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Pathways to Science is a NSF program to help connect talented Hispanic women to STEM disciplines. Local Latina high school students interested in STEM secondary education had the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience and learning at VCU's School Dentistry. The participants for this event were approximately 40 individuals, and all were high-school aged Latina students. The students were bused to the VCU MCV campus at 8:00 AM. In preparation for this event, the one SoD Hygiene student and one SoD Dental student were given a schedule to adhere to. The HS students were split into two groups of approximately 20 high school students.
The students had no previous experience with handling alginates and models, but many were familiar with the process from trips to the Orthodontist. It was the responsibility of the DH student to instruct the students on the proper usage and technique of the supplied dental materials. This was done by verbalizing instructions to the entire class while simultaneously demonstrating the fabrication procedure. The VCU SoD DH student then distributed assistance evenly among the groups to assist the students one-on-one. The students were encouraged to learn through trial and error, but the DH student provided hands-on help when requested. Set up began at 8:00 AM and consisted of measuring materials and distributing all trays and accessory items necessary to practice alginate impressions in the Woolwine lab. Afterward, stone and all materials necessary for model casting were measured and distributed in the wet lab. This was done for each of the two groups. The first group began at 8:45 AM and a new group arrived at 10:00 AM. This was an important factor, as the presenters had to exercise brevity and urgency while keeping the environment informative and fun. At 11:30 AM, the last class left the lab, and a final cleanup began. The turnout for the event was mandatory, but the VCU SoD students made the most of it by socializing and building rapport with the students on a more individual basis. Our instructional presentations were tailored to the people at the event: adolescents interested in receiving health profession training. Roles in the dental office, such as Dentist, Dental Hygienist, and Assistant were briefly explained. The importance of dental models and materials were emphasized. The students benefited their education by working with their partners and learning from each other’s experiences. They enjoyed looking at the products of their work, as some of the students’ stone was set by the end of the exercise. It was very rewarding to introduce the students to dentistry. I did not have an experience such as this until college, and wish I had this opportunity while in high school. Overall, I felt the day went very well, and look forward to continued outreach events in this community.
There are always setbacks to be expected along a journey. I spent all day Friday unloading the MoM supply trucks in the pouring rain. I organized and distributed supplies. I did my part to help assemble and repair the dental units for the next day's clinic. The good news for this blog post is: Operation Special Smiles went off without a hitch on Saturday, and many deserving athletes received necessary dental services. The minor bad news is: I woke up Saturday morning with a 101° degree fever, and the call was made to stay at home. While I was unable to gain clinical experience, I was able to put my skills to use setting up the dental units. It is quite handy to be knowledgeable with the inner workings of dental units and associated equipment. I don't think I will ever rise to the level of a repair technician, but I have demonstrated a level of competency greater than novice! Photo credit: Cassandra Cooper, VCU DH 2020
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