Grant Supports Innovative Training to Expand Access to Oral Health Care

A new grant awarded to Marcie S. Rubin, DrPH, MPH, MPA, associate professor of Behavioral Sciences in Dental Medicine at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine will support the development of an innovative educational initiative designed to improve access to oral health care by preparing future dentists to better navigate dental insurance and benefits systems. Dana Wolf, DMD, the senior associate dean for predoctoral academic and student affairs and Aaron Myers, the senior associate dean for clinical affairs, contributed to the proposal and will be integral to the program’s implementation.

Funded by the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) Foundation, the project, Advancing Oral Healthcare Equity and Access through Enhanced Dental Student Training on Dental Insurance, Benefits, Coding, and Billing, or AHEAD, addresses a longstanding gap in dental education: the limited formal training dental students receive on how insurance structures, reimbursement models, and administrative requirements shape patients’ ability to receive care.

“Financial barriers are the most significant obstacles patients face when seeking dental care,” said Dr. Rubin. “By helping students understand how dental plans work and how to use that knowledge ethically and effectively, we are equipping them with tools that can directly expand access to care, particularly for underserved populations.”

Training Dentists to Navigate the Realities of Care Delivery

While dental curricula traditionally emphasize clinical skills, many graduates enter practice without a strong foundation in dental insurance, benefits, coding, or billing. The AHEAD project seeks to change that by integrating comprehensive, equity-focused training modules into CDM’s predoctoral curriculum.

Over the course of one year, the project team will develop and deploy interactive learning modules for approximately 100 third-year dental students. The training will cover topics such as private and public dental insurance, Medicaid and managed care, documentation requirements, coding practices, billing compliance, and appeals, all of which will be framed through an oral health equity and access lens.

By understanding how coverage limitations, reimbursement policies, and administrative processes affect patients’ ability to receive timely and affordable care, students will be better prepared to design treatment plans that are both clinically appropriate and financially accessible.

Advancing Oral Health Equity Through Education

Central to the AHEAD project is the idea that insurance literacy is not merely an administrative skill, but a clinical equity tool. When dentists understand how to work within, and, when appropriate, challenge existing payment systems, they can help reduce delays in care, prevent unnecessary denials, and improve continuity of treatment for patients who rely on public or limited-benefit coverage.

The training modules will use real-world case studies, simulations, and interactive exercises to help students translate policy and payment concepts into practical decision-making in the clinic. An external evaluator will assess changes in students’ knowledge, confidence, and attitudes, generating data that can inform future curriculum development and broader adoption of the model.

A Model with National Implications

In addition to benefiting Columbia dental students, the AHEAD project is designed as a scalable model that could inform dental education nationally. By demonstrating how structured training on dental insurance and benefits can be successfully integrated into predoctoral education, the project has the potential to influence broader conversations about workforce preparation and health equity.

“This grant reflects CDM’s commitment to educating dentists who are not only excellent clinicians, but also effective advocates for their patients,” Dr. Rubin said. “When future dentists understand the systems that shape access to care, they are better equipped to serve their communities and help close persistent gaps in oral health.”