American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) are considered underrepresented minorities (URM) in the field of dentistry, with only 0.2 percent of the active U.S. dentists in 2012 identifying as AI/AN. Evidence suggests that improving workforce diversity promotes social justice as well as increasing access, health equity, and health care quality, particularly for minority populations (Institute of Medicine, 2004)*.

As an organization dedicated to increasing the number of Indigenous dentists, SAID:

• Coordinates an annual conference that provides opportunities:
• To connect with peers, dental students, and pre-dental students, as well as other oral health professionals;
• For continuing education on topics of particular interest to those working in AI/AN communities, both rural and urban;
• To engage in the diverse cultural traditions of sovereign tribal nations across the continent; and
• To engage together in community service to AI/AN communities in the region of the conference.

• Provides DAT prep awards to AI/AN dental students to support their applications to dental schools.
• Provides travel stipends to the annual conference to pre-dental and dental students as opportunities to network with other AI/AN students and develop mentorship relationships with experienced dentists.
• Offers a formal mentorship program to further enhance and support the dental journey of our students.