WSU Tech's dental assistant students started their classes this semester in a brand
new space located in the Delta Dental of Kansas Advanced Education in General Dentistry
(AEGD) clinic at Wichita State.
Formerly located at the WSU Tech south campus, the dental assistant program now occupies
the second floor of the high-tech, ultramodern AEGD building. The previously underutilized
area was completely remodeled over the summer, and the dental assistant program officially
moved in at the beginning of August.
The new, contemporary space features a dental clinic with eight operatories, sterilization
lab, three X-ray suites, locker room and modern classrooms and offices.
Rachael Wiebe, director of WSU-Tech's dental assistant program, says they are extremely
excited to be in a beautiful new facility located so close to the AEGD program.
"Dental assistants and dentists work side-by-side in the workforce, so it makes sense
for us to share a space," she says. "It's wonderful that our students have access
to a fully equipped dental clinic for hands-on training."
The large space, cutting-edge equipment and proximity to the AEGD dental clinic offers
dental assistant students many advanced training and interprofessional opportunities.
“In collaboration with AEGD, we're going to be able to train our students on the Cone
Beam machine and how to use their X-ray facility,” she says. “Until now we've never
been able to show students how that technology works in person; we've had to rely
on simulation videos.”
Dean Elledge, director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program, says
they are excited to welcome the dental assistant program to AEGD and see the space
in their clinic being utilized.
"Having the WSU Tech faculty and students join us is truly exciting," he says. "Their
presence has added energy to our clinic while opening up teaching and interprofessional
opportunities for both programs.”
AEGD to benefit as well
Elledge says the AEGD residents and faculty will also benefit from the collaboration.
For example, residents and faculty will be able to borrow the Dental Assistant program's
panoramic mannequins and use their CAD/CAM technology.
Wiebe says they also hope to eventually incorporate the dental assistant students
into more functions at the AEGD clinic.
“We've discussed having the student clinic managers assist the AEGD dental assistants
in some of their responsibilities such as preparing equipment, checking supplies and
calibrating digital impressions scanners,” she says. “We also hope to combine some
continuing education courses and implement interprofessional activities with the residents
instructing students.”
Interprofessional education and collaboration
Sheree Utash, president of WSU Tech and vice president of Workforce Development for
WSU, is enthusiastic about the collaboration.
"WSU Tech is excited about the new collaborative space for our Dental Assistant program
in the AEGD building at WSU,” she says. “This is another great example of our affiliation
and the benefit that students will have through interaction within the teaching, learning
and community services offered within this focused dental environment."
Sandra Bibb, dean of the college of health professions (CHP), says the CHP is committed
to providing innovative, relevant applied learning experiences.
“This collaborative partnership is one of many interprofessional education and collaborative
practice initiatives that the CHP and WSU-Tech are currently engaged in,” she says.
“We are excited about this opportunity and future opportunities with WSU-Tech.”
The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the
greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly
15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas
of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and
12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use
areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to
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