{"id":117656,"date":"2024-12-04T01:56:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T07:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=117656"},"modified":"2024-12-03T15:30:30","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T21:30:30","slug":"unmc-dean-shares-strategies-to-expand-the-dental-workforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/12\/04\/unmc-dean-shares-strategies-to-expand-the-dental-workforce\/","title":{"rendered":"UNMC dean shares strategies to expand the dental workforce"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Gerry Kugel, DMD, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry, testified last month on LR 373<\/a>, an interim study to examine different methods, including potential statutory changes, to address the need to recruit, train and retain individuals to practice dentistry in Nebraska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his testimony, Dr. Kugel discussed a variety of strategies to expand the dental workforce and improve access to care across Nebraska. \u201cOur college of dentistry is committed to training dental professionals for Nebraska,\u201d he said, noting 66% of Nebraska dentists are UNMC graduates and 81% of rural Nebraska dentists are UNMC graduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe college serves as a crucial part of the state\u2019s dental \u2018safety net,\u2019 providing over $80,000 patient visits annually and delivering more than $7 million in free and reduced fee care each year for underserved populations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Kugel suggested that, with additional resources, Nebraska could become a national leader in training dentists equipped to care for patients with special health care needs, through specialized programs and clinics. Additional strategies, he said, for workforce expansion include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n