Dental Health Aide Therapists (DHATs) have become an integral part of the care that we provide for our patients here at YKHC.  When selecting candidates to sponsor for the program, we try to choose people who are from our area and understand first-hand the culture in which they will be working.  These candidates attend a 2 year intensive training program and then continue their training during a six-month to one-year-long preceptorship working under the direct supervision of our licensed dentists.

This leads to professional and culturally competent health care providers.  This care includes patient and community based preventive dental services, fillings and uncomplicated extractions.  DHATs are able to diagnose, treatment plan, provide needed treatment and recognize treatment that needs to be referred to a dentist.

We currently have 9 certified DHATs working for YKHC, three graduates of the Alaska Dental Therapy Education Program (ADTEP) who are currently in their preceptorship, 2 second year DHAT students, and three students that are beginning the 1^st year of the training program.

We are very proud of Ruby Okitkun, Tamija Woods and Kathrine Levi for graduating from the training program and are enjoying working with them in our clinic full time.  Wilma Uisok and Gwendolyn Owletuck have transitioned from their first year of training to their second year.  Their second year will consist of a lot of hands on patient care at the YUUT dental training facility along with periodic rotations through the YKHC clinic.  We would also like to wish Jerilyn Glenn, Natalia Ballard and Loretta Coffee good luck as they begin their DHAT journey.

With the success of these dedicated students and preceptees, we will likely almost double the size of our DHAT program in the next three years!

–Judith Burks, DDS, DHAT Training Coordinator