To help maintain a sufficient number of well-qualified faculty members at the nation's dental schools, the American Dental Association Foundation (ADAF), charitable arm of the American Dental Association, is requesting proposals for innovative methods to recruit and retain new faculty members.
Today, there are upwards of 310 unfilled faculty positions in U.S. dental schools. The unfilled numbers will grow in anticipation of retirement of the 20 percent of current faculty members that are over 60 years of age. In addition, some 50 percent of current dental school faculty is over the age of 50 years.
As a result, the ADA Foundation developed its Request for Proposal titled, "Enhancing the Dental School Faculty Workforce." Proposal objectives include supporting innovative projects to foster and encourage students to pursue full-or part-time teaching careers in dentistry; increasing the number of qualified faculty in dental schools; and increasing the diversity of dental education faculty.
Proposals of up to $100,000, submitted by not-for-profit organizations in the United States and its territories, are eligible for consideration. Examples of eligible organizations include accredited dental schools, advanced education programs, dental specialty organizations and national dental-related organizations.
Final postmark date for proposals is June 1, 2005, with the earliest award date of August 31, 2005. For additional information visit http://www.ada.org/ada/prod/adaf/index.asp or contact Robert Czarnecki, director of administration, ADA Foundation at (312) 440-2544 or czarneckir@ada.org.
About the ADA Foundation
The ADA Foundation is dedicated to improving health and making lives better, one person at a time. Since 1991, the ADA Foundation has disbursed nearly $25 million dollars to support such charitable activities. In addition to funding grants for dental research, education, scholarships and access to care, the Foundation supports Charitable Assistance Programs such as relief grants to dentists and their dependents that are unable to support themselves due to injury, a medical condition or advanced age; and grants and loans to those who are victims of disasters.
About the American Dental Association
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 152,000 members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer and professional products. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org.