Bridging Pathways
- Public Health & Clinical
- Advocacy
-
Access
- Bridging Pathways
- Student Leaders for Social Change
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Resources
- Strategic Framework 1-1
- Diversity Checklist
- HURE Report
- Climate Study
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Faculty Diversity Toolkit
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Barriers and Challenges to Recruiting and Retaining Diverse Faculty
- Chapter 3: Best Practice Highlights—Recruiting and Hiring Diverse Faculty
- Chapter 4: Best Practice Highlights—Retaining Diverse Faculty
- Chapter 5: Conclusion
- Appendix B: Diversity and Inclusion Terminology
Questions?
Contact us at BridgingPathways@adea.org.
ADEA Bridging Pathways to Oral Health Careers Program
Inspiring Tomorrow’s Oral Health Workforce, Today.
Bridging Pathways to Oral Health Careers Program is an American Dental Education Association (ADEA) initiative to build awareness of the oral health professions among 14- to 18-year-old students across the country.
The program is made possible by the generous support of the Delta Dental Future Workforce Fund Grant and ADEA’s partnership with 26 Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) nationwide.
This initiative focuses on building a prepared oral health workforce for rural and underserved communities by improving the supply, distribution and accessibility of oral health professionals. In the program’s second year, our goal is to reach over 1,900 students and provide them with a positive oral health workforce experience.
Program Overview
2026 AHEC Program Locations
Program Goals for 2026
- Build awareness of and interest in the oral health professions among 14–18-year-old students across the United States.
- Impact a minimum of 1,900+ students through a variety of large and small programs at 20 AHEC locations.
- Create long-term tracking of student engagement and interest in the oral health professions that follow attendees through their middle, high school and college journeys.
Who Should Apply?
Applications for the 2026 Funding Cycle have closed.
Participation in this project is best suited for:
- AHECs with an existing summer health program that is missing a robust oral health focus.
- AHECs located in communities that are underserved by oral health professionals looking to add an oral health program.
- AHECs serving underrepresented and marginalized communities in oral health.
Funding and Budget
Each AHEC site selected to participate in the 2026 ADEA Bridging Pathways to Oral Health Careers Program was eligible to receive funding in support of its implementation efforts.
Award amounts were determined based on each site’s proposed budget and the anticipated reach and impact of their program, with funding capped at $5,000. This approach ensured that resources were distributed equitably and aligned with the program’s goals to strengthen oral health education and access at the community level.
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