Oral health educators from around Latin America recently gathered to discuss the latest dental education trends, resources, challenges and opportunities during a special meeting in Lima, Peru.
IFDEA President Dr. Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr., presented “Networks of Global Education and Their Impact on Latin America” to members of the Latin-American Organization of Dental Schools / Organizacion de Facultades, Escuelas y Departamentos de Odontologia (OFEDO/UDUAL) on April 23, 2012.

His presentation covered topics including the varying definitions of oral healthcare providers around the world, the need for development of current and future faculty, funding challenges at institutions of higher education and how to best share information and increase collaboration among dental educators.

Ferrillo also discussed the vision and mission of IFDEA and its efforts to share knowledge and raise standards among dental educators. He described resources such as The Global Network for Dental Education, IFDEA’s free, online library of articles, educational modules and teaching tools available to instructors worldwide.

The Latin-American Organization of Dental Schools/Organizacion de Facultades, Escuelas y Departamentos de Odontologia (OFEDO/UDUAL) was formed during the First Conference of Colleges, Schools and Departments of Dentistry, Latin America, held in October, 1980.

In 2010 OFEDA/UDUAL completed an important report which identified goals and objectives to raise the quality of dental education in Latin America. The report was coordinated by Dr. Mariano Sanz Alonso and Dr. Joao Humberto Antoniazzi and sponsored by companies including Colgate/Palmolive. A Spanish-language copy of the report is available online at http://www.ifdea.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/PLACEO_ESPANHOL.pdf