• Darryl D Pendleton and Bruce S Graham.
• Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. dpendle@uic.edu
• J Dent Educ. 2010 Oct 1; 74 (10 Suppl): S98-109.

AbstractThis chapter describes the strategies implemented by one dental school during the past decade to establish an environment that supports a culture of diversity. The school audited its initial diversity milieu, authored a strategic plan for diversity, fully participated in university-wide diversity initiatives, and created an administrative infrastructure for underrepresented minority (URM) student support. Mentoring and counseling programs were established for URM students, and a schoolwide diversity committee was formed to make cultural competence a high priority for all students, faculty, and staff. URM faculty members were recruited and retained through a minority faculty development program. Student professional organizations were established and supported by mentoring partnerships with members of the corresponding organizations in the practicing community. The school's diversity culture is continuously evaluated and nurtured within the context of evolving human interactions in society, dental education, and dental practice.

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