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What's new with the Dentistry Mentorship Program

Posted by Faculty of Dentistry on September 16, 2016 in News

Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry and the Nova Scotia Dental Association (NSDA) have been connecting dentistry students with oral health professionals since 2013. The Dentistry Mentorship Program (DMP) was created to give students insight into life as an oral health professional, and to foster teaching and learning opportunities outside the classroom.

So far, the DMP has arranged more than 125 mentorship connections and eight special events, ranging from small group discussions on a variety of oral health topics, to panels on practice management and dental specialties, as well as a seminar on various business aspects of the profession. Support from CDSPI has made many of these events possible.

For the upcoming academic year, the focus is shifting more strongly to special events rather than one-on-one mentorship connections.

“We came to this decision largely as a result of feedback from our students and volunteers,” says Jon Bruhm, alumni officer in the Faculty of Dentistry. “Although mentorship is an important opportunity, our students have incredibly busy schedules, so it can be difficult for them to commit to longer term connections. Attendance has been terrific at our one-off presentations, so our plan is to provide additional learning opportunities under the DMP umbrella.”

Student input is key

In 2016-17, the DMP will hold a series of 4-6 events for dentistry students, developed in consultation with the student body. The first associated event was the Nova Scotia Dental Association’s annual Welcome to the Profession Night on September 8. A panel presentation on common legal and financial challenges faced by new dentists will follow on October 14, presented by CDSPI as part of Dalhousie Homecoming 2016. Other events will focus on topics of student interest, and may include moderated panels, seminars, small group discussions, and brief one-on-one sessions.

The series will conclude with the annual Women in Dentistry Circle. Started in 2015 by Dr. Debora Matthews, assistant dean of academic affairs in the Faculty of Dentistry, this moderated discussion brings together female senior dentistry students with a group of practising female dentists to talk about the opportunities and difficulties women encounter as oral health practitioners.

“Previous mentors will be invited to attend some of the upcoming DMP events, either as speakers or as invited guests," says Patricia Pellerine, NSDA operations manager. “The students could certainly benefit from their insights, and these events give both parties a chance to connect on a more casual basis. And, of course, we will still set up more formal one-on-one mentorship connections if students request them.”

Another new feature this year is that the Faculty of Dentistry is looking to offer one or more DMP events for dental hygiene students.

Community Contacts Program

The Faculty of Dentistry’s Community Contacts Program also falls under the umbrella of the DMP. Established in 2014, it gives dentistry and dental hygiene students an opportunity to expand their professional networks by connecting with alumni around the world and to find out what it’s like to live and work in those areas.

Since 2014, more than 80 student connections have been established, with a network of more than 50 volunteers in 19 Canadian cities, 15 US states and seven international locations.

“It isn’t a job-finding service, but it is a great way to help our students make connections in places where they might be thinking about moving after they graduate,” says Bruhm. “My colleagues in Dalhousie’s Advancement Office are preparing to use our model to help benefit students across campus.”

Mentorship on a national stage

Looking ahead, the Faculty of Dentistry and the NSDA will participate in the biannual National Dentistry Mentorship Summit in Toronto in May 2017. Held in conjunction with the Canadian Dental Association conference, the summit will bring together provincial associations and dental schools from across the country to discuss their respective mentorship programs.

Dalhousie helped to coordinate the 2015 summit, which was attended by representatives from 11 of the 12 provincial/territorial dental associations, as well as two faculties of dentistry, the Canadian Dental Association, and CDSPI.

“These summits are a great way to find out what’s going on across the country, in terms of mentorship opportunities for students and oral health professionals,” says Bruhm. “They also inspire new ideas and new ways to cooperate and collaborate. I’m really looking forward to it!”