“We have three lectures per year,” says Dr. Sharief. “They’re an opportunity to talk about important parts of being a dentist that may not be emphasized in course material. For example, how do we make sure to use social media responsibly as dentists?” “We talk about real-world dilemmas,” says Dr. Fedorowich. “The students find it helpful to hear about when things may have gone wrong and how to fix problems that come up. They enjoy a little bit of reality especially while they’re still at the stage of drilling plastic teeth!” Dr. Sharief says that when graduates who have been mentees return to the program as volunteer mentors, the program really shows its effectiveness. “It’s a cycle of positive change that builds upon itself,” she says. Why Mentorship is Important “Life in dentistry is complicated,” says Dr. Fedorowich. “And it has grown even more complicated since I began my career. Dental students have the pressure of ever-expanding scholastic activities, but still only have 4 years to complete their education. Dentists are balancing the expectations of patients, social media and employers. I think dentists tend toward perfectionism, but we are human and sometimes we need help, which can be hard when we expect perfection from ourselves. A mentorship relationship is a place where we can talk through complicated situations with a confidant.” “Students face the technical challenge of developing their clinical skills, but they also have to learn how to work with people successfully,” says Dr. Sharief. “How do you talk to patients? How do you tell someone that a treatment didn’t go as planned? I think mentorship is increasingly important as students have to deal with a much higher student debt load. Mentors act as a safety net. They’ve walked a similar path, so they can give frank, honest advice.” Students face the technical challenge of developing their clinical skills, but they also have to learn how to work with people successfully. Dr. Huma Sharief at the podium addressing a group of 2nd year dental students andmentors. 22 | 2024 | Issue 6
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTE5MTI=