New Training Program Tackles Dental Assistant Shortage

To help ease the dental assistant shortage created by the pandemic, Eastman Institute for Oral Health developed an innovative new program, designed to provide employment and paid training opportunities while helping treat the area’s increased number of dental patients.

The new, one-year training program began in midJanuary, comprised of two hours of classroom learning, followed by observation and hands-on training each day.

“Because people are so busy, we purposely designed the program to be strictly on-the-job training,” said Holly Barone, EIOH chief operations officer. “No homework, no tests and no prior dental or health experience necessary. The goal is to make it convenient to learn valuable new skills while serving our community.”

After 29 years as a certified nursing assistant, Susan Koch was ready for a change. When she saw the Facebook ad about the program, she knew it was exactly what she wanted.

“There’s a lot more to know than I thought,” she said after six weeks into the program. “But I’m really excited and learning a lot. I’m really enjoying the hands on in the clinic."

Staff shortages coupled other pandemic-related challenges resulted in higher demand for emergency and routine dental treatment, thus limiting the ability to treat non-emergency patients in as timely of a fashion prepandemic.

“This program is truly a win-win for the trainees, our departments, and most importantly, our patients,” said Karen Judy, practice administrator for General Dentistry. Upon completion of the program, which attracted 375 applications for 14 trainee positions, the dental assistants can work independently as a chairside assistant, help the dentist provide patient care, work in the lab, take x-rays, sterilize equipment and many other responsibilities. Karen, along with Jill Johnson, operations administrator, Galina Torres, senior administrator, Dr. Michael Yunker and Dr. Hans Malmstrom developed the curriculum, along with invaluable assistance from many residents, lead dental assistants and staff. They include Kim Hampton, Elena Velo, MaryAnn Czamara, Susan Schuler, as well as Drs. Aboelmagd, Aguilera, Al Jallad, Alsayed, Cavalcanti, Cherian, Gusmini, Habeeballa, Kakkar, Leal, Lima, Lopez, Mahjoorighasrodashti, Mahmoud, Marzouk, Ortiz, Sadek Thakkar, Youssef, and Obando.

“The class is a mix of us from all areas,” Susan added. “The dentists, leads and the teachers have all been very supportive and helpful, and genuinely want to see all of us make it through and learn everything we can. It’s been a great experience.”

Because of the strong interest in the program, the goal is to have another class of dental assistants begin training in the near future. ♦

Dental Assistant trainee Susan Koch especially enjoys the hands-on learning in the clinics.