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JUMP-STARTING STUDENTS’ CAREERS Dickinson High School offers new dental assisting program
Staff from High Plains Dental and students from Dickinson High School volunteered at Lincoln Elementary School. From L-R: High Plains Dental team members Carly Fuentes, LaDonna Glaser, Dawn Mills, Sarah Baisch, and Rachel Mehrer with students Evan Lubken and Griffin Obrigewitch.
Students at Dickinson High School (DHS) in Dickinson, North Dakota, now have an opportunity to jump-start their careers before graduation by gaining education and experience in dental assisting, one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States. This year, DHS introduced a new entry-level dental assisting program that incorporates participating in interactive, online education from the DALE Foundation and taking exams through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The program is for junior and senior students, and also includes participation in community service projects, dental office shadowing and clinical preceptorship hours. Upon completing the program, students will be eligible to earn DANB’s National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification and will have already completed some of the requirements to earn status as a North Dakota Qualified Dental Assistant (QDA).
Filling a need in North Dakota The DHS dental assisting program was established to help address the growing shortage of dental assistants in the area. DHS health science teacher Bobbie Johnson, R.N., helped found the dental assisting program at DHS. Ms. Johnson says she heard about the shortage of dental assistants from several dentists. “There aren’t any dental assisting schools in our area,” Ms. Johnson explains. “Most dental
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Fall/Winter 2020
