PURSUiNG MEdicAl cAREERS AFtER SERviNG thEiR cOUNtRy

MESSAGE FROM THE DEANCollege ofDental MedicineAlong with our curriculum on the WesternU campus, theCollege of Dental Medicine has a growing presence outsidethe campus walls.Dental Medicine students participate in Service Learning,Clinical Service Learning and Community-Based DentalEducation experiences at more than 50 sites throughoutCalifornia. Beginning this summer term, DMD 2013 studentswill be providing the full scope of oral health servicesto patients in Federally Qualified Health Centers,“look-a-like” centers, and in school based programs.Steven Friedrichsen, DDSThrough a three-year grant from First 5 LA, students areproviding valuable screening, referral and oral health carefor children ages 0-5. Care for the very young and mostvulnerable patients is often not part of the dental educationprocess. Our students are acquiring skills and attributesthat will help them deliver effective care at an earlierage – preventing significant oral disease, as well as reducinghealth disparities.The community-based service learning components ofthe curriculum have helped the College of Dental Medicineassist our community partners with meeting theirpatient care needs while enriching the education of ourstudents.WesternU View Summer 2012 27