12-Month Program

Dental assisting is a 12-month program, scheduled to begin in August 2025. The program is 32 credit hours and 400 clock hours of internship, which is 44 weeks (one year). It will be offered at the Family Care Health Center, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) located at 4352 Manchester Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110. The program will offer hybrid/online didactic courses and weekend clinics, making it accessible for working adults.  Upon completing the program, students will receive a Dental Assisting Proficiency Certificate.

Our facility has dental and radiology treatment rooms, a laboratory area, and a state-of-the-art sterilization center. Students will have computer access for various lessons, testing, and simulations related to dental software programs. Preparing assistants for a successful career. 

The Instructional staff/program director has many years of experience in the dental field. Instructors are certified by the Dental Assisting National Board and hold advanced degrees specializing in health science. The classroom/clinical/lab area is similar to that encountered in the dental office. 

Beginning preparatory instruction will be organized into class or

group participation. A major part of these classroom activities will consist of the theory involved in the dental health field. Collaborative learning will be stressed in the classroom/online and in the laboratory.  Students will apply the theory taught to simulation as encountered

in the profession. Since students in this program are working toward becoming competent, professional dental assistants, students must develop a highly professional attitude with an ethical approach toward their work, instructors, classmates, and patients.

The pre-dental program is a fall and summer program for students exploring an interest in dentistry. The program will partner with other institutions to offer students the opportunity to develop proficiencies for becoming a worthy candidate for health profession programs, plan academic journeys, acquire clinical exposure, and networking. 

The pre-medical program is a fall and summer program for students exploring an interest in medicine. The program will partner with other institutions to offer students the opportunity to develop proficiencies for becoming a worthy candidate for health profession programs, plan academic journeys, acquire clinical exposure, and networking. 

Our program is to research to address the lack of minority dentists and physicians primarily focusing on strategies to increase the pipeline of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), students entering medical and dental schools through early exposure to culturally competent curriculum, healthcare careers, targeted mentorship programs, financial aid initiatives, and addressing system barriers with the admissions

process, including implicit bias, while also advocating for culturally competent healthcare practices within medical institutions.

Pipeline Development

* Early exposure programs:

Implementing programs in K-12 education to introduce underrepresented minority students to healthcare careers through career days, shadowing opportunities, and culturally relevant science curricula. 

* Cultural competency curricula:

Incorporating cultural competency education into dental and medical school curriculums to better service a diverse patient population.

* Mentorship programs:       

Establishing robust mentorship networks connecting pre-med/pre-dental underrepresented minority students with practicing minority physicians and dentists to provide guidance on the application process and career pathways.

* Summer research programs:

Offering research opportunities in dental and medical schools to expose underrepresented minority students to the field and provide valuable research experience. 

Admissions process reform:

* Holistic review: 

Evaluating applicants based on a comprehensive picture beyond just test scores, considering factors like community involvement and life experiences. 

* Unconscious bias training:

Educating admissions committees on identifying and mitigating unconscious biases in the selection process.

* Scholarships and grants:

Providing targeted financial aid to underrepresented students pursuing healthcare careers.