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Diversity Makes Dentistry Strong and Vital
COMMENTARY Diversity Makes Dentistry Strong and Vital By Lidia Epel, DDS
I am writing in response to the Discussion section of the December 2004 abstract “Dentistry deals with diversity” that contains the following statement: “More women are becoming dentists, but few dentists have been drawn from cultures other than that of white individuals.” That statement was probably consistent with yesterday’s dentistry, but not the dentistry that I know today. As a native of Buenos Aires, I can share my opinions on this abstract from my rare perspective as a woman and a non–UStrained dentist in New York in 1972. I am so committed to leadership in organized dentistry because I remember the disadvantage of being an ethnic female when attempting to purchase a practice or becoming an associate. Since then, I have served as the first woman president of my local dental society in 1997 and as a key organizer of the first Women’s Conference, held in conjunction with the Greater Long Island Dental Meeting in New York. People are afraid of change and differences but diversity is what has made our country and our profession strong and vital.
American, Asian, Native American, or Hispanic, according to that year’s Annual Report: Dental Education. Compare that with today’s dental school environment. According to the 2002/03 Survey of Predoctoral Education, just 63.7% of dental students are white. Also, the number of women ADA members continues to rise. Of approximately 152,500 active licensed members, 22,770 are women, and those numbers are growing. Through programs such as the Institute for Diversity in Leadership and the Tripartite Grassroots Membership Initiative, the ADA is committed to increasing participation and involvement of dentists who have been traditionally underrepresented in organized dentistry.
I want to share some data regarding the large gains of ethnically diverse dentists. ADA membership statistics indicate that membership of underrepresented groups has grown from 8332 members in 1993 to 14,941 in 2004—a gain of more than 6600 members in only 11 years. Selfidentified minority dentists currently make up approximately 15% of dentists overall; however, the racial/ethnic diversity of the dental profession is expected to grow as greater numbers of people of diverse backgrounds enter dentistry and older, predominantly white dentists retire.
Finally, I am pleased to chair the ADA Council on Membership and am optimistic about the future of our profession. On a personal note, dentistry was the best profession for me. I was drawn to it because it allowed me to be independent, and that has not changed since my original decision to pursue dentistry as my chosen profession. I hope we can encourage and inspire new dentists of all backgrounds. As the world continues to change, it is my wish that dentists can address the needs of the growing population.
For example, in the 1972-1973 academic year, 91.8% of all dental students were white; only 7.2% were African-
Dr Epel is the Chair, ADA Council on Membership.
324 Dental Abstracts
“I hope we can encourage and inspire new dentists of all backgrounds.”
I am writing in response to the Discussion section of the December 2004 abstract “Dentistry deals with diversity” that contains the following statement: “More women are becoming dentists, but few dentists have been drawn from cultures other than that of white individuals.” That statement was probably consistent with yesterday’s dentistry, but not the dentistry that I know today. As a native of Buenos Aires, I can share my opinions on this abstract from my rare perspective as a woman and a non–UStrained dentist in New York in 1972. I am so committed to leadership in organized dentistry because I remember the disadvantage of being an ethnic female when attempting to purchase a practice or becoming an associate. Since then, I have served as the first woman president of my local dental society in 1997 and as a key organizer of the first Women’s Conference, held in conjunction with the Greater Long Island Dental Meeting in New York. People are afraid of change and differences but diversity is what has made our country and our profession strong and vital.
American, Asian, Native American, or Hispanic, according to that year’s Annual Report: Dental Education. Compare that with today’s dental school environment. According to the 2002/03 Survey of Predoctoral Education, just 63.7% of dental students are white. Also, the number of women ADA members continues to rise. Of approximately 152,500 active licensed members, 22,770 are women, and those numbers are growing. Through programs such as the Institute for Diversity in Leadership and the Tripartite Grassroots Membership Initiative, the ADA is committed to increasing participation and involvement of dentists who have been traditionally underrepresented in organized dentistry.
I want to share some data regarding the large gains of ethnically diverse dentists. ADA membership statistics indicate that membership of underrepresented groups has grown from 8332 members in 1993 to 14,941 in 2004—a gain of more than 6600 members in only 11 years. Selfidentified minority dentists currently make up approximately 15% of dentists overall; however, the racial/ethnic diversity of the dental profession is expected to grow as greater numbers of people of diverse backgrounds enter dentistry and older, predominantly white dentists retire.
Finally, I am pleased to chair the ADA Council on Membership and am optimistic about the future of our profession. On a personal note, dentistry was the best profession for me. I was drawn to it because it allowed me to be independent, and that has not changed since my original decision to pursue dentistry as my chosen profession. I hope we can encourage and inspire new dentists of all backgrounds. As the world continues to change, it is my wish that dentists can address the needs of the growing population.
For example, in the 1972-1973 academic year, 91.8% of all dental students were white; only 7.2% were African-
Dr Epel is the Chair, ADA Council on Membership.
324 Dental Abstracts
“I hope we can encourage and inspire new dentists of all backgrounds.”