Pathways to Dentistry

Pathways to Dentistry is a student-led initiative that supports high school and undergraduate students from low-income backgrounds by reducing barriers to dental education. Through financial assistance and engaging outreach activities, the program helps students explore dentistry and oral health care as future career pathways.

Started by 2021 alumni Jhoyli Labrador-Stacy and Sama Banaei, this program aims to minimize the barriers between the profession and communities that have been financially marginalized, as well as to provide insightful information to all prospective students regarding the program and field of dentistry.

Impact

Community impact

We realized that there were many bright young students in financially difficult situations who wouldn’t even consider dentistry due to the huge financial risk for them. Payment for their pre-professional education by themselves would create a profoundly stressful environment when attempting to balance finances with academic excellence, and a devastating debt situation if they fell short of admissions. The bursary program will help cover the costs of their undergraduate education, as well as provide them with an avenue for admission to the program

In the News

Student group launches bursary program for students interested in dentistry

School News | May 1, 2021

Dentistry for a Day

Dentistry for a Day is a workshop where high school and undergraduate students attend the simulation lab to gain hands-on experience and exposure to the fields of dentistry and dental hygiene. Participants rotate through stations including sealants, x-rays, composite fillings, dental hygiene, impressions, pour-ups and the opportunity to ask real dental students questions.

Annual Webinars

In addition to high school career day presentations, Pathways to Dentistry hosts annual webinars that cover the University of Alberta admissions process for both the dentistry and dental hygiene programs, prerequisite course requirements, curriculum overview, and include live Q&A sessions.

Entrance Scholarship

The primary purpose of this scholarship is to support the undergraduate education of distinguished high school graduates who have indicated financial need and have a career goal of becoming a dentist.

Eligibility: Open to any individual graduating from a high school in Alberta who has not yet begun post-secondary education. Recipients must be accepted to and enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at the University of Alberta.

Award: $5,000 towards tuition (annually for four years) to complete an undergraduate degree.

Upon completion of the degree, the award recipient is guaranteed a position in the DDS program. They must still meet all DDS admissions application requirements, but the applicant will not be in the competitive applicant pool. Can apply to dentistry earlier than after the four years and completion of a degree, but then there is no guaranteed place in the DDS program, applicant will be in the competitive applicant pool.

Maintenance of Award: