CORPUS CHRISTI – The demand for dental hygienists is on the rise with employers generally part of the private sector in Texas. According to November 2024 data from the Health Professions Resource Center with the Texas Department of State Health Services, projections indicate that between 2022 and 2036 supply of dental hygienists is expected to grow by nearly 19% to 16,930 professionals in the field with a demand of over 19,640, leading to a shortage of more than 2,710 dental hygienists statewide.
Thanks to a grant awarded to the Del Mar College (DMC) Dental Hygiene Program, that workforce shortage is being addressed.
On Friday, May 29, DMC hosted the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) during a check presentation event recognizing Jobs & Education for Texans (JET) grant recipients to support career and technical education (CTE) training for South Texas high school students and occupational career training for college-level students. Among the two community colleges and four independent school districts (ISDs) that received oversized checks representing a combined $$1,819,053 were Del Mar College, Victoria College and Freer, Pettus, Sinton and Skidmore-Tynan ISDs…