WSU TechWSU 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.”
The new, contemporary space features a dental clinic with eight operatories, sterilization lab, three X-ray suites, locker room and modern classrooms and offices.
AEGD program 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 college 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.”