Dental Hygiene Program Coming to ESCC
Eastern Shore Community College is excited to announce a new Dental Hygiene Associate Degree program beginning January 2027. Through a partnership with Germanna Community College and Piedmont Virginia Community College, students will learn in a distance education classroom at the ESCC campus and receive hands-on instruction at Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. sites, taught by licensed local health professionals. A dedicated Dental Hygiene coordinator will support and guide them throughout the program. This partnership offers an exciting career path for students and helps meet the growing need for oral healthcare professionals in Virginia.
“This marks a transformative moment for the Eastern Shore,” said ESCC President Dr. Daryl Minus. “Bringing high-demand oral healthcare education closer to home through an innovative partnership expands opportunities for economic mobility, strengthens our workforce, and enhances access to care across the region.”
Jeannette Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Shore Rural Health, stressed the importance of this program to residents of the Eastern Shore. “Dental hygienists help keep people healthy, not just their teeth,” stated Edwards. “This program will train more hygienists our community really needs, and give people on the Eastern Shore a chance at a good-paying job without having to move away. That’s a win for our community and for Eastern Shore Rural Health. I am very excited to be working in partnership with our local college to help promote and support this program.”
Working on the mechanics of bringing this program to reality was ESCC VP of Academic Affairs, Student Success and Workforce Development, Dr. Ramzi Ockaili. Dr. Ockaili remarked, “This partnership reflects what is possible when educational institutions and community healthcare leaders unite around a shared vision. By joining forces, I feel we show how rural colleges can serve as powerful catalysts for innovation, opportunity, and regional transformation”.
Applying to the Program
The application period will open June 1 of this year. Students interested in applying to the dental hygiene program should begin preparing their application materials now, by visiting https://es.vccs.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/ or by contacting ESCC Student Services at 757-789-1720. Eastern Shore applicants must have applications on file with both Germanna Community College and Eastern Shore Community College. Application to the dental hygiene program is conducted through the American Dental Education Association Dental Hygiene Centralized Application System. Learn more about this in the online information session that will be published on Germanna’s website in early June. Program details are available at www.germanna.edu/dental.
Important Accreditation Notice
Offering a dental hygienist program at Eastern Shore Community College depends on approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). While the partner schools are optimistic about receiving this approval, acceptance into the program cannot be confirmed until approval from both organizations is received. CODA approval is expected in August 2026 and SACSCOC is expected in late fall 2026. Updates will be shared as soon as they are available.
Questions?
For more information, please contact Germanna Community College Healthcare Academic Advisor, Ms. Stefanie Thompson, at msraymundo-thompson@germanna.edu.