Alexandria, VA, USA – A Symposium aiming to establishing an equitable and civil culture within the dental research enterprise was presented at the 102nd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and the 48th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, on March 13-16, 2024, in New Orleans, LA, USA.
The symposium took a step forward in supporting undergraduate, dental, and graduate students within underrepresented populations to build peer networks and establish novel mentoring relationships. A student cohort engaged in discussions about the AADOCR, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and learned about the opportunities and potential benefits of student memberships. Professors and students discussed their experiences as a researcher within the dental health space, their career trajectories, and what it means to be a researcher from a minority population within the current research and social climate.
The cohort participated in small group discussions within defined safe spaces for them to intimately address their concerns navigating their academic career. This provided a unique opportunity to form a sustainable network amongst their peers across institutions and increase access to meaningful professional relationships. This initiative also provided a framework for the AADOCR Committee on Diversity and Inclusion to intentionally support this cohort through future scheduled interactions using digital platforms to facilitate growth, as well as career development to support skillset development, knowledge acquisition, confidence building, and cultural competence.
Organized by Makyba Charles-Ayinde and Bruno Lima, the Symposium, “Diversity Matters: Advancing Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research Leaders” took place on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 11 a.m. Central Standard Time (UTC-6).
About IADR
The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research for health and well-being worldwide. IADR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. Learn more at www.iadr.org.
About AADOCR
The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being. AADOCR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. AADOCR is the largest division of IADR. Learn more at www.aadocr.org.