The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine is planning to expand its apprenticeship program for dental assistants to include more than 60 student trainees.
The program, which was launched in January 2023 and just had its first six graduates, aims to alleviate staffing shortages and increase diversity in dentistry, according to an April 9 news release from the university.
The second round of the program is expected to have at least 60 students.
The university is implementing a new model for the July 2024 class. The first section will be online, after which the trainees will be placed at sponsor clinic sites throughout Pennsylvania to gain clinical experience.
The program is funded through a PAsmart grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the release said.