On behalf of the Washington State Dental Association (WSDA) and Delta Dental of Washington (DDWA) we are excited to let you know that DDWA has awarded a $1 million grant to the University of Washington School of Dentistry (UWSOD) to support renovations needed to expand its hygienist training program. These renovations became necessary after the UWSOD partnered with Shoreline Community College to begin offering the hygienist program.

In addition to the initial $1 million grant, DDWA, WSDA and Seattle-King County Dental Society will be working with local dental and hygienist societies to raise another $500,000 to be matched by a second DDWA grant to the dental school. These additional funds will enable the program to expand through larger class sizes, with a goal of enrolling 25 students annually within two years of expansion, and an additional focus on increasing the class size thereafter. We will share information, including how you can get involved in this important effort, in the coming months.

This coordinated investment to expand hygienist education at UWSOD is a significant step in addressing the critical shortage of dental hygienists in Washington. It reflects a joint commitment to expand statewide access to preventative care, as described in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was developed between DDWA and WSDA late last year.

We are excited that this collaborative effort will demonstrate the value of the partnership we forged last year, as well as the power we can bring to impacting the staffing shortages across the state. This is the first of many actions we will take together to build a stronger dental workforce that enables us to deliver on our mutual goal of providing optimal oral health care in our communities. You can read the full article about the grant on the University of Washington School of Dentistry’s website here.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the oral and overall health of patients across the state. We look forward to providing additional information about both this program and the progress of our partnership in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Dennis Bradshaw
President
Washington State Dental Association

Mark Mitchke

President and CEO
Delta Dental of Washington