MY VIEW: Student Member
Mentoring Future Dentists R
by DAVID HATCH
egistration, lodging, travel, food … Even if I ‘roughed it’, that’s money I don’t have. Every resident and director with whom I spoke said attendance at the conference would show I was a serious candidate and give me opportunities to network and shake some hands. But how do I get there?
Such were my thoughts as I considered how I could attend the AAE Annual Session in New Orleans last year. Prior to the confer- ence, I connected with Dr. Erick Jansson, the endodontist at Missouri Dental Specialists. I presented my career plans, qualifications and efforts, and he agreed to sponsor my trip. In truth the sponsorship was the perk—what I found was a phenomenal mentor who shared his knowledge, expertise, opinions and philosophies freely to guide me on my own journey. Attendance at that convention was literally career-changing, which also made me realize there is a world of knowledge not gen- erally taught to dental students. My patient care improved immediately upon returning from the convention. I believe additional CE or organizational involvement to be a vital part of a student’s proper dental education.
According to the American Dental Education Association, “average educational debt for all indebted dental school graduates in the Class of 2017 for public and private dental schools was $239,895 and $341,190, respectively.”¹ From 2000 to 2014, the average indebted- ness nearly doubled.² High debt and thin budgets—even higher and thinner for those with dependents—are a weighty concern. The cost of CEs or organizational involve- ment (i.e. ASDA, ADEA, specialty organiza- tions, etc.) added to such sparse resources can discourage a student who has a deep interest in advanced knowledge but cannot afford to attend meetings. Many resign themselves to “just wait until I’m working” before pursuing further involvement or knowledge.
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What missed opportunities! Dental stu- dents—with all their youth, vitality, curiosity and charisma—want involvement in organi- zations and CE, as well as opportunities to enhance their own understanding of modern biomedical sciences, clinical techniques and organizational politics. I believe most students who attend the meetings are more prepared to proactively contribute to clinical practice and professional organizations when they exit school. Dr. Jansson’s sponsorship steeled my resolve to pass on the same to another generation of dentists. Pay It For- ward. The Golden Rule. Give Back. Whatever you want to call it, the principle is the same. Based on my experiences, the following are a few of my personal resolutions to help men- tor future dentists:
TEACH AS ADJUNCT FACULTY
Some of my best learning moments come from working with or watching an instruc- tor at school. Each has his or her own area of special interest, favorite instrument, choice material, detailed regimen or secret tech- nique. I expect to remember some valuable lessons. Those nuggets of knowledge will improve my dental career. I hope to have a few tricks up my sleeve to teach to others.
ACCEPT/INVITE STUDENTS TO SHADOW
Maybe I will not have the time or be in a place where I can be faculty, but I can allow shadowing in my office. I hope to encourage interested undergrads to pursue dentistry. As a dental student I see with different eyes now, and I am eager to learn from and watch expe- rienced practitioners. I have truly benefited from hearing about others’ successes and failures. All experience is valuable.
CREATE A SCHOLARSHIP/ENDOWMENT
Scholarships provide a great way to give to others, show support and pass on a legacy. While “there’s a scholarship for everything”, I now realize most of those scholarships
David hails from Thatcher, Ariz. He is husband to Brittany, a dental hygienist, and father to two boys. They are expecting a little girl in May. David will graduate from A.T. Still University Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health in May 2018 and will attend graduate endodontic
residency in Florida in July 2018. He loves photography, mowing grass, wrestling with his boys and gastronomy.
REFERENCES
1. Educational Debt. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2018, from
http://www.adea.org/GoDental/Money_Matters/ Educational_Debt.aspx#sthash.kfliNYkb.dpbs
2. Student Debt and Career Choices. (n.d.) Retrieved February 14, 2018, from
http://www.ada.org/~/media/ ADA/Science%20and%20Research/HPI/Files/HPIGraph- ic_1215_1.pdf?la=en
SPONSORSHIP
Sponsorship also is a simple way to directly influence a student dentist as it does not re- quire an annual commitment: I get to decide when to offer it and how much to give. I set the stipulations for receipt. I would expect a student to present me with a CE trip proposal and arrange a way to share—either with me or classmates or both—the new knowledge.
I seem to be waxing nostalgic as my dental schooling comes to its end. I wonder how I can make my mark on other students like others have done to me, hence these career goals. Maybe they are part of yours too. Author John C. Maxwell said, “One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destina- tion.” Let us all help each other navigate our courses through the wonderful profession of dentistry. f
are out of reach to most dental students because of large volumes of applicants and demographic restrictions. But why not set up a scholarship at my alma mater or nearby dental program? I will set it up to give cash, equipment or conference attendance to whom I choose as the best applicants.
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