UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY Creating a UAA Dental School: Feasibility Report By: Caleb McGraw accolade-dental-school

Abstract This Project examines the feasibility of opening a dental school at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Research Review of literature via UAA consortium library online database Online survey taken by current UAA students The Project was discovered to be feasible Biggest challenge: 65+ million dollar start-up costs Conclusions Majority of current UAA students support the dental school Increase in Anchorage’s economy Increase in the level of dental care throughout Alaska Expansion of UAA’s educational standing Increase in training of highly needed dentists Recommendations Create a more detailed outline of budget and costs Link school to Alaska Native dental care to gain federal funding

Introduction Problem Dental care in rural Alaska is far below the rest of the United States, explained as a dental care epidemic. Only 29% of Alaska Native Children, and fewer adults have access to dental care. It’s challenging and difficult for dentists to practice dentistry in rural Alaskan when they are unfamiliar with the communities’ cultures and climates. Statistics showing Alaska Native epidemic  Solution Bring dental care to Alaska; creating a dental school at UAA which gives priority to Alaskans and Alaska Natives admission. Require all graduating dentists to perform a mandatory 4 years of work in Alaska before leaving to practice dentistry outside the state. Dentists who are familiar with the climate and conditions of rural Alaska will be better equipped to work throughout Alaska bringing much needed dental care to rural communities. hp2000/reviews/oral_health.htm

Methods UAA Consortium Library Online Database Secured background information regarding: Alaska’s Dental care system Dental school startup and running costs Admission process and statistics Alaska Native dental health in smaller communities/villages Questionnaire: Dental School at UAA Taken by current UAA undergraduate students Views of students regarding: starting a dental school at UAA. Impact a new dental school would have on Alaska and the dental care epidemic throughout smaller Alaskan communities. Impact a Dental school would have on UAA.

Results Dental school is highly competitive (Burell, 2013) Meaning large pool of applicants to fill up UAA dental school Budget Small dental school in western Canada (similar geographically to Anchorage) upkeep is around two million dollars (Warick, 2009) To create a small dental school, it will cost upwards of 65 million dollars (O’Keefe, 2007) Alaska’s need: Less than 1/3 of Alaska Native children have had access to dental care with adults at even lower numbers (Smith, 2007) Government has legal agreement to give appropriate dental care to Alaska Natives, which is not being upheld, resulting in a dental health epidemic in Alaska eskimo-girl-2112-pictures.htm

Questionnaire 15-question questionnaire was given to twelve UAA undergraduate students Majority supported dental school (11 out of 12) Data from important questions:

Conclusion Creating the UAA School of Dentistry is feasible UAA students: Support creating a dental school Majority agree it will increase quality of dental care in rural Alaska Majority agree Alaska Natives will be more cooperative with dentists trained in Alaska Finances Government has legal agreement to supply Alaska Natives with dental care, therefore a UAA dental school, which will help with the Alaska Native dental health epidemic could be eligible to receive federal funding to help with start-up costs Will boost economy in Anchorage Enough aspiring dentists to fill enrollment

Recommendations In future work: More viable resources More quotes on costs to create UAA dental school In-depth look into how it will effect rural community dental care epidemic ments.html

References Burell, J. (2013). Getting Into Dental School. Retrieved from School.html. Klejka, J., Swanzy, M., Whistler, B., Jones, C., Bruce, M. G., M.D., Hennessy, T. W., Husain, F. (2011). Dental caries in rural alaska native children - alaska, Atlanta: U.S. Center for Disease Control. Retrieved from search.proquest.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/docview/ ? accountid= O’Keefe, B. (2007, May 16). Dental school will fill a need - BUDGET: THE WAY AHEAD. The Australian, pp. 22. P.R. Newswire. (2011, September 23). Alaska's Dental Therapists Combat Widespread Oral Disease, Bringing Preventive Dental Care to Children and Families. Retrieved from dental-therapists-combat-widespread-oral-disease-bringing-preventive-dental- care-to-children-and-families html. dental- Smith, E, B. (2007, June). DENTAL THERAPISTS IN ALASKA: ADDRESSING UNMET NEEDS AND REVIVING COMPETITION IN DENTAL CARE. Alaska Law Review, pp 105. Warick, J. (2009, November 28). Dental school's budget cut; First Nations University wants to keep program going. The Star Phoenix, pp. 3A.