Generous gift to TTUHSC El Paso supports world-class dental care at Hunt School of Dental Medicine
Ethos Financial and its president and CEO, Inaam Ziyadeh, gave $50,000 to improve dental care access in El Paso. This gift to the Hunt School of Dental Medicine's Dean’s Excellence Fund will support students receiving a world-class dental education while addressing our region’s critical provider shortage.
Ethos Financial, an El Paso-based financial planning firm, made this gift in recognition of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso’s commitment to addressing our region’s severe shortage of oral health care professionals, which affects dental care access to El Pasoans most in need. Investments by community partners such as Ethos Financial encourage more students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in dental medicine.
“The continued support from Ethos Financial is instrumental in advancing our mission,” said Richard C. Black, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine. “This gift not only benefits our dental students by enriching their training but also directly impacts our Borderplex community by fostering enhanced dental care access. As we prepare the next generation of dental professionals, such partnerships are vital in addressing the unique needs of our region.”
To honor their recent gift, the university held a recognition ceremony last Friday at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic, where they unveiled signage designating a dental suite as the “Ethos Financial Special Needs Suite.” The suite, established by a previous gift from Ethos Financial, provides dedicated care to patients living with disabilities.
Supporting students is pivotal to addressing the pressing oral health needs of historically underserved regions like ours. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services noted in 2021 that over 63 million Americans reside in Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas, one of which is El Paso County. With an estimated national shortfall of over 10,000 dental professionals, these areas demand urgent interventions.
Drawing from her father's wisdom — that when faced with difficulty, you dust yourself off and keep going — Ziyadeh ardently supports dental students throughout their education. She sees this as a win-win for the community, which benefits from the care they provide.
"Each investment in TTUHSC El Paso students is an investment in El Paso,” said Ziyadeh. “The Hunt School of Dental Medicine will bring about a profound change in dental care by enhancing student experiences while expanding services to the community. I look forward to the graduation of the first cohort in 2025. My hope is that this gift will light a path for this inaugural class and that they too will invest in the classes that follow them."
Oral Health Care for all Communities
An early supporter of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, Ethos Financial provided $25,000 to build and equip the Ethos Financial Special Needs Suite for treating patients with disabilities. Combined with their current gift, students will have the opportunity to learn proper techniques, treatments and sensitivities for the oral health care of patients with disabilities.
She shared an encounter with a patient from El Paso who used to travel all the way to Dallas for dental care. The patient expressed his gratitude and relief for not having to make the exhausting 1,200-mile round trip anymore. For Ziyadeh, Ethos Financial’s investment is not only empowering the future dentists of El Paso, but also improving the quality and accessibility of dental care for local residents.
Patients living with disabilities face added dental care concerns. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 60% of children with disabilities receive regular dental care, compared to 79% of children without disabilities.
Since it opened in 2021, the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic has treated 185 patients with various disabilities. These patients came to the clinic with previous diagnoses of autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other conditions.
The 38,000-square-foot Oral Health Clinic is equipped with 130 treatment chairs and is open not only for the public but also for faculty, staff, students, and their families. The clinic has provided more than 20,000 hours of reduced-cost dental care for over 3,500 patients from the region.
YOU CAN HELP
Help transform health care in our community and beyond by making a gift to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. CLICK HERE to learn how to give.
At TTUHSC El Paso, we are committed to growing our own health care heroes and changing the state of health care in our Borderplex. For more information about how you can help, please contact andrea.tawney@ttuhsc.edu or craig.holden@ttuhsc.edu or visit ttuhscep.edu/elpaso/ia/giving/.
Original Article: TECH TALK - OCT 24, 2023
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