As part of its ongoing focus on fostering diversity and inclusion within the dental industry, Dentsply Sirona has strengthened its collaboration with the National Dental Association (NDA) in the US by rejoining the Corporate Round Table1 at a Platinum-level partnership agreement. The NDA is a non-profit organization that promotes oral health equity among people of color by harnessing the collective power of its members, advocating for the needs of and mentoring dental students of color, and raising the profile of the profession in local communities.
The new partnership between Dentsply Sirona and the NDA will help fund NDA programs and support opportunities to provide minority communities with access to excellent dental education, leveraging Dentsply Sirona’s dental technology to educate dentists and student dentists of color. It is aligned with Dentsply Sirona’s corporate values of diversity and inclusion, with its sustainability strategy named BEYOND, and the company’s efforts to build a pipeline for dental practitioners of color, through programs such as those provided by the NDA.
“We are thrilled to enter a new era of partnership with Dentsply Sirona as we advance our shared mission to promote diversity and inclusion within the dental industry,” said Dr. Marlon D. Henderson, President of the NDA. “It is fantastic to have the support of an industry leader as we look to increase our reach and impact within minority communities. With Dentsply Sirona’s innovative solutions and significant experience in dental education, we can ensure that minority communities have access to excellent dental education and care.”
The NDA supports a network of more than 7,000 minority dentists, providing them with education, support, and programs for every stage of their professional careers. One particular focus for the organization is supporting youth in underserved communities to pursue a career in dentistry – through STEM programs, help with college loans, and campus visits. They also help academies with lower means access top-level dental material for their students, to reduce the gap between colleges. Black dentists currently make up only 3% of the workforce in the US.
“I am very pleased to extend our partnership with the NDA and support their excellent and longstanding efforts to mentor dental students from minority communities,” said Erania Brackett, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Dentsply Sirona. “The partnership is a testament to Dentsply Sirona’s strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and going BEYOND to ensure equity in dental education.”
The new agreement was spearheaded by Dentsply Sirona’s BOLD (Black Organization for Leadership & Development) employee resource group (ERG) and builds on a long and important collaboration between the two organizations. Dentsply Sirona is a founding member of the NDA Corporate Round Table, an advisory group made up of top companies in the dental industry designed to strengthen the organization’s growth and development. Through the BOLD partnerships workstream, Jennifer Landgren, Founder and Chairperson of the BOLD ERG, will act as Dentsply Sirona’s representative for the Corporate Round Table.
In addition to its participation in the NDA Corporate Roundtable, Dentsply Sirona will also support NDA-HEALTH NOW® – a signature program providing service, education, and access across the lifespan in underserved communities, from school children through to senior citizens. The company will also leverage the NDA member pool to expand its network of black dental experts, gain insights for product development, and find participants for focus groups.
For more information about the NDA’s programs and initiatives, visit: https://ndaonline.org/programs-2/
1. Formed in 1997, the NDA Corporate Round Table serves in an advisory capacity to strengthen the organization’s growth and development. Founding members include Dentsply Sirona, Dental Trade Alliance, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Aetna Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, and Henry Schein.
