March 1, 2009

Vancouver, BC – New funding from the BC Dental Association (BCDA) will ensure UBC Dentistry’s Summer Student Practitioner Program has a rural focus in British Columbia. The Summer Student Practitioner Program provides dental students, who have successfully completed their third year, a first-hand look at the daily operation and management of a dental practice. The program, approved by the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia, has been in operation since 1982.

Associate dean Dr. Joanne Walton, who coordinates the program, sees participation as mutually beneficial for both DMD students and participating dentists: “Not only will students get valuable experience in rural practice, but participating dentists cite many advantages.” Benefits noted in comments Walton has received from past iterations include: exposure to current techniques being taught at UBC; experiencing what it might be like to have an associate; getting help clearing backlogs; enjoying the interprofessional ideas exchange; and giving back to the profession by providing a learning opportunity for a student.

The BCDA has committed $40,000 per year for three years to the program. This money will directly support those DMD students who choose a rural setting for their program placement.

For information about UBC Dentistry’s Summer Student Practitioner Program, please contact:

Alex Hemming
Manager, Student Services
UBC Faculty of Dentistry
Email: ahem@dentistry.ubc.ca

For media enquiries, please contact:

Terry Wintonyk
Manager, Communications and Marketing
UBC Faculty of Dentistry
Telephone: (604) 827-3335
Email: terrysw@dentistry.ubc.ca