Dental White Coat Ceremony
Hunt School of Dental Medicine Welcomes New Class in Third Annual White Coat Ceremony
With 40% of the class of 2027 from our Borderplex region, TTUHSC El Paso focuses on addressing critical shortage of dental providers along U.S.-Mexico border
On Saturday, Aug. 19, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine welcomed the class of 2027 in a white coat ceremony held at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. The annual event is a symbolic milestone in the students' journey to becoming dentists and has a special significance in 2023 as the university celebrates its 10-year anniversary.
Dean Richard Black, D.D.S., M.S., along with faculty, presented 60 new dental students with their first white coats, signifying not only their entry into the profession but also a commitment to being health care change agents dedicated to excellence and compassionate care.
The incoming class stands out for its diversity and dedication to the community it represents. Among the new students at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, 22% are first-generation college students, and 60% are multilingual. The group is also familiar with the needs of our Borderplex, as 40% of the class hails from West Texas and the Texas border region, including 12 from El Paso.
“The white coat ceremony signifies not just the commencement of a professional journey, but a commitment to the values of service, learning and empathy,” said Dr. Black. “Our class of 2027, with its unique connection to West Texas and the Texas border region, is well-positioned to address the distinct disparities in dental care access along the U.S.-Mexico border. It's an honor to welcome these future health care leaders into this esteemed profession.”
The induction into the dental profession though the white coat ceremony takes place at most of the 68 accredited dental schools across the U.S. The ceremony echoes the Hunt School of Dental Medicine’s mission to provide world-class patient care while embracing the unique needs and culture of our Borderplex community.
In a break with the traditions of American dental schools, students in the Hunt School of Dental Medicine take their pledge in both Spanish and English. The school is also the first and only in the nation that requires Spanish language courses, paving the way for the students to provide bilingual health care and serve diverse communities.
Ed Anderson, CEO of Diversified Interiors, graciously sponsored the white coats for all 60 students in the class of 2027. This marks the third time Anderson has sponsored the ceremony since the tradition began at the school in 2021.
George Shepley, D.D.S., president of the American Dental Association, delivered opening remarks. Rudy Ramos, D.D.S., of Houston, gave the keynote address. Dr. Ramos is a former member of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners and owner and president of Rudy Ramos D.D.S., P.C. in Houston. He currently serves as the national vice chair of the board of directors for CDCA-WREB-CITA, an independent testing agency providing competency assessments for the oral health professions.
“In four years, I will be administering your proficiency exam. But your education will not end there. You may be entering the profession when you graduate. But it will take years before you become that professional you are destined to be. Always be learning.”
“You are attending the only dental school where students are required to learn Spanish,” he told the students in Spanish. “You will know what I said before you graduate.”
The shortage of dental providers along the U.S.-Mexico border has significant and tangible impacts on the underserved communities in the region. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 5,800 Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas exist nationwide, with a significant concentration along the border. These areas lack sufficient dental care providers, leading to a ratio of only one dentist for every 5,000 individuals in some border regions.
Limited access to dental care exacerbates oral health issues. There is a 40% higher prevalence of untreated dental decay among children in these areas compared to the national average. This deficit in care not only hampers their quality of life but also underscores the systemic inequalities in health care access that persist in these vulnerable communities.
Training dentists in the U.S.-Mexican border city of El Paso is a strategic solution to our Borderplex’s prevailing dental care shortage. By focusing educational resources within the community, institutions such as the Hunt School of Dental Medicine can cultivate professionals deeply familiar with local needs and cultural nuances. This approach will address the dental provider-to-population ratio imbalance, as about 75% of graduates are likely to practice within the community in which they trained.
Dental student Ruben Eduardo Lara recognized the importance of the milestone ceremony that welcomed him into the profession. Born and raised in El Paso, he attended Mission Early College. After graduation, he attended the University of Texas at El Paso, earning his B.S. in biological sciences. Subsequently, he spent time working in area dental clinics, where he observed firsthand the challenges faced by many residents in accessing oral health care.
“I am now being bestowed a great responsibility,” said Lara. “I will be able to provide quality dental care that is greatly needed here in El Paso, something that we are truly lacking a little bit. I feel proud to be able to offer that now, to be able to help more and give back to a community that has given me so much.”
Over the next two months, Lara will spend time in the classroom and laboratories learning his profession. In October, he will work with his first patient in the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic, providing him with an opportunity to give back to the community he calls home during his first year.
“The people in our community are extremely kind, very giving, very caring, and I think that's what makes El Paso so strong. I look forward to making a difference here.”
The class of 2027 is among the first four classes to matriculate at the school. The first cohort, who entered the school in 2021, will graduate in 2025.
Individuals and organizations wishing to contribute to the success of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine and its mission of training the next generation of dental care professionals can visit ttuhscepimpact.org/ways-to-give or call 915-215-5943.
About the Hunt School of Dental Medicine
The Hunt School of Dental Medicine 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.
Since the opening of the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic in 2021, students and faculty have treated more than 3,500 patients, providing nearly 19,000 hours of clinical care to our Borderplex residents.
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.