Still Spotlight: James Duncan, DMD
Posted: February 22, 2016
James Duncan, DMD, ‘13 ATSU-ASDOH, grew up in Kingman, Ariz., and entered dental school at ATSU through the ATSU Hometown Scholars Program (HSP). The HSP was developed for individuals aspiring to be a physician, dentist or physician assistant and to help ATSU meet the needs of community health centers by attracting and training dedicated, motivated, and qualified community-minded healers.
Dr. Duncan learned about the HSP after graduating from the dental hygiene program at Northern Arizona University (NAU), which had a strong public health emphasis and a requirement to participate in externships in community health centers and American Indian health centers. His externship was at Winslow Indian Health Care Center, Inc. (WIHCC), in Winslow, Ariz. “I was exposed to the great needs of those in underserved areas that inspired me to pursue a public health trajectory,” said Dr. Duncan. “Not only was I able to do an extended externship at WIHCC, but I was hired as a staff dental hygienist immediately following graduation from NAU.
This experience, coupled with the appeal of ATSU-ASDOH’s curriculum which included a public health commitment and fourth-year rotations in community health centers, led me to the HSP.” Dr. Thomas Barnes, dental chief at WIHCC endorsed him for the HSP. Dr. Duncan is currently an adjunct clinical faculty preceptor for ATSU-ASDOH D4 students at both El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson, Ariz., and Mariposa Community Health Center in Nogales, Ariz. Since August 2015, Dr. Duncan has also been an attending dentist for Lutheran Medical AEGD residents at El Rio Community Health Center and a part-time staff dentist at Mariposa Community Health Center.
ATSU Hometown Scholars program
If you know an individual who desires to be a great Community Health Center healer and aspires to be a physician, dentist or physician assistant, encourage them to apply to ATSU Hometown Scholars program. Hometown Scholars help ATSU meet the needs of community health centers (HCs) by attracting and training dedicated, motivated, and qualified community-minded healers. Providing an endorsement from an HC leader for an applicant, lets ATSU know the individual has the heart to become a community-minded healer.