Senior Clerkship Experience
Ready for the World
Dental students in the fourth year of the predoctoral curriculum at The Dental College of Georgia travel to clinics statewide to provide community-based oral health care to underserved and uninsured Georgia citizens where care is not readily available. During each Clerkship Experience, dental students expand their dental health care skills through hands-on practice and patient care service in different environments. Fourth-year dental students spend up to eight weeks at off-campus clinical sites in a variety of urban and rural areas across the state of Georgia.
curriculum / schedules COMMUNITY SERVICE service learning d1 -d3 presence service hours
Adjunct Faculty Excellence
The Senior Clerkship Experience affords fourth-year DCG students an opportunity to venture out of the building and learn, grow, and serve in clinical sites throughout the state of Georgia. Adjunct faculty volunteer their time and expertise to mentor senior dental students and supervise students as they perform procedures and interact with the dentists' patients. Black (African American) History Month 2021 provided an opportunity to shine a light on some of the amazing, dedicated DCG adjunct faculty who mentor and instruct dental students through the Community-Based Clerkship Program course.
"Community-based dentists voluntarily open their doors to our students. They take the time to mentor, teach and oversee students work. Dentists share their personal stories about their professional journey and how they chose to practice in public health clinics or underserved communities. This initiative wouldn’t be possible without their generous commitment to our program. The students enjoy working in real-world environments, and they offer real value to these communities — communities they ideally will return to after they graduate. It is very rewarding when I hear a student who was initially so hesitant about the program say, ‘This was the best thing that ever happened to me. I learned so much. I learned a lot about the community. Now I want to work there.’ That is the reward. We appreciate the generosity of our community partners who give back to their DCG roots, volunteering their expertise and experiences to rising dental professionals." -Ketarya D. Hunt Bass, MPH, MCHES®, Director of Community Outreach Programs
High Expectations
Community-based clinical partnerships are clinical sites that have carefully selected many qualifications including having one or more experienced dental practitioners willing to provide oversight, guidance and mentorship.
The clerkship program is currently comprised of:
- Over twenty dental community groups or organizations
- More than twenty-seven clinical offices
- Fifteen Georgia counties are active participants in the clerkship program.
The Senior Clerkship Experience is a carefully curated program pairing students with community-based partners and facilities that will enhance their individual growth. The Director of Community Outreach and the office's team offer a unique experience to each student based upon their individual needs and in consideration of their particular areas of interests. Fourth-year dental students are expected to approach each clerkship rotation with an open mind.
Liaison
Cultural Sensitivity
Fully develop cultural sensitivity to multiple patient demographics.
Participatory Training
Hone dental practice skills in a real-world environment