Career Mentoring

Mentoring Students (K-16) Interested in Careers in Dentistry

Mentoring has been identified as the most important factor influencing a student’s decision to pursue a career in the dental profession. Consider participating as a mentor for students interested in the profession of dentistry in your area!

This new initiative is part of the campaign to attract students to dentistry—especially underrepresented minority students—and is coordinated at the local level. Mentors further the ADA’s commitment to share the world of dentistry with young people (K-16) by:

• Giving students a glimpse of the profession from the perspective of a practitioner (member dentists)
• Providing the knowledge, experience and possibly an opportunity for a student to observe (job shadow) an average day in a dental office
• Using a variety of methods to communicate with interested students—phone contact, email, and job shadowing at the mentor dentist’s office
• Participating in career day events/science clubs/career fairs at local schools and through participation in school-work partner such as National Groundhog Job Shadow Day
• Referring interested students to community/school resources such as Explorers, HOSA
• (Health Occupations Students of America) and others to enhance a student’s interest in dentistry
• Collaborating with local college health advisors to promote dentistry to students with an interest in science, and in developing or supporting pre-dental clubs
• Raising the awareness level of the profession and impacting the quality and diversity of the applicant pool

Mentoring Benefits:

Member Service - Students interested in dentistry often ask for the opportunity to talk to a practicing dentist. This one-on-one opportunity may provide the inspiration to pursue a dentistry career.

Personal Satisfaction - It is an opportunity to give back to the profession, make a difference by sharing expertise with others and a chance to influence young minds and the future workforce. Mentoring provides the opportunity for retired dentists to share their experiences and to be involved in the activities of organized dentistry.

Professional Outreach - Students appreciate the care and attention that such a program can provide. Mentors appreciate the opportunity to provide their assistance and expertise.

Long-term benefits - Mentor programs may facilitate life-long membership in organized dentistry. Some mentoring relationships may develop into a lifetime of personal friendship or professional growth.

How the Mentoring Process Works

Mentor coordinators will refer interested students to local mentor dentists. To date, 19 mentor coordinators are participating in this pilot effort. These volunteer coordinators representing both dental societies and dental schools include the Arizona Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Association, the Mississippi Dental Association, the Montana Dental Association, the New York State Dental Association, the North Dakota Dental Association, the Washington State Dental Association, the Butte-Sierra District, the Louisville Dental Society, the Muskegon District, the Philadelphia Dental Society, the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, the USC School of Dentistry, the New York University College of Dentistry and the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry.

A guide that includes an overview/framework of the initiative, orientation for mentor coordinators, student responsibilities, sample forms and mentoring resources has recently been distributed to the mentoring coordinators.

Contact Information
Bev Skoog
Phone: 800-621-8099 x2390 or 312-440-2390
E-mail: skoogb@ada.org

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