Journal of dental education
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Although the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) was developed for the purpose of supporting the dental licensure process, it can have significant influence on dental school curricula. Efforts to revise and enhance dental curricula, of necessity, must engage stakeholder communities and promote an assessment process that is both valid and relevant to contemporary dental practice. ⋯ In addition, there is a need for ongoing research and development to explore new testing strategies that stress understanding and the ability to apply information in a problem-solving context. Finally, examinations could be enhanced with a broader array of high-quality supporting case materials through a more structured collaborative arrangement between dental schools and the National Board testing program.
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Building the faculty of the future has to be rooted in understanding the nature of future oral health delivery practices. Unfortunately, no one can reliably predict that future. Accepting any given scenario inevitably requires a leap of faith, but the cost of guessing wrong is high. ⋯ It is not an optimal arrangement. Among practical suggestions to enhance recruitment of faculty are innovations in imprinting students early with the identity of being an educator and, in association with this concept, assisting with financing the education of future teachers. Ultimately, success in the dental educational enterprise will depend on attracting individuals who are intrinsically captivated by teaching as a moral vocation.