Missouri Southern State University Dental Hygiene Program
was recently awarded a three-year, $409,928 grant through MoHealth Net’s Rural
Citizens Access to Telehealth (RCAT) program. This grant will fund dental
screenings, sealants, oral hygiene instructions and fluoride treatments for
local elementary schools serving diverse populations of children with higher
economic needs and limited access to dental care.
This grant has supported the compensation funding for
faculty, as well as the purchase of equipment and supplies. MoHealth Net
provides reimbursement for dental sealants and telehealth screenings. These
reimbursements will help sustain the program after the grant period ends.
As a new program director of a dental hygiene program, Jill
Pyle, RDH, M.S.Ed., Program Director of the Missouri Southern State University
Dental Hygiene Program, is dedicated to continuously integrating innovative and
immersive learning experiences for students that aligns with Missouri Southern
State University’s mission. This grant funding allows the dental hygiene
department to hit three key factors in the university’s mission: 1) immersive
learning, 2) supporting of the accrediting body CODA and 3) lifelong service
learning.
Students can gain immersive learning experiences through
practicum rotations, where they engage in authentic, real-world activities
under the guidance and supervision of faculty and dentists. These experiences
offer students the chance to learn in practical contexts, significantly
enhancing their comprehensive understanding of the material.
According to CODA Standard 2-16, graduates must demonstrate
competence in assessing the oral health needs of community-based programs, planning
an oral health program that includes health promotion and disease prevention
activities, implementing the planned program and evaluating the effectiveness
of the implemented program. This grant offers the opportunity to participate in
a community dental health program and service-learning activity, requiring the
application of skills in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating a
community-based program to meet this standard.
Including new technology, such as telehealth, within these
new experiences can be expensive, particularly with recent cuts to higher
education budgets. Consequently, the Missouri Southern State University Dental
Hygiene Program is actively seeking various funding opportunities to support
these initiatives. Grant organizations can assist in funding the university’s
mission to empower students to transform society and its communities. In
support of the university’s mission and goals, students engage in outreach
activities that serve a diverse patient population in our community. Working in
the community fosters the development of lifelong learning and creates
outstanding leaders and oral health care providers that continue to serve the
community upon graduation.
Courtesy of Jill Pyle, RDH, M.S.Ed., Program
Director, Missouri Southern State University Dental Hygiene Program
Published on August 14, 2024