Educational Institutions in the U.S. have responded to government policies that called for more inclusive educational systems. The goal is to reduce the oppression created by "racism" and enhance the environmental trajectory toward equity and justice. Although significant social and economic advances have been made, these have not been sustainable, and disparities remain. As educational systems have not kept pace with the demographics and economic trends, there is a call to action to affirm the need to establish policies that support diversity within pipeline pathways, faculty recruitment, and retention. Leveraging knowledge and networking across institutions with communities can transform academic cultures, reduce unconscious/implicit bias, and microaggression. As racism exists in every segment of our culture, building sustainable capacity and a system proportional to the populations' relative needs can help chart a direction forward for policies that support justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion among dental institutions.
Keywords: academic institutions; and inclusion; dental schools; diversity; equity; justice; oral health; policies; underrepresented minorities.
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