Building Interest in a Dental Career

Philadelphia — Penn Dental Medicine students shared their passion for the field of dental medicine, encouraging high school and undergraduate students to consider following their path to a career in dentistry at a day-long event held at Penn Dental Medicine on April 9.

The Impressions Program is an annual event organized by Penn Dental Medicine’s Chapter of the Student National Dental Association (SNDA) with the goal of providing students with an introduction to dentistry. Through the program, SNDA hopes to encourage increased enrollment in dental schools, especially among underrepresented minority students.

This year, 40 undergraduate and high school students from various schools, colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions participated in the Impressions Program.

“It makes a big difference to introduce the possibility of a dental career to students as early as possible,” says Dr. Beverley Crawford, Director of Diversity Affairs.

The day’s activities included hands-on dental activities, mock interviews, a dental student panel, dental admissions test prep information, and application process information. There was also information presented on the Alpha Omega dental fraternity, student research, and student council as well as scholarship opportunities through the Army and Air Force.

Third-year students Bianca Dubose-Williams and Colin Robinson, Co-Presidents of SNDA, led the day’s activities with the help of 35 dental student volunteers.

“It is great seeing such bright young minds become so interested in something,” says Williams. “It is wonderful to be able to direct them toward their goals and assist them with things they may not have had access to otherwise.”