The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry (NMD) and the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) Department of Dental Public Health (DPH) have received a five-year, $1.28 million Science Education Partnership Award grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The grant aims to design innovative online tools that will redefine how young learners are taught about oral health across the country.
Established in 1996, the National Museum of Dentistry is a Smithsonian Affiliate and has been designated by Congress as the official museum of dentistry in the United States.
The project, titled “A Mouthful of History,” will provide accessible and easily disseminated online educational modules that combine the health sciences, science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics (STEAM), and humanities to create a learning experience starting from Pre-K learners and continuing through 12th grade.
In many states, formal oral health education stops at first or second grade, and in some cases, it is not taught at all. By integrating oral health and dental career topics into lessons designed to meet existing educational standards, “A Mouthful of History” will enable educators to establish high levels of oral health literacy without straining academic schedules or school staffing budgets. The project aims to spark interest in oral health among young learners and inspire them to consider a career in dentistry.
“Once you start inspiring children to think about dentistry and its career paths—whether it be hygienist, assistant, technician, or dentist—you get them thinking about all of the health professions,” said museum Executive Director and UMSOD Professor and Department of Dental Public Health Chair, Richard Manski, DDS, MBA, PhD. “That’s our goal: to increase the number of young people applying to dental school and open their minds to careers in other health professions.”
The award is the first National Institutes of Health grant received by the NMD and a multi-PI project led by Manski and Patrick Cutter, MBA, MA, Assistant Director of NMD and Research Assistant Professor of DPH. The project will unify the missions of NMD, DPH, UMSOD, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), while bolstering community engagement and aiming to reduce inequities surrounding oral health and overall health.
The project will also complement existing programs at UMB, including the UMB CURE Scholars Program and UMSOD’s Dental Research Experience (D-REX), which introduce learners to a myriad of career opportunities in the field of oral health.
According to Cutter, the “Mouthful of History” project is a powerful way to spread the museum’s mission of oral health education from Baltimore to communities across the nation.
A web portal will be created on the NMD website to host the lessons and resources developed during the project, and all lessons will be freely available for learners, educators, caregivers, coaches, and community members. “We’re going to take this idea to each of the 50 states and deliver a product to underserved communities across the country,” said Cutter.
To enhance dissemination, each lesson will also be translated into multiple languages and made available to dental programs and school systems across the country.
“This is going to be on a national scale to significantly promote individuals’ oral health, promote oral health literacy, and build a pool of potential applicants down the road,” Manski concluded.
About Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry
The National Museum of Dentistry, a Smithsonian Affiliate and congressionally designated as the official museum of the dental profession, celebrates the past, present, and future of dentistry while emphasizing the significance of oral health in overall well-being. With a collection of over 50,000 objects, the museum serves as the primary guardian of dental history worldwide.
It fulfills its mission by providing oral health education, inspiring the future of dentistry through innovative educational programs, and presenting immersive exhibitions. Situated in Baltimore, Maryland, at the heart of the birthplace of the dental profession, the museum is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, which is home to the world’s first dental school.
For more information, visit www.dentalmuseum.com.
About University of Maryland School of Dentistry
The University of Maryland School of Dentistry, the world’s first dental college, provides exceptional educational programs in oral health. As one of six professional schools and an interdisciplinary Graduate School on the 71-acre campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, it is an integral part of a dynamic academic health center that integrates groundbreaking biomedical research and outstanding patient care.
The school serves as Maryland’s primary provider of comprehensive and emergency oral health services.
For more information, visit www.dental.umaryland.edu.
