Get Your Passports – Manipal, India Newest Destination for Externship Program

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On February 6, 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) and the Manipal University College of Dental Sciences (MCODS) was signed by Professor Nirmala N. Rao, Dean of MCODS; Dr. H. Vinot Bhat, Vice Chancellor of Manipal University; and Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter during a ceremony held at Manipal University.  Dr. Jean Morrison, Provost of Boston University, had previously signed the document. The MOU officially expanded GSDM’s International Elective Externship Exchange Program for students and faculty alike. Structured in the same fashion as our other international exchange programs, each year, GSDM students accompanied by a faculty member will travel to Manipal, India, located within the city of Udupi in Karnataka, India. The first exchange program, lasting two weeks, is set to begin in September 2017 and will be led by Dr. Michelle Henshaw, GSDM Associate Dean for Global and Population Health. MCODS will send their students and faculty advisor to Boston sometime between June 1 and August 15 over the span of two academic years.

“Overall, the International Elective Externship Exchange Program provides GSDM students the opportunity to have a greater understanding of different dental educational programs, people, places, and cultures around the world, leading to a more well-rounded health professional who is better prepared to meet the challenges of delivering health care in the coming decades,” said Dr. Henshaw.

The International Elective Externship Exchange Program is a credit-bearing, elective course at GSDM, which offers fourth-year pre-doctoral students the opportunity to pursue an intensive educational experience for two or three weeks in length in a foreign country (or countries). This elective externship consists of clinical rotations in various areas of dental medicine at one or more schools/colleges of dentistry/stomatology in China, Thailand, Japan, England, and now India. Each of these institutions are world-renown with advanced teaching facilities, outstanding faculty, and large numbers and diversity of patients.

The program at MCODS will involve clinical observations with a focus on Pediatric Dentistry, Public Health, Oral Medicine, and Diagnostic Sciences. In the Patient Treatment Centers, GSDM students will be involved in observation and clinical activities supervised by a designated MCODS supervisor. Additionally, as with each of the other Schools/Colleges, students can look forward to learning about the dental education system at Manipal University, as well as participate in lectures and other scholarly activities.

Manipal University College of Dental Sciences was established in 1965 and is currently ranked #1 among the top Indian dental colleges/schools in education and research. In addition, MCODS is the largest private dental school in India offering an excellent dental education, patient care, and community services. Manipal is a suburb within the city of Udupi in Karnataka, India. The surrounding areas of Manipal are very scenic, and there are many places with waterfalls. Students will also have the opportunity to see other historic sites in India through tours arranged by the university.

Dr. Lee Chou, GSDM Professor and Director of Oral Medicine and Consultant to the Dean on Asian Programs will be the program director for this MOU, as he was instrumental in getting this agreement signed.

“I am extremely pleased to have added my signature to that of Provost Morrison to this Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Manipal College of Dental Sciences, one of if not the top institution in India,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.   Expanding our International Elective Externship Exchange Program is critical to our continuing to provide this wonderful global opportunity for our students and faculty.”

More photos from the week in Manipal can be found HERE.