The VDA has been hard at work alongside community partners in elevating and addressing dental workforce needs around the state. Here’s a roundup of some of the recent and upcoming events the VDA has been a part of around workforce. 

On September 24, the VDA participated in the  Life Ready Expo with Henrico County Public Schools and two of our member dentists, talking to 6-12^th graders about shadowing opportunities in dental offices and education options for various dental careers in the Richmond area. 

On October 15, the VDA participated in the  2024 Health Sciences Career Advisory Summit in Roanoke, sharing with several hundred school counselors and teachers in the region the different career paths and opportunities within dentistry. The Virginia Community College System published a study this month on occupational demand in health sciences, which found dental hygiene has the highest median pay of health sciences careers available through two-year VCCS programs and that dental assisting has the highest median salary of VCCS health sciences careers available with less than a two-year degree. 

October 22-24, the VDA partnered with FORTIS College Dental Assisting Program at the  Mission Tomorrow Career Exploration event at the Richmond Raceway. Twelve thousand eighth graders from around the Greater Richmond area came through over the course of three days and participated in hands-on activities, including flossing a typodont, coloring in teeth using indirect vision through a mirror, and setting up x-rays. Dr. David Minoza, the Director of the J. Sargeant Reynolds Dental Assisting program, also participated in the event. 

On October 29, the VDA is partnering with the VCU School of Dentistry to host a Career Fair with more than 25 employers from around Virginia represented. 

If you missed out, there is still time to register as an employer for Germanna Community College's Dental Employment Networking Reception November 4 at their Fredericksburg Campus. Employers can meet current students and alumni of Germanna's dental hygiene and dental assisting programs at the networking event in a speed dating-style interview process followed by a reception.  REGISTER

VDA members who are hiring also receive significant member-exclusive discounts on listings and job flash email promotions of open positions through the  VDA Career Center. 

If you know of any upcoming career event in your area and would like assistance in participating or if you would like to get more involved in advocating for broader paths to enter into careers in dentistry, reach out to Paul Logan at Logan@vadental.org.