December 10, 2025

Dear D4 and DH3 Students,

Exciting Opportunity: Apprenticeship Program in Community Oral Health and Dental Public Health

We are pleased to announce that the team led by Dr. Robert Schroth, Dr. Anil Menon, Prof. Kathy Yerex, Prof. Mary Bertone, and Dr. Prashen Chelikani from the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, has been successfully awarded funding through Health Canada’s Oral Health Access Fund – Stream 1. The funding has resulted in the establishment of an innovative Apprenticeship Program in Community Oral Health and Dental Public Health. This program, based out of the Centre for Community Oral Health (CCOH), is designed to provide newly graduated dentists and dental hygienists with hands-on experience in public health dentistry while serving priority populations in Manitoba.

Program Overview:

This one-year postgraduate apprenticeship, commencing on July 1, 2026, is an exceptional opportunity for newly graduated dentists and dental hygienists to gain hands-on experience in public health dentistry and dental hygiene, serving priority populations across Manitoba.

• Clinical and Public Health Experience: Work in underserved communities including rural and remote areas, including First Nations and Métis communities, as well as urban low-income populations.
• Community-Based Rotations: Participate in rotations at key sites such as the Centre for Community Oral Health (Access Downtown, Deer Lodge Centre, Home Dental Care Program, Churchill), the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s SMILE Plus program, Mount Carmel Clinic, and potentially Shared Health’s dental clinics at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre.
• Scholarly Activities: Engage in research projects, public health seminars, and oral health promotion initiatives.
• Skill Development: Enhance your clinical skills in treating priority populations, addressing health disparities, advocacy, and improving access to oral health care.

Apprenticeship Benefits:

• Competitive stipend for the duration of the apprenticeship and health benefits.
• Hands-on mentorship from experienced faculty and community-based practitioners.
• Opportunity to expand clinical hours in public health dental settings.
• Development of skills that align with future career pathways in public health dentistry and community-based practice.
• Professional Development.
• Research support/allowance for interns.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Dental and dental hygiene graduates from accredited Canadian dental programs.
• Demonstrated interest in public health dentistry and community service.
• Commitment to working with priority populations and participating in interdisciplinary care.

More details will follow in the coming weeks. A lunchtime event for D4 and DH3 is being planned for early January 2026.

How to Apply (Current proposed deadline is March 31,2025):

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application, which includes:

• A statement of interest (max. 1000 words) outlining why you wish to participate in the internship.
• A current CV (resume) highlighting relevant experiences.
• Names of two references from faculty or clinical supervisors.

Application Process:

For more details on the program and application process, please contact Jasmine Closas (jasmine.closas@umanitoba.ca). More details about the application process and program specifics will be shared in the coming weeks during a lunch hour session for D4 and DH3 students. We look forward to your applications and to developing the next generation of leaders in community oral health and public health dentistry.

We encourage you to seize this unique opportunity to expand your skills, serve communities in need, and make a lasting impact in public health dentistry. We look forward to receiving your application!

Kind regards,

Robert J Schroth DMD, MSc, PhD

Professor & Clinician-Scientist

Diplomate, American Board of Dental Public Health

CIHR Applied Public Health Chair in Oral Health

Division of Community Dentistry and Dental Public Health

Director, Centre for Community Oral Health

Department of Preventive Dental Science, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry

Departments of Pediatrics and Child Health and Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine

Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

University of Manitoba

Tel: 204-975-7764

Email: robert.schroth@umanitoba.ca

Research Scientist, the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba

Chair, Oral Health Program Quality Council

Chair, Oral Health Program Standards Committee

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

Provincial Medical Representative – Pediatric Dentistry

Shared Health Inc.