Admissions and Special Programs

Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion

Image of Dr. Sherry Babbage serves as University of Louisville School of Dentistry Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion

Dr. Sherry Babbage Melisizwe serves as the ULSD Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Babbage Melisizwe earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Louisville and has practiced dentistry for more than 35 years. She continues to provide dental care to a diverse patient pool at Community Dental West (formerly West Louisville Dental Center).  She serves on the admissions and diversity committees at the school of dentistry.  She is the faculty representative for the SNDA and the Pre-dental Society at U of L. Dr. Babbage Melisizwe is the course director of the U of L undergraduate course “Preview to Dentistry and oversees summer enrichment programs for students interested in health careers.  Dr Babbage Melisizwe is also the liaison for the Central High School dental magnet program, a community partner with the University of Louisville.

Student Pipeline Programs 

Shaping the Future of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy 

(SHPEP) The Summer Health Professions Education Program at the University of Louisville, introduces prospective medical, dental, nursing, and pharmacy  scholars to the academic rigors of health professions education. Scholars will use team-based learning to integrate and apply the basic and social sciences centered on two major themes: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. Scholars will work in inter-professional collaborative teams to develop and implement treatment plans with dental/medical/nursing/pharmacy applications. Major program emphasis focuses on personal and professional development, including study strategies, career planning, and clinical exposure to the health professions. Concepts of health policy and equity will be interwoven throughout the academic core with experiential health policy components. Scholars will leave the program with a clear understanding of the admissions process, a better understanding of health policy and a new level of enthusiasm and motivation to do well in the upper-level science courses, and in doing so increasing their chances of obtaining their goal of becoming a health care professional.

This innovative six-week summer academic enrichment program engages 60 scholars from across the country in Science Academic Enrichment; Medical, Nursing, Dental and Pharmacy Career Development; Personal Development; Health Equity and Health Policy; Learning Skills Orientation; Written & Oral Communication Development; Clinical Experience; and Financial Planning Orientation.

Application material and program details are available at the SHPEP website. (www.shpep.org)

 

ULSD Early Admission Programs

ULSD offers opportunities for early admission for dentistry. Students from groups that are underrepresented in dentistry or from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

 


The University of Louisville does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, or disability of an otherwise qualified individual in educational programs and activities. Accordingly, while a program or activity may be focused on the needs or issues of a particular group, they are intended to be inclusive of all and any participant may benefit from attendance or participation in these programs and activities.