By Jacqueline Arroyo / Jambar Contributor
Education for Youngstown State University’s dental hygiene students will be enhanced through a grant awarded to the Dr. Madeleine Haggerty Dental Hygiene Program.
The grant was awarded through the Delta Dental Foundation and was submitted by Dr. Diane Kandray, who teaches head and neck anatomy lecture and lab, radiology lecture and lab as well as preclinical courses.
“I know that our dental hygiene program has been in need of some equipment,” Kandray said. “I reached out to [Delta Dental Foundation] first and we did a virtual call saying here’s what our needs are.”
Kandray noted that her program’s training manikins and digital radiography sensors needed to be replaced.
The training manikins are equipped with real teeth to provide students with a realistic experience. Kandray said over time, some of the teeth began to break.
Meanwhile, the radiography sensors started to wear down — those allow students to take pictures of a patient’s teeth and jaw.
The grant funds will be used to purchase two digital X-ray sensors, two training manikins and a handheld X-ray unit.
“Our dental hygiene program at YSU, we always try and have the best and the most current equipment that’s out there,” Kandray said.
While explaining the new X-ray unit they are purchasing, Kandray explained that the new unit would come with a chargeable battery, which would allow students to move more freely.
“Our students can just walk into the room and stand next to the patient,” Kandray said.
This was the only grant she applied for, which Kandray learned about at a dental conference she attended last November.
Before speaking to a representative from DDF, Kandray said she thought the organization only dealt with dental insurance, but then learned it also offered grant money.
DDF aligns its grant-making with five strategic aims focusing on access to care, advocacy, education, emerging initiatives and workforce development.
Applicants for the grant must be nonprofits, government agencies, schools and colleges or universities in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana or North Carolina.
Kandray worked with Angie Cameron, associate director of the YSU Office of Research Services, to fill out the application. The Office of Research Services handles all external funding for the university.
“All proposals come to our office,” Cameron said. “She reached out to the Office of Research Services and we reviewed the proposal together.”
When applying for the grant, Kandray had to get quotes from dental manufacturers.
“She is the subject matter expert,” Cameron said. “She knows what vendors are best to be used.”
Kandray submitted the grant in February and learned in March the program was awarded $53,988.25 to fund her entire request.
She said the relationship between YSU and DDF is good because part of its mission is to increase and support the dental hygiene workforce.
YSU has an accredited dental hygiene program, and with the new equipment, Kandray aims to demonstrate that students are competent in specific skills.
