GSDM Students Present on Their Experiences in the International Elective Externship Program

Faculty, staff, students, and residents from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) packed into classroom G-301 at 100 East Newton Street on Thursday, April 6, 2017, for a presentation from GSDM students who participated in GSDM’s International Elective Externships during the 2016 – 2017 academic year.

The students presented on their international externship experiences to an audience of over 100 GSDM community members including Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

During the 2016-2017 academic year, 39 DMD students, 7 Pediatric Dentistry Residents, 5 faculty members, and 5 alumni team leaders from GSDM traveled to Jamaica, Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico to deliver dental and oral health care to people in need. The students were participating in GSDM’s International Elective Externship Program and Global Applied Professional Experience (APEX) Program.

The International Elective Externship program provides fourth-year dental students and residents with an opportunity to go to developing countries to use their knowledge and the clinical skills that they have learned at GSDM. The Office of Global and Population Health (GPH) works closely with Non-Government Organizations (NGO) to ensure excellent educational experiences in global service.

While working under their preceptors’ guidance, it is hoped that through this experience, students will gain a greater appreciation for challenges and barriers that are faced in global oral health care delivery. In addition to becoming more well-rounded health professionals, they are building translatable skills and behaviors that strengthen their personal and professional commitment to care for vulnerable populations of patients who do not have access to oral healthcare.

During the April 6 presentation, students from the various global service locations presented about their experiences in the countries that they traveled to, and how these experiences have contributed to their dental education.

Monica Schmidt DMD 17 spoke first about her experience with the Jamaica Awareness Association of California. She traveled with the group in late May and early June 2016.

Next was Jai Hyun Nam DMD 17, who went to Haiti with Tejendra Patel DMD 17 in July 2016. Both students volunteered with the Dentists for Haiti organization and were stunned by the destruction left in the wake of the devastating earthquake that occurred in 2010.

Swati Agnihotri DMD 17 was one of six volunteers with Cape CARES in Honduras. GSDM sent three separate volunteer groups to this location; twice in October 2016 and again in April 2017. The volunteers were; Faryal Hussain DMD 17, Neha Mithia DMD 17, Swati Agnihotri DMD 17, Monique Alves DMD 17, Richelle Chin DMD 17, and Christa Coscia DMD 17.

A mix of students and alumni volunteered in Guatemela with Dentistry for All over three separate externship experiences. Emad Abdallah DMD 17 and John Barrett DMD 17 visited in November 2016, while Parnian Paymozd-Yazdi DMD 17 traveled in February 2017. Two Pediatric Residents, Drs. Norma Herrera and Jared Stanley, were in Guatemala in March 2017.

A second organization, LIGA International, also partnered with GSDM to send two separate student groups to Guatemala in 2017. In January 2017, Amr Aly DMD 17, Lucy Dang DMD 17, Debbie Desravines DMD 17, Vishal Gohel DMD 17, Bianca Hassoun DMD 17, Sally Jacobs DMD 17, Safeer Jiwa DMD 17, Nahed Lakkis DMD 17, Mark Medeiros DMD 17, Garrett Wingrove DMD 17, Ms. Kathy Held, and Dr. Thomas Kilgore, professor in the Oral & Maxillofacial Department, all participated in the LIGA International externship program. The group was also fortunate enough to be able to do some sightseeing, as they visited old Mayan ruins and a volcano park.

Nikkita Muwanguzi was the next speaker, as she discussed their experiences in Panama with the group Nevosh. Six students in total visited Panama, and many noted how sparse resources in the clinics were, yet patients were very well mannered and thankful for treatment. GSDM students on this trip were; Emily Foldes DMD 17, Carly Greene DMD 17, Erin Hersey DMD 17, Sana Munshi DMD 17, Nikkita Muwanguzi DMD 17, and Jade Pedersen DMD 17.

McAllister Castelaz DMD 17 was part of the GSDM group who volunteered with Superemos in Esteli, Nicaragua. This group was unique in that they only treated pediatric patients. This location also works in conjunction with GSDM’s fluoride varnishing program that is led by Dr. Michelle Henshaw, Associate Dean for Global and Population Health. Other students on the trip were; Grace Hannawi DMD 17, Megan McDougall DMD 17, and Nick Capezio DMD 18.

The only group of residents who participated in an elective externship program also ventured to Nicaragua with the Rio San Juan Relief group. Drs. Tess Alonso, Grant Murray, Tarun Padmani, and Jasveen Singh, pediatric residents, volunteered from February 25, 2017 – March 5, 2017.

The final group to present worked in conjunction with Project Stretch in Mexico. One student, Sara Elashaal DMD 17 and one GSDM alumnus and current Pediatric Resident, Dr. Kali Stewart, volunteered for one week and worked primarily on pediatric patients.

Following the presentations, the audience was treated to a video and photo slideshow highlighting everyone’s experiences during their International Elective Exchange.

Dean Hutter then delivered his remarks, where he called this presentation, “truly his favorite event of the entire year.” He then presented each participant with Certificates of Recognition for their commendable work in spreading oral healthcare across the globe.

More photos from the presentation can be found on Facebook.