Office of International Relations: Student and Faculty Exchange Programs

The School of Dental Medicine provides opportunities to its students to broaden their understanding of the practice of dentistry in other countries through the student exchange programs with selected dental schools outside the U.S. The goal of these programs is to produce future leaders in oral health who are prepared to interact globally. The objectives are:

1. To expand students' knowledge base in oral health programs and health care systems of other countries.
2. To develop a global perspective and approach to dental education and clinical practice.
3. To cultivate intercultural competencies and sensitivity to other cultures among students, faculty and staff.
4. To compare and contrast dental education and practice in the US with those of other countries.

Students spend three to four week rotation in a dental school or hospital outside the US. This unique experience encourages personal growth as students live and learn in another culture. They observe, assist or in limited situations, deliver patient care in clinics. At a few sites, the students are requested to complete a special project rather than observe and assist. They participate in seminars and occasionally in community health care delivery. In order to receive academic credit for their international rotation, students complete a daily log of their activities and submit an essay of their whole experience. They receive a grade from the host faculty. They also attend a pre-departure orientation and post rotation debriefing.

Students who participate in these programs find that their experiences often change their perspectives. Many of them develop a deeper appreciation of their own education and situations in the US.

"Volunteering in a developing country is truly a humbling experience as the volunteer becomes the student. From my experience, not only did I have to adapt to the culture, I also had to learn the way dentistry is viewed, the construct of the health care system, and the practice of dentistry itself. The appreciation I felt and the exchange of knowledge renewed my passion for this profession and left me marveling still at the positive impact that resulted from our field work." -- Quyen Vu, Class of 2008.

International rotations for Penn Dental Medicine students are handled by the Department of Oral Medicine. Rotations for students coming from other countries are arranged by the Office of International Relations.

International Institutions with Current Exchange Agreements

Belgium
Catholic University/Leuven Faculty of Medicine

Bolivia
University of San Simon Cochabamba School of Dentistry

China
The Fourth Military Medical University College of Stomatology

England
GKT Dental Institute Guy's Hospital University of London
St. Bartholomew's/Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry

Fiji
Fiji School of Medicine

France
University of Paris V/Faculty of Dentistry

Germany
Witten/Herdecke University/Faculty of Dentistry

Ghana
Ghana Medical School/Dental Department

Guatemala
Francisco Marroquin Faculty of Dentistry

Hong Kong
University of Hong Kong Faculty of Dentistry

India
Ragas Dental College and Hospital

Ireland
University of Dublin/Trinity College School of Dental Science

Israel
Hebrew University/Hadassah School of Dental Medicine
Tel Aviv University/School of Dental Medicine

Japan
Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Korea
Seoul National University/College of Dentistry
Yonsei University College of Dentistry

Nigeria
University of Ibadan/School of Dentistry

Philippines
University of Philippines/College of Dentistry

Scotland
University of Glasgow/Glasgow Dental Hospital & School

Spain
Complutense University of Madrid/Faculty of Odontology (in Spanish)

Switzerland
University of Geneva

Taiwan
Chung Shan Medical and Dental College/School of Dentistry
Kaohsiung Medical College/School of Dentistry

Thailand
Chulalongkorn University/Faculty of Dentistry

Vietnam
University of Health Sciences in Ho Chi Minh City – Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology