C.E. Credit. Alternative Pathways in Dentistry: Working at Federally Qualified Health Centers

ABSTRACT

Background

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) play a crucial role in providing affordable and high-quality health care services to underserved populations in the United States.

Objective

This article explores promising career options presented by FQHCs, with a specific focus on dental services within community-based health centers. Dental professionals play a significant role by providing much needed dental services for underserved communities by addressing health care disparities. This article also discusses the advantages and challenges of working as a dentist in an FQHC, while outlining the various ways dental professionals can get involved in this health care setting.

Conclusion

By choosing to work in FQHCs, dentists can contribute to improving the oral health and overall well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of their communities. This manuscript presents an overview of FQHCs and discusses roles of a dentist working at an FQHC.

Continuing Education Credit Available: The practice worksheet is available online in the supplemental material tab for this article. A CDA Continuing Education quiz is online for this article: https://www.cdapresents360.com/learn/catalog/view/20.

KEYWORDS:

• FQHC
• Alternate pathways in dentistry
• Community and Public health dentistry

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/19424396.2024.2324954

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rosa Arzu

Rosa Arzu, DDS, MBA, is the Senior Director of Medical Dental Innovation at Alta Med Health Services, CA. She also has faculty appointment with Tufts University.

Alamelou Radjindrin

Alamelou Radjindrin, BDS, DDS, is the Associate Dental Director at Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center,CA.

Sridevi Ponnala

Sridevi Ponnala, BDS, DDS, MBA, is the Chief Integration Officer at Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, CA.