The American Dental Association has asked U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to clarify recent policy changes that could affect the dental education workforce.
The new policies include restrictions for the entry of certain nonimmigrant workers and a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas.
In an Oct. 2 letter, ADA President Brett Kessler, DDS, and Interim Executive Director Elizabeth Shapiro, DDS, told the agency that the changes could exacerbate faculty shortages at U.S. dental schools. The two leaders went on to ask the agency to consider exemptions or alternative approaches that would prevent worsening shortages.
Thirteen percent of U.S. dental faculty received their dental degree outside the country, while at least 6% of dental faculty identified as nonresident aliens, according to data from the ADA’s Health Policy Institute.
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