Residents of Erie, Huron, and Ottawa counties may soon have easier access to dental hygiene training thanks to a growing partnership between Lorain County Community College (LCCC) and EHOVE Career Center.
According to a recent news release, the two institutions are exploring the addition of LCCC’s dental hygiene program at EHOVE’s Milan campus. This expansion would follow the success of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program already offered at EHOVE for several years.
“We are excited to deepen the partnership between LCCC and EHOVE,” said LCCC President Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D.
“Expanding access to higher education in high-demand fields benefits the entire region. We are thrilled to bring these opportunities to Erie, Huron, and Ottawa counties.”
The idea to add dental hygiene training at EHOVE comes from employer demand in the region, said EHOVE Superintendent Chris M. McCully. “We are pleased to offer this second program through EHOVE’s Adult Education in partnership with LCCC,” McCully stated. “There is a strong need for dental hygienists here, but few training options nearby. Offering this program locally will help meet that demand quickly by adding more skilled workers to the community.”
Local dentists are eager for the program’s potential to address a shortage of qualified dental hygienists. Dr. Roger Stine, a Norwalk-area dentist and member of EHOVE’s business advisory committee, described the region as a “dental desert” due to the shortage. “The population has grown, but the number of hygienists has decreased,” Dr. Stine explained. “We don’t have enough providers to meet the hygiene needs of our patients. This program will help solve that problem.”
EHOVE is also beginning a major renovation and expansion project aimed at improving educational access in the region.
This effort supports LCCC’s mission to provide high-quality, hands-on training that meets local workforce needs.
