The grant was awarded to encourage diversity in healthcare, as it will provide scholarships to students from underrepresented groups. Ninety percent of NAU’s dental hygiene students enrolled from 2015-19 came from an “educationally, environmentally and/or economically disadvantaged background,” according to Denise Helm, a dental hygiene professor at NAU.
The funding will cover at least half of the tuition for about 40 dental hygiene students this year. In the next five years, about 200 students are expected to receive scholarships from the grant.
“Tooth decay remains the No. 1 preventable childhood disease,” Ms. Helm said in a news release. “Health care professionals who are from a diverse background tend to select practice locations in health professional shortage areas, underserved areas and primary care. And, health professions students who participate in internships and clinical rotation in those areas are more inclined to return to that or a similar area to practice after graduation.”
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