The University of New Mexico (UNM) Division of Dental
Hygiene is known for graduating alumni who advance the practice of dental
hygiene and serve those most in need. Last year, the division graduated 27
entry-level students and 30 additional graduates from its degree completion and
graduate programs. There are currently close to 60 dental hygienists completing
an undergraduate or graduate degree at UNM. There is also a dual degree program
with Doña Ana Community College in Las Cruces, NM, and the Central Community
College in Hastings, NE, that allows students to graduate with an associate
degree and bachelor’s degree simultaneously.
The
UNM Division of Dental Hygiene continues to be instrumental in educating dental
hygiene faculty across the country on teaching strategies to transform dental
hygiene care. The program has hosted workshops for over 20 years and has
trained thousands of faculty in workshops focused on educating dental
hygienists who will be providing direct access to dental hygiene integrated
into primary care systems, hospitals and schools.
As
part of this focus, the program operates three clinics within the UNM
School-based Health Clinics, supported by Delta Dental of New Mexico. They
also support a new program at New Mexico Children’s Hospital Pediatric Clinic
and UNM Health’s Carrie Tingley Hospital Program that serves children with
disabilities, which focuses on a dental hygienist delivery education,
preventive therapies and case management for these children. The collaboration
also includes the UNM Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency providers
to ensure comprehensive dental care for this population. In summer
2024, the program will collaborate with the UNM dental residency program to
begin a program at the UNM Children’s Campus for Early Care and Education.
The UNM dental hygiene program has been instrumental in the
interprofessional education program within the UNM Health Sciences Center,
where faculty have presented courses and coordinated experiences for all
students to work collaboratively within a team, while striving to integrate
dental hygiene into overall health systems.
UNM faculty have updated their textbooks recently and have
been busy conducting research projects. In addition, the division is developing
a Ph.D. program that focuses on dental hygiene research. This degree program is
in the proposal stages, but it has the goal to be the first doctoral level
dental hygiene research-focused program in the nation.
Courtesy of University of New Mexico Dental
Hygiene Program
Published on July 10, 2024