20 May 2025

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White paper urges integration of oral health into interprofessional education

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Oral health care is health care, and Adams School of Dentistry faculty and staff members want to ensure that idea pervades interprofessional education across the health science disciplines. Several faculty members joined forces recently to co-author an extensive white paper to advance the integration of oral health in interprofessional education, particularly in underserved communities where health disparities persist. 

ASOD’s Zachary Brian, DMD, MHA, FICD, FACD, Roxanne Dsouza-Norwood, EdD, MS, RDH, Sarah Liebkemann, MS, RDH, Heidi McNeilly, MSW, Kimberly A. Sanders, PharmD, BCPS and Jeffery Stewart, DDS, MS, recently partnered with the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health on the white paper, titled “Transforming Oral Health Care Through Interprofessional Education.” 

According to the paper’s authors, this collaboration was a natural step forward.

“CareQuest’s mission and work align deeply with the community-based efforts that address critical gaps in health care delivery across diverse populations,” Brian said. “This white paper gives us an opportunity to synthesize shared learnings and elevate the national dialogue about how IPE can act as a catalyst for more integrated, person-centered care.”

With the siloed nature of health education and care delivery inconsistencies, the benefits of interprofessional care are many, but the implementation of IPE remains inconsistent across institutions and oral health is often left out of health care discussions. The white paper seeks to fill this void by presenting a plan for integrating oral health into IPE curricula and collaborative practice models — ensuring that it becomes an integral part of whole-person care and workforce development.

“This white paper addresses a critical need: to define a clear, actionable roadmap for embedding oral health meaningfully into interprofessional education and collaborative practice models. By doing so, it supports systems change that better aligns with whole-person care, oral-systemic integration, and workforce development,” Brian said. 

Among the key recommendations outlined in the white paper are the integration of oral health into foundational IPE curricula across all health professions, the creation of community-engaged learning experiences, and the alignment of accreditation and competency frameworks to reflect interprofessional collaboration. The authors also stress the importance of investing in faculty training and institutional support to ensure the sustainability of IPE programs.

One standout feature of the white paper is its focus on health equity. The paper urges that IPE curricula center social determinants of health, preparing students to meet the needs of diverse communities. This emphasis on equity is in line with CareQuest Institute’s broader mission to reduce oral health disparities, particularly in underserved populations.

At UNC, the IPE program is already setting a high standard for others to follow. The university’s model stands out in the larger IPE landscape for its intentional focus on community engagement and long-term, real-world learning experiences. Unlike other programs that rely heavily on simulation or classroom-based modules, UNC’s IPE model immerses students in authentic, community-based settings where they collaborate with professionals from various health disciplines.

“UNC’s IPE framework is exceptional,” Brian said. “It is longitudinal, community-driven, and ensures that dental students are an integral part of interprofessional teams, which positions them to tackle real-world challenges in health care delivery.”

Source: https://dentistry.unc.edu/