Kim Hammersmith, DDS, MPH, of the Ohio State University College of Dentistry has received a $2.25 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to support oral healthcare for underserved populations.
Hammersmith’s project aims to create a curriculum to support a combined degree program at Ohio State that would simultaneously offer a master of science in dentistry and master of public health degree.
The project also will use innovations in teledentistry to provide much needed patient care, the school said, and recruit pediatric dentistry residents from underrepresented backgrounds whose experiences prepare them to care for children in need.
“This project will be a collaborative effort with our division at Ohio State’s College of Dentistry and the College of Public Health,” said Hammersmith, who is director of the Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry at the school and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Hammersmith provides instruction for predoctoral students and pediatric dentistry residents while also caring directly for pediatric dental patients and supporting outreach activities in the community.
“Our efforts may help fill the dental public health and academic work forces, while also creating well-rounded private practitioners who can be better community leaders and advocates for children,” said Hammersmith.
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