Penn Dental Medicine Joins in Discussion to Advance Dental Education in Africa

Philadelphia – Penn Dental Medicine joined with deans, program directors, faculty, and Ministers from across Africa for the inaugural African Dental Education Symposium that culminated in the launch of the African Education Dental Association (AEDA), the continent’s first collaborative association committed to advancing dental education. The symposium took place July 11-12 at the Université Mohammed VI des Sciences de la Santé (UM6SS) in Casablanca, Morocco.

Penn Dental Medicine was one of the institutional partners for the event with Penn Dental Medicine’s  Morton Amsterdam Dean, Dr. Mark Wolff, and Dr. Michael Glick, Executive Director of the School’s Center for Integrative Global Oral Health (CIGOH), among the symposium speakers. Dean Wolff was part of a panel discussion that focused on dental curriculum in Africa, addressing standards, fundamental principles, preclinical and clinical instruction, and the role and importance of simulation centers in dental education.

“The wide range of educational and oral health needs across Africa requires new approaches to education and dedicated efforts to identify potential shared solutions,” says Dean Wolff. “This meeting marks the start of a process intended to develop excellence in educational and research programs throughout Africa in order to establish innovative methods for improving oral health.”

Dr. Glick presented on evidence-informed practice guidelines and CIGOH’s collaboration with the American Dental Association (ADA) on the ADA Living Guideline Program.

“It is rewarding to see educators from throughout Africa come together again to explore how to advance oral health,” says Dr. Glick. “This type of collaboration is what we are working to support within CIGOH and builds on what we saw at our Nairobi conference in 2023.”  In November 2023, CIGOH partnered on a conference with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the University of Nairobi to bring together oral health leaders and experts from different African nations to discuss the oral health needs of the populations across their respective countries.

This recent symposium under the theme “Unity and Collaboration for Dental Education in Africa” addressed current challenges related to dental science curricula, governance, and the promotion of educational human resources.

“The creation of the AEDA will play a key role in bringing African nations together to support the exchange of dental education resources, while also advocating for improved dental health systems.” adds Dean Wolff. “We are pleased to lend our support to these efforts.”

Representatives from the FDI World Dental Federation, American Dental Education Association, and Association for Dental Education in Europe also participated in the symposium, offering their guidance and support for African-led solutions.

Mercy Ships was the official organizing partner of the gathering, noting its commitment to strengthening healthcare systems by equipping professionals to serve their own communities. In Morocco, Mercy Ships is currently sponsoring more than 20 dental professionals from Guinea, Benin, and Madagascar to earn advanced specialization at UM6SS.