Two federal programs are helping community health centers build dental residency programs in underserved areas, the American Dental Association reported June 2.
Five notes:
- The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education and Teaching Health Center Planning and Development programs provide grants for community health centers to launch dental residency programs.
- The THCGME program currently supports more than 1,254 residents across 88 community-based residency programs. More than 3,090 physicians and dentists have completed training through the program so far, including 155 advanced general dentists.
- The THCPD companion program provides grants of approximately $500,000 per awardee to support health centers with the launch of their residencies, including with curriculum development, faculty recruitment and accreditation.
- Research has shown that health professionals who train in underserved settings are more likely to practice in these areas, the ADA noted.
- The THCGME program was recently extended by Congress after being set to expire in January. However, advocates have said that additional funding is needed to expand the model.
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