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College of Dentistry’s interprofessional education initiatives enrich student experience

Dental hygiene students receive instruction on general anesthesia and intubation from Maireen Miravite, MD, an assistant professor at the UNMC College of Medicine.

Interprofessional Education (IPE) at UNMC brings together students and educators from all health care disciplines across departments, colleges and campuses. They learn to work as an integrated health care team, sharing expertise in a collaborative learning environment to achieve the best possible patient outcomes.

The following are the College of Dentistry’s interprofessional education initiatives for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Caring for Champions Dental Clinic

Pediatric dentistry residents, dental students, dental hygiene students, and faculty collaborate with the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) interdisciplinary team at the Caring for Champions Dental Clinic. The dental care team works with MMI behavior therapists and other specialists to provide the most positive dental care experience for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Children’s Dental Day UNMC Collaboration

Over 200 underserved children from across Nebraska received free dental care at the College of Dentistry’s Children’s Dental Day in April 2024. Students from the UNMC College of Nursing participated in the event, providing wellness checks for all the children.

Dental Hygiene OR Simulation

Dental hygiene faculty organized an operating room simulation at the Davis Global Center to provide students with an interprofessional experience. Students learned about donning and doffing from Elizabeth Beam, PhD, RN, an associate professor at the UNMC College of Nursing. They also learned about OR etiquette and patient transfer to a bed from Randi Peavy, manager of the UNMC iEXCEL Surgical Simulation Program. Additionally, students received instruction on general anesthesia and intubation from Maireen Miravite, MD, an anesthesiologist and assistant professor at the UNMC College of Medicine.

Dental Student Ergonomics Video and e-Module

Amanda Ribeiro Wobido, DDS, MS, an assistant professor at the UNMC College of Dentistry, collaborated with Payton Swanson, OPT, a graduate student, and Stacy Smallfield, DrOT, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA, a professor—both from the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions Department of Occupational Therapy—to develop an ergonomics instructional video for College of Dentistry students and faculty.

While observing dental students at work, the team discovered that most students were unaware of how to adjust their chairs properly, prompting them to create the short instructional video. The team also worked with dental students Payton Swanson, Kenedi Holck, and Nori Khalaf to create an e-module to offer dental students strategies for reducing risk and increasing comfort while developing their dentistry skills.

Early Dental Health Starter Kits Educational Program

The College of Dentistry partnered with the Nebraska Community Foundation and the Nebraska DHHS Office of Oral Health and Dentistry to develop an educational program aimed at preventing dental disease in children. Early dental health starter kits, filled with specialized children’s oral hygiene items and educational materials, are provided to parents across Nebraska at no cost. The Nebraska Hospital Association is an important program partner, distributing the kits to hospitals statewide, where health care professionals provide them to parents.

Health Care Screenings

The College of Dentistry collaborates with other UNMC colleges to provide health screenings and education to underserved populations, including Special Olympics athletes and individuals experiencing homelessness at Project Connect events. The college also offers oral health screenings at community events alongside local health care organizations, including events sponsored by the Asian Cultural and Community Health Center and the Salvation Army. There are often opportunities for different health care disciplines to learn from one another.

Patient Care at Community Clinics

Each year, dental and dental hygiene students volunteer over 1,300 hours at Clinic with a Heart and the People’s City Mission, free clinics in Lincoln, where they provide dental care to underserved populations. In addition to dental services, other health care services are also offered. Students collaborate with volunteers from other health disciplines to help patients receive the care they need.

Teledentistry in Schools

Pediatric dentistry residents and faculty use telehealth to support health professionals within Omaha and Lincoln Public Schools. These telehealth consultations help reduce emergency room visits and provide school-based health providers with oral health training.

UNMC IPE Days

Dental and dental hygiene students from Lincoln and the college’s West Division participated in the fall and spring IPE events, with College of Dentistry faculty facilitating discussions.