An invitation to educators
From the outset, the American Academy of Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry has been guided by a simple conviction: the conversation around AI in dentistry must remain open, thoughtful, and accessible—especially to students and trainees who will live with the long-term consequences of today’s decisions.
For that reason, the Academy has deliberately kept student membership dues very low, with a clear intent to preserve that approach. Curiosity, integrity, and engagement should matter far more than cost.
At the same time, sustaining independent educational and evidence-focused work requires modest but real support.
Why sponsor a student?
Sponsoring student memberships serves two purposes at once:
- You invest in future leaders by affirming students who show promise and genuine interest.
- You help sustain the Academy’s work while preserving low barriers to entry for students.
Even sponsoring a single student carries real meaning and impact.
How sponsorship works
Educators may support student memberships in either of two ways:
Sponsor students directly
You may pay the student membership fee on behalf of specific students you identify, either by arranging payment for their memberships or reimbursing them directly.
Contribute to student sponsorship
You may donate funds to support student memberships more broadly. In this case, you may identify students for the Academy to enroll on your behalf, or allow the Academy to enroll students who have formally requested fee waivers.
This approach allows flexibility while maintaining transparency and ensuring support reaches students who need it most.
Recognition levels
To acknowledge educators who support students at scale, the Academy recognizes sponsors annually on the AAAI-D website for that year:
- Bronze Star: sponsorship of 10 students
- Silver Star: sponsorship of 25 students
- Gold Star: sponsorship of 50 or more students
Recognition includes a brief listing and profile mention for the year of sponsorship. Recognition is optional; the impact on students remains the priority.
Choosing students
We encourage sponsors to support students who are curious, thoughtful, and motivated to engage seriously with emerging questions around AI, evidence, and patient care.
Supporting them now is an investment in the professional culture we hope to see endure.
Questions
For questions about sponsorship options, student eligibility, or recognition: