University of Rwanda graduates first class of dentists, thanks in part to Harvard
A jubilant crowd celebrated a victory in a soccer stadium in Huye, Rwanda, this past fall. The fanfare wasn’t for a soccer match, but rather for the commencement ceremony at the University of Rwanda — including its first-ever graduating class of dentists. With a population of more than 12 million people and fewer than 40 registered dentists to serve them, adding 10 new graduates with bachelor’s degrees in dental surgery was a milestone for the future of the nation’s oral health. Since 2011, Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) has been a leading partner in the effort to launch the new dental school and bachelor of dental surgery degree program at the University of Rwanda. Donna Hackley, HSDM instructor in oral health policy and epidemiology, was in the crowd beaming with pride as the 10 newly minted Rwandan dentists marched past her to receive their degrees. Hackley had spent the past five years...