B2A3 Alaska's Dental Health Aide Therapists, A Local Solution

About This Course

Speakers: Sarah Shoffstall-Cone - Interim Director Oral Health Promotion at Alaska Native Tribal Health, Angelica Afcan - Instructor/Dental Health Aide Therapist with Alaska Dental Health Educational Program

This talk took place during Bridge2Aid's Virtual Global Health Conference November 2020 - Global Remote and Rural Healthcare, How can we do it better? Sustainability, Challenges, Innovation, Improvement.

This talk shares with us the experiences of Angelica Afcan, working in Alaska as a Dental Health Aide Therapist, and the work of Sarah Shoffstall-Cone and the Alaska Dental Health program.  

They share with us the importance of community involvement in the Alaska health aid programs, the Alaska Dental Health Aide Therapist educational requirements, scope of practice and role as part of the dental team and how health aides (specifically dental health aide therapist) have improved health outcomes in Alaska.

Aims

This course aims to provide learners with knowledge and understanding of the history, current status and also the future of the Alaska Dental Therapy Educational Program. 

Objectives

To share the history, current status and future of the Alaska Dental Therapy Educational Program. 

Learning Outcomes

• You will be able to recognise the importance of community involvement in the Alaska health aid programs.
• You will understand the Alaska Dental Health Aide Therapist educational requirements, scope of practice and role as part of the dental team.
• You will be able to discuss how health aides (specifically dental health aide therapist) have improved health outcomes in Alaska.

GDC Development Outcomes