UC Blue Ash students are perfect in new program

Students in a new program at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College have set a high standard in their first year.

The Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) program is a one-year certificate program that was started last summer at UC Blue Ash to meet growing demand in the dental care industry. The 17 students enrolled in the program recently completed the rigorous classroom and clinical requirements and were eligible to take the EFDA Board Exam for Ohio. All 17 students passed.

The exam is made up of two sections: a written multiple-choice question section and a hands-on clinical section where students must place three fillings on a patient simulation. The chief examiner who conducted the test said it’s rare that all the students in a class pass their board exam on their first attempt and called it a remarkable achievement.

Heather Ferris is the EFDA Program Director at UC Blue Ash who helped launch the program.

“When I was told that every student passed the board exam, I was thrilled and incredibly proud of my students. I literally skipped though the halls with excitement," she said. "This would not have been possible without the support and guidance given by our tremendous adjunct faculty: Cathleen Middlestetter, Patricia Jodery, and Dr. Kelly Kirtland, as well as the financial support of the ADEAGies foundation grant.”

The EFDA program at UC Blue Ash trains dental professionals in the art of restorative dentistry. A registered EFDA can provide preventative and restorative care for patients that includes dental fillings and sealants.

Students also develop self-evaluation skills, an understanding of the Ohio State Dental Board Rules and Laws as they pertain to EFDAs, as well as professionalism and critical thinking in dentistry.