About

(Formerly CARE-PD, SPICE-PD, and CHAT-PD)

The UCLA Section of Pediatric Dentistry began the process of transforming its postdoctoral pediatric dentistry training programs in 2006, with a goal of preparing pediatric dentists to more effectively meet the substantial and growing oral health needs of underserved children within the context of individual children, families and communities.

In 2025, UCLA Section of Pediatric Dentistry was awarded continued Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) funding to support innovation within pediatric dental residency and interprofessional education through the BRIGHT-PD program. This program will continue to enhance pediatric dentistry residency curriculum and clinical experiences and expand reach of dental education into community partners through four main goals:

1. Expand Access through Community Health Workers (CHWs):
Integrate bilingual CHWs into the pediatric residency and teledentistry programs to reach rural, Spanish-speaking, and underserved communities by 2026. This model, rooted in community partnership, exemplifies the Section of Pediatric Dentistry’s decades-long commitment to community-based prevention and early intervention.

2. Strengthen Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):
Collaborate with UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior to design ASD-specific curricula and clinical experiences. This initiative underscores the program’s focus on neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed care for children with complex behavioral and developmental needs.

3. Cultivate the Next Generation of Public Health Leaders:
Support pediatric residents in pursuing dual D.D.S./M.P.H. degrees through the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. This cross-disciplinary training empowers future dental professionals to influence policy, research, and systems-level change to eliminate oral health disparities.

4. Expand Interprofessional and Community-Based Training:
Provide over 460 hours of field experience per resident and train more than 280 providers through collaborative rotations at partner sites, including the Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Center and other community-based health centers. These partnerships reinforce the integration of oral health within broader primary care and public health frameworks.

As health care evolves, it is evident that we must prepare new pediatric and general dentists to embrace working “across disciplines” using the key interprofessional principles of collaboration, cooperation, and communication, in order to better serve patients. This is particularly important in meeting the needs of underserved and high-needs populations.

Following the Children’s Oral Health Framework three-dimensional model of children, families, and communities, we aim to develop and implement a multi-pronged approach to training our residents to meet the needs of the communities they will serve. Additionally, residents will gain experience in the ever-expanding field of telehealth technology through projects that aim to reach community members of all backgrounds.