ADEA Publishes Results of Inaugural Oral Health Education Climate Study

Research Featured in Special May Issue of ADEA’s Journal of Dental Education (JDE)

May 29, 2025 — The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) published the results from its historic oral health education climate study in the May 2025 issue of the organization’s Journal of Dental Education (JDE). The special issue’s articles are based on baseline data collected on inclusivity and culture at U.S. and Canadian dental schools and allied dental programs. Developed from a comprehensive survey launched in early 2022, this climate assessment aimed to assist oral health education programs on the campus environment and gathered the perspectives of students, faculty, staff, and administrators with measuring perceptions of welcomeness and belonging, that help to foster humanistic campus climates.

Several of the articles in this JDE special issue demonstrate the positive outcomes of building a humanistic environment, while other observations identify reductions in productivity and well-being. The ADEA Climate Study aligns with the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards for dental schools, dental therapy, and dental hygiene programs and their commitment to regularly use evaluation tools in fostering “a humanistic culture and learning environment.”

The ADEA Climate Study included 258 participating U.S. and Canadian dental schools and allied dental education programs. Specifically, 66 (or 88%) of eligible dental schools and 179 (or 75%) of eligible ADEA allied dental education programs participated in the study. More than 18,000 unique faculty, staff, students, and administrators responded to the ADEA Climate Study, with an overall participation of 29.19%.

“While we acknowledge that our membership community faces ongoing challenges to campus programs, this important research is grounded in proven practices of data collection and analysis methodologies to identify the business case, the interconnectivity of our communities and the evidence-based science surrounding significant initiatives,” said ADEA President and CEO Karen P. West, D.M.D., M.P.H. “It is our hope that the data presented in this issue will help drive meaningful dialogue around advancing oral health education.”