Nine dentists from as far away as Cuba and India are realizing their dream of practicing in the United States at the UMKC School of Dentistry. The new advanced standing dental education program, launched in January, will enable these practitioners and all those who follow in their footsteps to work as dentists in the United States. Without programs like this, dentists from other countries face limited options to practice oral health in the U.S.

“It’s going to be a life-changing opportunity for these students,” said Gustavo Leal, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences and director of the advanced standing program. “These students are fighters who have been working hard to achieve this dream.”

The advanced standing students will finish their dental degree in 2.5 years instead of the typical four. The shorter timeline condenses two years of coursework into six months, and includes labs, lectures, pre-clinic skills training and exposure to different disciplines. According to Leal, enrolled students proved they had the knowledge base and skills to handle the accelerated timeline when they took their skills tests and board exams.

The students joined the existing third-year students in Summer 2024, following the same timeline the next two years. The first cohort of nine students began the program in January and are slated to graduate in May 2027.

According to Dean Steven Haas, in around 2010, dental schools started to open avenues for internationally trained dentists, enabling them to avoid the burden of going back to school for an additional four years. With 93 such programs in the United States, UMKC is one of many universities offering a similar path to practicing. The demand for the program speaks for itself. UMKC received 380 applications for the nine spots available in its first class.

Haas believes these practitioners represent a critical influx of oral health-care providers who can address the shortage in Missouri, where 111 counties are considered underserved, according to the Rural Health Information Hub. Haas said that Dekalb County in Northwest Missouri has only one dentist with a population of 10,480.

“We know that we need dentists in these rural areas,” Haas said. “By opening up our classes to internationally trained dentists, we’re able to get more oral health-care providers out there.”

All third- and fourth-year students complete rotations in a variety of settings, including rural dental clinics.

Haas also said it’s important to diversify the oral health-care workforce and that current students will benefit from the infusion of this geographically diverse group of students.

The program will enable advanced student Flavia Santos Bada to practice in the U.S. and help support her family, especially her father, who needs specialized medical care.

Originally from Cuba, Bada immigrated to the United States in 2018 after graduating from dental school there. She joined her parents and sister, who had moved to the U.S. for better medical care for Bada’s father, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

UMKC’s patient-centered care stood out to Bada and matched her own mission as a dentist.

“The school’s focus on putting patients first captured my attention,” Bada said. “I want to treat people as if they were my family, not just as patients.”

UMKC’s midwestern location was critical in Hadrik Patel’s decision to apply to the program. Originally from India, he was practicing as a dental assistant in Nebraska. He said he was already comfortable in the Midwest, so when UMKC’s program opened up, he immediately applied.

His first few months in the program have confirmed his belief that UMKC is the right place for him.

“What has stood out is how many of the faculty are UMKC alumni,” Patel said. “I think that says a lot about the school. They wanted to come back to UMKC to ensure students achieve the same success they have.”

According to Leal, the program introduces more diversity into the student body, providing them with a much different perspective on a personal level as well as on a professional level. The advanced practice students have also already worked in the field and can provide a wealth of knowledge to current students.

“I am excited to see their progression and how they incorporate themselves with the other dental students,” Leal said. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to grow while providing an opportunity for these practitioners to achieve their dreams.”