News

Professors at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) participated in a special issue of the Journal of Dental Education (JDE) addressing topics related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB).

Nathalia Garcia, DDS, MS, was invited to contribute as a lead author for one of the manuscripts in the Special JDE Issue about DEIB. The research article was related to advancing women, parity and gender equity. Garcia along with SIU SDM’s Debra Dixon, DMD, MSc, joined other women leaders in dental education to execute the project.

“The modern transformation of dental education and dentistry creates the need for leaders to propose and develop concrete initiatives to advance the profession and benefit the society, and women are prepared for this challenge,” said Garcia.

The two SIU SDM professors along with the other coauthors of the manuscript were invited to present the topic at the 2022 American Dental Education Association-ADEA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Workshop on Oct. 26 in Saint Louis.

“The opportunity to speak at the ADEA DIEB workshop was remarkable,” said Garcia. “We exchanged valuable information about the current environment of women in dentistry and dental education including career advancement, leadership, compensation, career satisfaction, research, and scholarly activity. We also presented future opportunities, strategies, resources and initiatives to increase gender equity and empower women in the profession.”

This special issue of the Journal of Dental Education is the latest in a series of ADEA projects aimed at bringing a sharper focus, and greater progress, to diversity and inclusion. View the special issue at adea.org/Press/OCT-2022-Special_Edition_of_Journal_of_Dental_Education/.

Photo: (L-R) Nathalia Garcia, DDS, SIU SDM professor; Elizabeth Andrews, Dean of College of Dental Sciences at Western University of Health Sciences; Denise Stewart, senior scholar in residence ADEA; and Debra Dixon, DMD, SIU SDM professor.