For the past three years, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation has provided scholarships to exceptional Hispanic students pursuing careers in dentistry through the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation (HDAF). Samuel Romo is one of the nine recipients of this year’s HDAF scholarship. This is Samuel’s third year receiving the scholarship as he enters his final year at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry.
Samuel’s path toward a career in dentistry has been marked by determination and perseverance.
As a first-generation college student, he had to navigate the complex path toward dental school on his own. “Not having someone who had ever gone through the dental school application process before me, I was left to my own devices to figure out how to achieve my goals,” shared Samuel. And there were many financial hurdles along the way—from the costs of the Dental Admission Test and application fees to travel expenses for dental school interviews.
Samuel is not alone in these experiences, either. There are more barriers for Hispanic students—and other individuals of color—to pursue a career in dentistry than their white counterparts. Black and Hispanic students carry the most student debt.1 And, despite representing 18.4% of the U.S. population, only 5.9% of dentists are Hispanic.2
Recognizing the need to address inequalities in dentistry, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation and HDAF have come together to support talented, diverse students as they pursue careers in dentistry. “Our partnership with the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation is part of our commitment to increasing access to care and empowering students like Samuel who are working to make oral health care more equitable,” explains Lora Vitek, executive director of the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation.
Even as a student, Samuel is seeing the real impact being made in dentistry as a Hispanic provider.
“The amount of relief my Spanish-speaking patients have when they realize they can communicate their needs without worrying about things being lost in translation is one of my favorite parts of being Hispanic in dentistry,” Samuel explained. “Diversity in dentistry is crucial because we will always service diverse populations. It is important for our patient populations to feel seen and heard when they seek care.”
As a recipient of the HDAF scholarship, Samuel’s support extends beyond just financial. “My mentors at the Hispanic Dental Association are some of the most incredibly accomplished people I have ever met,” Samuel shared. “They balance their practices, families, community service projects, and mentorship while making it all look easy. I look forward to serving my community as a dental provider and to participate in mentorship programs for other Hispanic students trying to carve their own path.”
As National Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we want to congratulate all of this year’s HDAF scholarship recipients as they lead the way toward a more inclusive future in dentistry for both providers and patients.
If you are Hispanic and an aspiring dental student looking to make a difference in your community, we encourage you to apply for the HDAF scholarship next year. For more information on the scholarship or to see the list of this year’s recipients, click here.
1 Student Loan Debt is Common Across All Race and Gender Groups, Especially for Black Women – Center for Economic and Policy Research (cepr.net)
2 ADA.org/HPI: Racial and Ethnic Mix of the Dentist Workforce in the U.S.
