Science Writer CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
Disclosure(s):
Lisa J. Heaton, PhD: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health: Employee (Ongoing)
Description: Interprofessional education (IPE) aims to prepare oral health students to provide comprehensive care through integration of oral health care with other health science professions such as behavioral health, social work, and others. Bridging the transition from training to practice is the goal of incorporating IPE with interprofessional practice (IPP). This session will describe efforts to incorporate behavioral health and social work into predoctoral dental education. In this program, dental students collaborate closely with social work interns and behavioral health professionals to deepen their understanding of how social, psychological, and biological risk factors influence a patient’s dental health and overall well-being. During chart review and integrated case discussions, students meet with the social workers and behavioral health team members to discuss cases with social worker notes. This approach fosters a bi-directional learning environment, where dental students learn to integrate behavioral health considerations into their care, while social work and behavioral health interns and professionals gain insight into the oral-systemic health determinants. A moderated discussion will center around implementation of this program, including challenges, opportunities, and future directions.
