Getting Involved: relationship and community wellbeing
Working on building healthy relationships and strong community connections are two facets of the Wellbeing Model. As a dental student, there are a number of ways that you can do this, including participating in student groups, participating in global exchange, and volunteer opportunities. Getting involved is a great way to expand you knowledge of the dental field, interact with other dental and interprofessional students, and enhance your resume.
Center for Health Interprofessional Programs (CHIP)
If you are looking to expand your knowledge of the health care field beyond the field of dentistry or to make connections with other health care students, you may want to check out the Center for Health Interprofessional Programs (CHIP). CHIP offers health professional students opportunities to connect, learn, serve, and lead with their peers across professions, through events, student organizations, and access to communal space for health professional students in the new state-of-the-art Health Sciences Education Center (HSEC). If you are a student parent, you may be interested in joining the Interprofessional Student-Parent Community (ISPC), coordinated through CHIP. More information about the ISPC and other student parent resources is available here.
Global Programs
The Global Programs Unit at the School of Dentistry has a long-standing history of bilateral international exchange opportunities for DDS, DH, and DT students. Our partners include institutions from South Africa, Norway, Germany and more. We offer a wide variety of programs including virtual exchanges and in-person observerships. Throughout your time at the School of Dentistry, you will have the option to participate with the various Global Programs initiatives. Our newest program, implemented in 2021, is a virtual exchange program that explores differences in treatment planning and health systems and includes discussions of cultural norms, learning about primary language and emphasizes building collegial relationships among peers. The Director of Global Programs is Dr. Karin Quick.
Volunteer Opportunities
For those who love to give back, there are a number of dental-related volunteer opportunities available. You will likely hear about multiple volunteer opportunities throughout your time in dental school. Here are a few you may hear about:
Hope Dental Clinic serves patients who lack dental insurance and the means to pay for care elsewhere. Their clinic is located in St. Paul and student volunteers are supervised by trained clinicians. Watch your student email for opportunities to get involved with the Hope Dental Clinic.
Phillips Neighborhood Clinic provides health care to patients regardless of their insurance situation, citizenship status, or financial background. Available services include dental, medical services, mental health, nutrition, lab services, pharmaceutical care, and more. You can email pnchumanresources@gmail.com with any questions about volunteering.
Give Kids a Smile is a student-led volunteer event connecting underserved children and families with oral health care. Watch your student email for information about how to get involved or email gkas@umn.edu.
Student Groups
On the student intranet, you can find a listing of student groups and volunteer opportunities available to you as a student. Below are a few examples of student groups you could choose to join as a dentistry student. This is not an exhaustive list. If you would like assistance with navigating your options, you can reach out to a member of the Office of Student & Resident Affairs staff.