A Boost for Dental Students

Ethos Financial Boosts Dental Education and Training at Hunt School of Dental Medicine

Generous gift to TTUHSC El Paso supports world-class dental care

Taking a big bite out of the cost of a dental education, Ethos Financial and its president and CEO, Inaam Ziyadeh, gave $50,000 to improve dental care access in El Paso. This gift to the Hunt School of Dental Medicine's Dean’s Excellence Fund will support students receiving a world-class dental education while addressing our region’s critical provider shortage.

Ethos Financial, an El Paso-based financial planning firm, made this gift in recognition of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso’s commitment to addressing our region’s severe shortage of oral health care professionals, which affects dental care access to El Pasoans most in need. Investments by community partners such as Ethos Financial encourage more students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in dental medicine.

“The continued support from Ethos Financial is instrumental in advancing our mission,” said Richard C. Black, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine. “This gift not only benefits our dental students by enriching their training but also directly impacts our Borderplex community by fostering enhanced dental care access. As we prepare the next generation of dental professionals, such partnerships are vital in addressing the unique needs of our region.”

To honor their recent gift, the university held a recognition ceremony last Friday at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic, where they unveiled signage designating a dental suite as the “Ethos Financial Special Needs Suite.” The suite, established by a previous gift from Ethos Financial, provides dedicated care to patients living with disabilities.

Supporting students is pivotal to addressing the pressing oral health needs of historically underserved regions like ours. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services noted in 2021 that over 63 million Americans reside in Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas, one of which is El Paso County. With an estimated national shortfall of over 10,000 dental professionals, these areas demand urgent interventions.

Contributing to this shortage is the cost of attending dental school, which can cost 40% more than a medical school education.

Drawing from her father's wisdom — that when faced with difficulty, you dust yourself off and keep going — Ziyadeh ardently supports dental students throughout their education. She sees this as a win-win for the community, which benefits from the care they provide.

"Each investment in TTUHSC El Paso students is an investment in El Paso,” said Ziyadeh. “The Hunt School of Dental Medicine will bring about a profound change in dental care by enhancing student experiences while expanding services to the community. I look forward to the graduation of the first cohort in 2025. My hope is that this gift will light a path for this inaugural class and that they too will invest in the classes that follow them."

Oral health care for all communities

An early supporter of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, Ethos Financial provided $25,000 to build and equip the Ethos Financial Special Needs Suite for treating patients with disabilities. Combined with their current gift, students will have the opportunity to learn proper techniques, treatments and sensitivities for the oral health care of patients with disabilities.

She shared an encounter with a patient from El Paso who used to travel all the way to Dallas for dental care. The patient expressed his gratitude and relief for not having to make the exhausting 1,200-mile round trip anymore. For Ziyadeh, Ethos Financial’s investment is not only empowering the future dentists of El Paso, but also improving the quality and accessibility of dental care for local residents.

Patients living with disabilities face added dental care concerns. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 60% of children with disabilities receive regular dental care, compared to 79% of children without disabilities. Adults living with disabilities are more likely to have untreated tooth decay and gum disease than adults without disabilities.

Since it opened in 2021, the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic has treated 185 patients with various disabilities. These patients came to the clinic with previous diagnoses of autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other conditions.

The 38,000-square-foot Oral Health Clinic is equipped with 130 treatment chairs and is open not only for the public but also for faculty, staff, students, and their families. The clinic has provided more than 20,000 hours of reduced-cost dental care for over 3,500 patients from the region.

About Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.

Established as an independent university in the Texas Tech University System in 2013, TTUHSC El Paso is celebrating 10 years as a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research. According to a 2022 analysis, TTUHSC El Paso contributes $634.4 million annually to our Borderplex region’s economy.

With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, TTUHSC El Paso has graduated over 2,000 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.

About the Hunt School of Dental Medicine

The Hunt School of Dental Medicine opened in 2021 and is the only dental school on the U.S.-Mexico border, and the first in Texas to open in more than 50 years. The school offers the most innovative curriculum in the country, preparing students for the future of dentistry with high-tech simulation and an advanced fabrication laboratory. A first for any dental school in the nation, students begin clinical training and patient interaction during their first semester. It’s also the first and only dental school in the nation that requires Spanish language courses.

As upward of 75% of dental school graduates open practices near their dental schools, Hunt School of Dental Medicine graduates are expected to address the oral health care needs along the U.S.-Mexico border for generations to come.

Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Company (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company®, and the companies available through the Preferred Product Network, Inc. Securities and advisory products offered through Principal Securities, Inc., Member SIPC. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392. Inaam Ziyadeh, Principal National and Principal Life Financial Representative, Principal Securities Registered Representative, Financial Advisor. Ethos Financial is not an affiliate of any company of the Principal Financial Group®. 3240819-112023