Welcome to the 2023-2024
E.P.I.C. Challenge

The Educational Program Inspiring Communities (E.P.I.C.) was founded to help address the need for both student and professional chapters to help with raising the dental understanding in their respective communities.  The United States with over 70 million Hispanics has a diverse landscape of socioeconomic influences that impact the access and use of dental care.  Together the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) and its scientific publication, Journal of the Hispanic Dental Association (JHDA) have partnered to help create this novel program that takes advantage of one of the most accessible resources to educate the Hispanic Community, social media via electronic devices.  Thanks to a generous grant from Care Credit/Synchrony this initiative has come to life.

 According to the PEW Research institute close to 95% of Hispanics use the internet1. Data provided by Neilsen from 300,000 online users, Hispanics are the “most avid cell phone users” of all demographics using their phones at 14 hrs per week.  This means Latinos average 658 minutes per month vs 510 minutes a month versus all other consumers ethnicities2.

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2016/07/20/3-hispanics-and-mobile-access-to-the-internet/

  2. https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2015/us-hispanics-are-super-mobile-super-consumers/

 

THE CHALLENGE

The growing presence and engagement of the Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA) has allowed this generation of upcoming dental professionals to harness their familiarity with social media and local community involvement.  Oral Health Education and trends have changed with the advent of electronic media that is highly accessible.  The factual and evidence based “Oral Health” postings will benefit the local communities greatly by dispelling the vast array of misinformation on social media platforms.  Topics can include but are not limited to: 

  • Why should I worry about bleeding gums? 

  • Are baby teeth important? 

  • How often can I whiten my teeth?  

  • Will my teeth affect my unborn baby?  

  • What careers are there in Dentistry?

The HDA and JHDA are welcoming applications to select 10 HSDA Chapters from around the country to partake in the E.P.I.C. Challenge for 2023-2024.  Educational Programs Inspiring Communities is what E.P.I.C. stands for.  Complete submissions must be made by October 31th, 2023 to be eligible for consideration.

PLEASE READ THE CHALLENGE RULES HERE

ENTER THE CHALLENGE HERE

We at the HDA and JHDA eagerly await this novel and impactful digital age competition for the benefit of our communities.  Make a digital difference today!  #SOMOSHDA.