Recruiting more faculty to the Dental College of Georgia

A bill intended to help the Dental College of Georgia recruit new faculty members passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Higher Education on Thursday, March 20.

House Bill 322, sponsored by state Rep. Lee Hawkins, R-Gainesville, would allow dentists from other states, countries and territories to apply to the Georgia Board of Dentistry to receive an instructor’s license that would allow them to teach at accredited dental programs in Georgia.

Augusta University President Russell T. Keen said this bill is crucial in helping recruit additional faculty to DCG and the state of Georgia.

“This would be a major benefit to Augusta University and the Dental College of Georgia,” Keen said. “I appreciate Rep. Hawkins’ support and collaboration to train the future dentists for the state of Georgia.”

Hawkins said this bill would specifically aid in the recruitment of professors at the Dental College of Georgia.

Last year, Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly allocated $178 million in the fiscal year 2024 budget to fund the expansion of the Dental College of Georgia into Savannah. Established in 1969, the Dental College of Georgia provides education and training for nearly 400 dental students and approximately 60 residents each year.

The DCG was founded to provide the people of Georgia with quality dental care by educating students in dentistry. DCG is committed to hands-on learning for dental students and statewide oral health outreach, partnering with dental providers, community health departments and federally qualified health centers.

During the committee meeting, Hawkins commended Dental College of Georgia Dean Nancy Young, DMD, on the incredible work she has done to recruit new faculty to Georgia.

State Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, who chairs the Senate Committee on Higher Education, agreed to carry HB 322 on the Senate floor if it passes the Senate Rules Committee this week. 

Earlier this year, Young spoke to the members of the Georgia General Assembly about the challenges of recruiting enough faculty to cover a growing state like Georgia and the associated dental needs.

“House Bill 322 would allow the Dental College of Georgia the ability to increase options for hiring faculty to educate and train the next generation of dentists for the state of Georgia,” Young told the House Health Committee on Feb. 19. “The bill allows options, better options at least, for those trained outside the United States to work as clinical faculty. This is covering students in a clinical setting. Considering the competition with private practice and the limits on faculty pay, it creates an additional recruitment tool for us.”

Several other states have already adopted similar bills to allow options for their dental schools. This bill will add Georgia to the list and make the recruitment options available to DCG.  The nature of dental school teaching and training is hands-on, so many clinical faculty are needed for the hands-on teaching, Young said. 

This additional faculty would help students receive supervised clinical experience before joining the workforce, she said. Young insisted this type of faculty recruitment would not impact the high standards expected at the Dental College of Georgia.

Not only will this bill help educate future dentists, but it will also improve dental care throughout the state of Georgia, she said.