Ali Shazib, Dean, Workman School of Dental Medicine
In an interview with Invest:, Ali Shazib, Dean of the Workman School of Dental Medicine at High Point University, discussed how the school’s innovative CARE model is reshaping dental education. Shazib highlighted the integration of cutting-edge technology, community-focused initiatives, and a personalized curriculum aimed at preparing healthcare leaders for diverse career paths.
How does the CARE (Clinician-Advocate-Researcher-Entrepreneur) model distinguish your approach from traditional dental education, and what benefits have you observed for students?
HPU Workman School of Dental Medicine has developed an integrated and personalized curriculum that will promote the development of healthcare leaders who can succeed in any career path they choose, even if it is not directly within dentistry. We have a four-year DMD program, offered to learners who have already completed an undergraduate degree as well as an accelerated BS-DMD (Dental Scholars Program) that is usually completed within 6 to 7 years in total. We also offer interactive case-based learning, putting the patient/caregiver/community at the center of everything that we do. This involves a triad between biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences through each learning activity. Our flipped and active classroom setting puts a greater emphasis on team and values-based learning. Additionally, exposure to healthcare economics, healthcare delivery models, mergers and acquisitions, financial strategy and an emphasis on learners being “self-assessors” and faculty/staff being mentors play a key role.
Lastly, experiential learners are embedded in our authentic practice environment (HPU Health- Oral Health Network) as early as the fifth of the DMD program and have a dedicated rotation in their fourth (final) year where they choose any externship in the domains of C-A-R-E.
With healthcare technology evolving rapidly, how is the Workman School integrating advanced tools to enhance clinical training and patient care?
Well within the design phase of our model, HPU Workman School of Dental Medicine recognized the importance of adopting the innovations of tomorrow in today’s world. Putting the mission of “those who need our care at the center of everything that we do”, we have incorporated some of the following technologies in our program:
- Electronic Health Record (EPIC)– our learners, faculty and staff will be able to deliver elevated care that integrates bi-directionally with healthcare systems. One patient, one record, one system- this prepares our learners to deliver care in a variety of interprofessional settings.
- Digital healthcare innovation- our learners received broad exposure to digital healthcare technologies both in classroom and patient-care settings. This includes 3d imaging (scanning), cone-beam CT imaging, 3d printing, milling (CAD-CAM), and utilization of artificial intelligence systems. This was made possible through partnerships with leading companies such as Dentsply Sirona (Charlotte, NC), Overjet AI, Align Technologies (Raleigh, NC), SprintRay 3d printing, and Envista Holdings.
- Robust simulation models our learners have access to the largest SIMtoCARE haptics simulation center in the world, with an emphasis on developing adaptive and complex simulation patient encounters that allow a more seamless transition into patient care. These units are also able to import real-life cases that will allow our learners to do a “mock” procedure on the simulators, ensuring that the safety standards and quality of care are always uncompromised.
- Gamification of learning through augmented reality platforms such as Immersify, Anatomy TV, Lecturio, and MedAffinity.
- Self-assessing psychomotor skills though 3d scanners such as PrepCheck and playing videos of simulated work completed. This allows a safe learning environment where feedback is provided through an “instant replay” of the encounter completed.
Could you elaborate on how HPU Health’s focus on community impact influences the education and real-world experience students receive?
HPU Health-Oral Health network is the nation’s first academic oral health system that is fully owned and operated by HPU Health (nonprofit), which brings care into our communities and provides an authentic experience for our learners. This is modelled after academic teaching hospitals where patients receive the highest quality of care, access to cutting edge trials (research), and involve training programs (students/residents). The relationships we have been able to develop with our community have had a measurable impact in the very short time we have come into operation.
We are actively reaching out and asking our patients how we can partner with them to bring meaningful change in their communities.
What are the biggest challenges you foresee for the next generation of dental professionals, and how is the school preparing students to address these?
A survey of healthcare employers, policy makers, educators, and industry leaders allowed us to focus on several areas of key challenges (or we call it opportunities) for our graduates from Americans having more complex chronic conditions to life skills and adaptability.
How has your approach to admissions changed to attract a diverse group of students, and what role does inclusivity play in the curriculum and student experience?
Our admissions model is focused to include a broad level of attributes, skills, scholarship, experiences, and most importantly, VALUES. All of these attributes guide our admissions model and do not necessarily have weighted numerical scales or traditional “cut-off GPAs” or “DAT” scores. While demonstration of academic competitiveness and scholastic achievements carry importance, we are looking for applications who are looking to champion areas that resonate with the C-A-R-E domain: clinician, advocate, researcher, and entrepreneurship.
Looking forward, what are your top priorities for the Workman School of Dental Medicine in the next few years?
We are thrilled to share that we welcomed our pioneering cohort of 60 DMD leaners in August 2024. Our focus is to continue to refine the CARE curriculum, complete the growth phase of our HPU Health-Oral Health Network, attract stellar talent (faculty, learners, and staff), and most importantly, engage with our communities and stakeholders to learn how we can forge partnerships to create VALUE for those who serve. As a start-up school, we learn to fail fast and fail forward, and in doing so, we are always engaged in continuous improvement cycles for our program.
We have added a new Oral Oncology Fellowship, which is awarded by a Delta Dental Foundation Grant. This will provide one mechanism for elevating the capacity of delivering care to patients who are going through or have completed treatment for cancers. They can often have multiple mouth and jaw issues such as dry mouth, taste changes, mouth sores, and jaw necrosis. We have partnered with healthcare partners such as Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Novant Health Cancer Institute to provide care for these patients in their settings.
We are planning to initiate a residency program “Advanced Education in General Dentistry” and Fellowship in Digital Dentistry- which will provide a 12-month full time training program to equip graduate dentists with exposure to comprehensive dentistry, practice management, and digital dentistry across HPU Health- Oral Health Network.
Do all that we can to deliver extraordinary education for our learners focused on putting those who need our care at the center of everything that we do.
