M.D., M.P.H., Angelo Lee, M.Ed., and Dr. Pam Berry-Banks, Presenters. ADEA Access, Diversity, and Inclusion Update. 109th National Dental Association Convention. July 14, 2022.
  • Sara Bendoraitis, Bridgette DeHart, and Brian Robinson, Moderators. What’s Next for Title IX? ADEA webinar. July 20, 2022.
  • Pam Berry-Banks, Facilitator. Building Relationship and Forming Communities. 2022 SHPEP Alumni Board Retreat. August 3-4, 2022
  • Sara Bendoraitis. Presenter. Importance of Inclusive Language: Understanding LGBTQ Identities. ADEA staff virtual training. Sept. 8, 2022.
  • Sonya Smith, Roman M., Cheng J., & Johnson M. Panel. Best Practices in DEIB Healthcare Practices. Health Equity and Inclusion Conference. Sept. 14, 2022.
  • Sara Bendoraitis. Presenter. What’s Your Default? ADEA DIEB Workshop. Oct. 26, 2022.
  • Sonya Smith and Dr. Jean C. Sinkford. Poster Presentation. Gender equality in the 21st century: Overcoming barriers to women’s leadership in global health. 2023 ADEA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Workshop/Journal of Dental Education Symposium. Oct. 27, 2022.
  • Pamela Berry-Banks. Poster Presentation. Does a state consent decree really reduce barriers to African-American higher education health professional enrollment? 2023 ADEA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Workshop/Journal of Dental Education Symposium. Oct. 27, 2022.
  • Sara Bendoraitis. Moderator. Beyond Safe: How to Walk the Talk? ADEA webinar. Nov. 10, 2022.
  • Sara Bendoraitis. Moderator. 2022 ADEA Climate Assessment Key Findings. ADEA webinar. Nov. 15, 2022.
  • Shelvia English. Presenter. Where do I fit in? Promoting Cultural Competence and DEIB at ADEA. ADEA Staff virtual lunch and learn training. Dec. 7, 2022

 Publications

  • Smith SG, Banks PB, Istrate EC, Davis AJ, Johnson KR, West KP. Anti‐racism structures in academic dentistry: Supporting underrepresented racially/ethnically diverse faculty. J Pub Health Dent 82 (2022):103-113.
  • Sinkford, J.C., Smith, S.G. Introduction to this special issue. J Dent Educ. 2022;86:1051–1054. https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13074
  • Smith, S.G., Sinkford JC. Gender equality in the 21st century: Overcoming barriers to women’s leadership in global health. J Dent Educ. 2022;86:1144–1173. https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13059

Educational Pathways and ADEA HURE MSI Advisory Workshop Conduct HURE Needs Assessment on ADEA Applicant Resources

As part of ongoing work around updating the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools (OG) and the ADEA Dental School Explorer (DSE) to better serve the needs of historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (HURE) applicants, in June 2022, Educational Pathways staff met with members of ADEA Communications and Membership to propose a series of changes to both resources, changes that were proposed with help from the recently formed ADEA HURE Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Advisory Group. Some of the proposed changes include updates to the data tables, financial aid information and overall layout (e.g., offering a viewbook, including more imagery and student testimonies) in the OG and additional filter options in the ADEA DSE.