Vidal G Balderas, B.A., D.D.S., M.P.H.

Federal

Funding Agency Health Resources and Services Administration Title Dental Hispanic Center of Excellence Status Active Period 7/2013 - 6/2017 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail The UT Health Science Center San Antonio Hispanic Center of Excellence (HCOE) implements multiple strategies to address the need for more Hispanic dental professionals through enhanced recruitment efforts and linkages with South Texas high school districts and institutions of higher education to establish an educational pipeline that will increase the number of Hispanic applications to dental school. BOLD workshops including dental related hands on activities take place, in San Antonio, Brownsville, Harlingen, Mercedes, and Laredo. The Learning Enhancement for Achievement in Dentistry (LEAD) program is the cornerstone of the pipeline-building strategies for the HCOE. The LEAD summer program provides a 7-year, continuous and interlinked pathway of experiences bridging preparation for dental school in college to support for academic success after enrollment. LEAD 1-3 activities include shadowing dental offices, learning strategies, test-taking workshops, leadership and communication skills, a Dental Admissions Test (DAT) preparation course, and core science mini courses to develop competitive dental school applicants. The LEAD 4-7 assists the Hispanic dental students through participation in pre-matriculation, pre-clinical, and mentorship activities to enhance their academic performance in dental school. A fellowship for eight Hispanic Faculty Fellows, over the course of the HCOE 4-year grant period, includes faculty development for teaching, grant writing, research, student mentorship, and advancement in promotion and tenure to enhance faculty retention. Cultural competence is addressed with a course and experiences embedded within the curriculum for all dental students. Pre-dental and dental students, along with faculty fellows will participate in mentored research experiences. Improved clinical education relative to minority health issues is targeted through cultural competence, research, and community-based dental education and training at clinical sites througho

State

Funding Agency San Antonio Independent School District Title SAISD Migrant Farm-Worker Children Mobile Van Program Status Active Period 1/1987 - Present Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail