Attracting talented faculty, staff and students who are representative of the people we serve, and advancing dental medicine with a collective impact approach
As a part of our mission to “to develop and foster a community of global leaders” we must ensure that our graduates represent the whole of humanity.
Increasing diversity within our community enriches our perspectives and provides diverse mentorship for our students. Practicing our values strengthens the integrity of HSDM and shows leadership in diversifying the field of dentistry.
By investing in this priority we aim to attract and encourage a wider applicant pool, foster future leaders, and advance the profession to address wide ranging oral and systemic health concerns around the world.
Double down on our commitment to diversify dentistry
Recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, faculty, and staff is a high-need investment area. We aim to significantly increase the diversity of our HSDM applicant pool through a variety of strategies including enhanced partnership and recruitment activities with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and enhanced pathway and mentorship programming for students navigating the dental school application process.
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HSDM prioritizes inclusive recruitment practices, enhanced training opportunities, and provides career counseling in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Reduce financial burden as a barrier to accessing dental education
Financial burdens are a known barrier to accessing dental education and pursuing unique careers in dentistry. As HSDM invests in recruiting diverse talent, we must invest equally in strategies to increase scholarship funding for underrepresented students.
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Tuition is just one piece of the burden; HSDM aims to identify effective strategies to defray upfront costs for learning materials and experiences of students. Additionally, HSDM will support students in seeking hybrid work/learn programs and offer mentorship in identifying and navigating non-traditional career pathways.
Expand programming and cultivate mentorship pathways
HSDM continues to advance dialogue on issues that challenge us and inspire us, and leverage our remarkable pool of talented community members to engage in meaningful mentorship experiences. The Bridge to Dental School Program, now in its fourth year, is one example of a student-driven initiative that assists pre-dental students, often from underrepresented groups, in navigating the dental school application process.
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We will invest in expanding critical programs to amplify our efforts to create a network of global leaders, and nurture supportive peer mentor communities in STEM fields.
The Impact of Scholarships
Hear from current dental students about how scholarship support made the difference in their decision to come to Harvard. We are committed to lifting financial barriers and making it possible for the best and brightest students to attend HSDM.
