Saskatchewan Polytechnic Receives $210,000 from GreenShield for New Dental Therapy Equipment
GreenShield donation will support dental outreach and care in remote and Indigenous communities across Saskatchewan
To extend oral health care to remote and Indigenous communities, GreenShield donated $210,000 to Saskatchewan Polytechnic through its GreenShield Cares social impact program. The investment will provide equipment for the outreach component of the new Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Dental Therapy program.
The donation will assist in purchasing key equipment to support community outreach. This includes, portable dental chairs, a portable X-ray unit and digital X-ray sensors to support oral health care in remote locations and Indigenous communities across the province.
“Access to portable equipment would not be possible without the generous support of GreenShield,” says president and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Dr. Larry Rosia. “The outreach component of our dental programs has been an integral part of our education. This new equipment will help to restore extended dental care services to remote and Indigenous communities across Saskatchewan, enhancing student’s learning experience through hands-on engagement.”
The two-year BSc in Dental Therapy program is a partnership between the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA), the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Dentistry, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Northlands College. The Dental Therapy program is the first training delivery of this type in Canada since the National School of Dental Therapy closed in 2011.
"Oral health care is vital, but equitable access is uncertain for many people across Canada. We are proud of our partnership with Saskatchewan Polytechnic and to be given the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to increasing oral health training and services for vulnerable communities,” says Zahid Salman, president and CEO of Green Shield. “As a not-for-profit health and benefits organization, GreenShield is dedicated to championing better health for all. We’re driven by our purpose and mission to tackle complex issues and create meaningful positive change in the communities we serve by redeploying the services and unique expertise we also deliver to our clients.”
The BSc in Dental Therapy program starts this fall in multiple locations allowing students to learn where they live. Students have the option to study in La Ronge at the Northlands College campus, in Prince Albert or Saskatoon at USask campuses, or in Regina at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous applicants are welcome to apply. Student selection criteria will focus on Indigenous students.
“We are excited for the launch of the new BSc in Dental Therapy this fall. Students start classes this month! The first year of the program is currently full with 21 students enrolled and 100 per cent of our students are Indigenous,” says Christa MacLean, dean, School of Health Sciences, Saskatchewan Polytechnic. “Thank you to GreenShield for enhancing our programming with the addition of portable equipment for community outreach. By integrating dental therapists into our outreach, we enhance our capabilities for restorative dental treatments such as fillings, extractions, and preventive services.”
GreenShield Cares’ social impact program has committed over $20 million dollars in seven years to help boost access to oral health care services for low-income and underserved communities. Impacting communities and individuals across Canada, these funds support everything from community clinics to oral health education and service navigation to arms-length independent research conducted by universities.
GreenShield is an integrated health and benefits organization uniquely structured as a not-for-profit social enterprise that reinvests its earnings and redeploys its services via GreenShield Cares. The company’s overarching goal is to generate $75 million of social impact investments to improve the lives of at least 1 million Canadians by 2025, with a focus on mental health, oral health and essential medicines. For more information visit GreenShield.ca.
September 2023