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Early Career Professional

Mid Career Professional

Senior Career Professional

Micro-Credential: Promoting Critical Thinking

Micro-Credential: Facilitating Small Group Learning

Micro-Credential: Promoting an Inclusive and Humanistic Learning Environment

Micro-Credential:Developing a Teaching Philosophy

Micro-Credential: Technology Integration in Didactic Teaching

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Scholarly, Personal and Professional Development

SP-006 - Generations in Transition: Bridging the Workforce Gap in Dental Education

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM EDT

Location: Room 516 A-C, Fifth Floor, Palais

CE: 1

Keyword: Faculty Development (SP)
SoTLFest Designation: No
LIAA Designation: No

Courtney D. Routh, RDH, MSDH

University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston

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Leanna Rubio, RDH, BSDH, M.S.

University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston

The oral health education field is undergoing a major generational shift as baby boomers retire and millennials and Gen Z enter with new values, tech skills and expectations. This session explores evidence-based strategies to recruit and retain emerging professionals while honoring the legacy of experienced educators. Through a lens of health equity, social justice and innovation, participants will examine intergenerational communication, adaptive leadership, mentorship and technology’s role in workforce development. Attendees will engage in reflection and problem-solving to identify institutional barriers and leave with actionable tools to build a resilient, inclusive and future-ready oral health workforce.

Learning Objectives:

Identify generational trends and their impact on workforce dynamics in oral health education.
Develop actionable approaches to intergenerational collaboration that support inclusive and equitable academic environments.
Analyze how technology and social values influence workforce expectations and institutional culture.