SAIPAN — The Area Health Education Center at Northern Marianas College has been selected as one of 26 AHEC sites nationwide to implement the ADEA Bridging Pathways to Oral Health Careers Program, a national initiative aimed at increasing awareness of oral health careers among students ages 14 to 18.
The program, led by the American Dental Education Association and supported by Delta Dental through the Delta Dental Future Workforce Fund, engages local high school students through hands-on activities, career exploration and panel discussions highlighting the link between oral and overall health. NMC AHEC will schedule activities during the summer break to increase access and participation.
“We are honored by this opportunity and mindful of its significance for communities like ours,” said AHEC Director Les Ogumoro-Uludong. “This support enables us to invest in our youth, strengthen our local workforce pipeline, and advance efforts to address oral health disparities through education and community engagement.”
The expansion builds on an inaugural year in 2025 in which more than 1,200 students participated nationwide. Through the program, NMC AHEC aims to increase awareness of oral health career opportunities among local youth, strengthen educational and workforce pathways in underserved communities and support long-term access to oral health care.
“ADEA is proud to expand our Bridging Pathways to Oral Health Careers Program and elevate awareness of oral health as a rewarding profession rooted in service to communities,” said Karen P. West, D.M.D., M.P.H., president and CEO of ADEA. “By partnering with AHECs nationwide, ADEA is expanding access to education, exposure, and structured career pathways that help youth envision a future in oral health.”
The program comes amid growing national workforce shortages. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, approximately 64 million Americans live in dental shortage areas, with more than 10,000 additional oral health professionals needed to meet current demand.
NMC AHEC operates as a collaborative initiative between the University of Hawaii and Northern Marianas College, providing training programs and resources for future healthcare professionals. For more information, visit www.marianas.edu/ahec or email ahec@marianas.edu.
