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Arizona dentist working to diversify dentistry with nonprofit

Laila Hishaw, DDS, is pushing to bring more Blacks into dentistry through her nonprofit, which will hold its first youth summit in November, the Jacksonville Free Press reported Oct. 10.

Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships offers educational training and resources to make young people from underrepresented minority groups attractive candidates for dental schools.

Dr. Hishaw, owner of Tucson (Ariz.) Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, said she started the nonprofit after learning about the small numbers of Black dentists nationwide.

According to the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute, the racial makeup of dentistry does not reflect the diversity of the U.S. population, with Black and Hispanic people significantly underrepresented in the field. Black dentists made up 3.7 percent of the industry in 2005 and 3.8 percent in 2020.

The nonprofit is holding its youth summit Nov. 1 where students can learn more about dentistry during seminars and hand-on experiences. The event is being held in partnership with supplier Benco Dental's Family Foundation, the American Dental Education Association's GoDental educational initiative and Spear Education, which provides continuing education courses for dentists.

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