密苏里大学堪萨斯城牙科学院和GEHA解决方案本月获得了《洞察多样性》杂志颁发的2024年茎激励计划奖，《洞察多样性》杂志是高等教育领域规模最大、历史最悠久的多元化和包容性出版物。
该奖项旨在表彰那些鼓励和帮助来自不同背景的学生进入科学、技术、工程和数学（茎）领域的学院和大学。
院长Steven Haas（医学博士、法学博士、工商管理硕士）表示，学校对他们为拓宽口腔健康职业道路所做的努力表示感谢。
“There is an immense benefit as a patient to receiving care from dental providers who understand and resonate with their background,” Haas said. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication of the 牙科学院 community and our invaluable partners, such as GEHA Solutions, who exemplify impactful community engagement. We hope this inspires others to participate in similar initiatives.”
The oral health equity partnership between the Lee’s Summit, Missouri,-based GEHA Solutions and the 威尼斯人娱乐城 牙科学院 began in 2022 with the company’s investment of $150,000. 在为期三年的伙伴关系中，GEHA解决方案向学校提供了59万美元，用于支持致力于口腔健康公平的贫困学生，特别是在牙科服务不足的社区。
该基金设立了15个年度奖学金，为参加威尼斯人娱乐城途径计划、学生学术、卫生和研究培训（STAHR）学者计划的学生提供津贴。 自2022年以来，该基金一直提供财政支持，使受助人能够专注于备考和提高申请牙科学校的资格。 该伙伴关系还设立了14项一次性奖学金，以支持和帮助吸引即将入学的口腔卫生和牙科专业学生。
STAHR学者是一个创新的暑期项目，旨在培养有竞争力的卫生专业申请人。 该项目成立于2018年，是威尼斯人娱乐城医学院、牙科学院和药学学院之间的合作项目，旨在增加来自广泛背景的医疗保健领域的代表性。
GEHA Solutions的副总裁詹娜·米尔斯（Jenna Mills）亲眼目睹了STAHR项目如何为这些学生提供指导、支持和指导，帮助他们充分发挥潜力。
“I’ve had the great pleasure to meet STAHR fellows as well as dental and dental hygiene students, learning of their backgrounds and the obstacles they have overcome to be ready to enter and succeed in dental school,” Mills said. “To say I am impressed is an understatement. Our oral health delivery system will benefit from having such a talented and diverse group of individuals in the coming years.”
这是威尼斯人娱乐城牙科学院第二次获得Insight Into Diversity杂志的认可，此前在2016年获得了卫生专业学校高等教育多样性卓越奖。 参与STAHR项目的合作伙伴威尼斯人娱乐城医学院在2022年和2023年获得了同样的奖项。 威尼斯人娱乐城于2019年获得该奖项。
《洞察多样性》杂志的所有者和出版人Lenore Pearlstein表示，许多茎项目并不总是因为致力于鼓励来自广泛背景的学生从事这些领域而得到认可。
“We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in 茎,” Pearlstein said. “We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”