Waterpik and Atlanta Dental Studio Launch HBCU Campus Crusade for Oral Health and Entrepreneurship
TL;DR
The HBCU Campus Crusade tour provides opportunities for students to receive complimentary oral health essentials and scholarship funding.
The tour includes interactive sessions, live product demonstrations, and panel discussions featuring experts on oral health, entrepreneurship, and pre-dental career pathways.
The tour aims to empower students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities with the tools, knowledge, and scholarship funding to support their college careers.
The tour features panel discussions led by influential figures, product giveaways, and opportunities for student engagement throughout the event.
Found this article helpful?
Share it with your network and spread the knowledge!
In a significant move to address oral health disparities and promote entrepreneurship among minority students, the Waterpik brand has partnered with Atlanta's Art of Aesthetics Dental Studio (AOA) to launch the HBCU Campus Crusade. This inaugural tour, set to visit multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), represents a multifaceted approach to empowering students with oral health resources, entrepreneurial insights, and educational opportunities.
The HBCU Campus Crusade, scheduled to begin in October 2024, will feature interactive sessions where students can receive complimentary Waterpik devices, Essentials Co. Toothbrushes, and other oral health products. Dr. Quodarrius "Dr. Q" Toney, founder of AOA and an HBCU graduate himself, will lead live product demonstrations and provide guidance on maintaining oral health, particularly for students without dental insurance.
This initiative addresses a critical need among college students, who often neglect oral hygiene due to time constraints and limited access to care. By bringing resources directly to HBCU campuses, Waterpik and AOA aim to make dental care more accessible and equip students with the tools and knowledge necessary for maintaining healthy smiles.
The tour's impact extends beyond immediate oral health concerns. Waterpik has committed to awarding two scholarships to Howard University: a $20,000 scholarship for a dental student and a $5,000 contribution to support the university's dental program. This financial support underscores the brand's commitment to fostering the next generation of dental professionals from underrepresented communities.
A key component of the Campus Crusade will be panel discussions featuring experts in oral health, minority entrepreneurship, and pre-dental career pathways. These sessions aim to provide students with valuable insights into navigating healthcare challenges, starting businesses, and preparing for careers in dentistry. The inclusion of Q&A sessions offers students direct engagement with industry professionals, potentially opening doors to future opportunities.
The significance of this initiative lies in its comprehensive approach to addressing both immediate and long-term needs within the HBCU community. By combining oral health education, product accessibility, financial support, and career guidance, the HBCU Campus Crusade has the potential to make a lasting impact on student health and professional development.
Charisse Winecki, Waterpik VP of Global Marketing, emphasized the brand's dedication to empowering underserved communities with the tools and knowledge necessary for maintaining oral health. This partnership with Dr. Q and AOA represents a strategic effort to inspire the next generation of leaders in oral health while addressing current healthcare disparities.
The tour's itinerary includes stops at Howard University on October 17, 2024, featuring a panel led by Gregory Allen Jr., Mister Howard University 2024-2025, and at the Atlanta University Center (AUC) from October 24-26, 2024. These events promise to bring valuable resources and information to a significant portion of the HBCU student population.
As the dental industry continues to grapple with issues of diversity and access to care, initiatives like the HBCU Campus Crusade play a crucial role in bridging gaps and creating pathways for underrepresented students to enter the field. By focusing on HBCUs, Waterpik and AOA are directly addressing the need for greater representation in dentistry and supporting the development of a more diverse healthcare workforce.
The potential long-term impacts of this initiative are substantial. By empowering HBCU students with knowledge about oral health, entrepreneurship, and career opportunities in dentistry, the tour could inspire a new generation of dental professionals and business leaders from minority communities. This, in turn, could lead to improved oral health outcomes and reduced healthcare disparities in underserved populations.
As the HBCU Campus Crusade prepares to launch, its success could serve as a model for future collaborations between industry leaders and educational institutions, demonstrating the power of targeted outreach and resource allocation in addressing systemic healthcare and educational challenges.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
