A novel oral medicine-centered interprofessional curricular initiative to promote collaboration and build oral health capacity

Introduction: Oral physicians should possess knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for functioning in the evolving integrated care systems. Paramount for addressing the existing oral health disparities is also adequate training of non-dental health professionals in the foundations of oral health. We conducted interprofessional oral medicine-centered case conferences to prepare dental students for collaborative care and to increase awareness of non-dental students about the mouth-body connection. Herein, we share our perspective and the students’ feedback about this educational program. Methods: Students from seven health profession and social work programs attended an interactive, online oral medicine-centered case conference facilitated by an oral medicine faculty and at least one faculty from another profession. Faculty facilitators guided students to identify key points and encouraged team-based care. Anonymous, voluntary online surveys were distributed to participants immediately after each session. Descriptive data tabulated and analyzed. Results: A total of 151 students participated in conferences between 11/11/2022 and 3/24/2023 and 132 (87%) submitted postexperience surveys. Students agreed that the case conference was applicable to their profession (95%) and meaningful (94%), they learned new information about other professions (94%), they could contribute to discussions (90%), interactions were respectful (99%), and discussions emphasized interprofessional collaboration (96%). Non-dental respondents learned more about oral-systemic link (95%), recognized a broader role for dentists (90%), and agreed with inclusion of more oral health content in their curricula (79%). Conclusion: Oral medicine-centered case conferences provided an effective curricular path for demonstrating oral-systemic connection, promoting meaningful interprofessional collaboration, and building oral health capacity among students of non-dental health professions.