YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
“ Pay it Forward ”
By Dr . Karin D . Brian , Associate Editor
Shadowing : going to a dentist ’ s or dental specialist ’ s office to observe procedures , learn terminology and techniques , observe different practice environments and ask the dental professional questions about his or her journey to practicing dentistry . ( www . ADEA . org )
Do you practice in any of these scenarios : solo practitioner , large group , DSO , specialty , DHPSA , volunteer mission ? If you do , chances are there is a pre-dental student that would love the opportunity to shadow you as a requirement for their dental school admission .
Some dental school programs are vague in their requirements , only suggesting that applicants explore various health professions before choosing dentistry , while others have a required minimum of anywhere from 15 hours to more than 100 hours for consideration . Applicants to competitive schools might accrue more than 300 hours in various practice settings , including volunteering in dental health professional shortage areas to demonstrate their commitment to joining our profession .
20 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL