Filling the Cavities for Underserved Youth, a School-based Dental Curriculum for Spokane Elementary Schools

Molly Fleagle

MAJOR: Chemistry

BIO: I am originally from Gig Harbor, Washington, and currently reside in Post Falls, Idaho. During my time at Whitworth University, I have been actively involved in organic chemistry research, presented at multiple conferences, and held leadership roles as both a laboratory teaching assistant and a supplemental instruction leader.

Through my research, I published a paper in Crystal Growth & Design. I have also presented poster sessions at the Murdock Charitable Trust Conference (2024) and the American Chemical Society conferences (2025 and 2026). In addition, I have served as a laboratory teaching assistant for both general and organic chemistry labs. I currently work as a supplemental instruction leader for general chemistry, where I support student learning and academic success.

Starting in the fall, I will begin my Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Parker University in Dallas, Texas.

Project Overview: Access to affordable and preventive dental care remains a significant challenge in Spokane, Washington, particularly for children in low-income, minority, and non-English-speaking families. Many residents with Apple Health coverage, the dental care insurance for low-income families, still face barriers to treatment due to limited provider participation and low reimbursement rates. Compounding these disparities, Spokane is the largest city in Washington that has not implemented water fluoridation, contributing to higher rates of untreated tooth decay among children. This project seeks to address these oral health inequities by developing a proposal advocating for school-based preventive dental programs and curricula, specifically brushing techniques, the truth about cavities, and demonstrations in Spokane’s low-income elementary schools. Ultimately, this work seeks to improve equitable access to dental care for Spokane’s children and contribute to long-term community health outcomes.