Cleveland, OH,
25
January
2022
|
12:14 PM
America/New_York

MetroHealth Launches Dental Assistant Apprentice Program to Support Patient Needs, Provide Training and Potential Jobs

Dental-5

The MetroHealth System is starting a new dental assistant apprentice program that will educate and train potential dental assistants while paying them, with the goal of placing them in one of the System’s dental offices.

The shortage of dental assistants has impacted many hospitals and clinics across the country.

“During this pandemic, there have been a lot of dental assistants nationwide who have moved away from working in offices,” said Dr. Gregory Heintschel, Chair of Dental Medicine. “We’re starting this program to train our own dental assistants. We also want to create avenues for MetroHealth employees who want to move up, as well as open it to others who want to work in a clinical setting.”

Dental assistants work alongside dentists on procedures such as assisting with extractions, fabricating crowns, getting X-rays, doing fillings, root canals and other procedures.

MetroHealth’s Dental Assistant Apprentice Program will have up to 12 available slots. Trainees will rotate through several general dentistry and oral surgery clinics. While training, they’ll be paid MetroHealth’s minimum wage with full-time hours, plus the option to enroll in the System’s benefits programs.

In addition to a high school diploma, Dr. Heintschel says applicants should love to smile and provide support.

“You’ll be dealing with patients all day. Dentists do a lot of different procedures, so you need to catch on quickly and learn on the go. You should also be a good team player, as no one in this setting works alone.”

The Dental Assistant Apprentice Program is open to current MetroHealth employees and community members. Candidates can apply online. The application deadline for the first cohort is January 31.

About The MetroHealth System

Founded in 1837, MetroHealth is leading the way to a healthier you and a healthier community through service, teaching, discovery, and teamwork. Cuyahoga County’s public, safety-net hospital system, MetroHealth meets people where they are, providing care through five hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers. Each day, our nearly 9,000 employees focus on providing our community with equitable healthcare — through patient-focused research, access to care, and support services — that seeks to eradicate health disparities rooted in systematic barriers. For more information, visit metrohealth.org.