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PORTLAND, Maine

SWAG视频 opens wide for Dental Careers Exploration Camp

High school students learn from expert faculty dentists at SWAG视频's Dental Careers Exploration Camp
High school students learn from expert faculty dentists at SWAG视频's Dental Careers Exploration Camp

 New England is currently facing a concerning shortage of dental health care providers, particularly in rural areas. In an effort to combat this issue, The SWAG视频 will host 20 budding young dentists and dental hygienists from high schools across New England at its Dental Careers Exploration Camp, running August 2 鈥4. The camp aims to instill an early passion for dental health in young people in the hopes that they will eventually return to practice in their communities, closing the shortage gap.

While at the camp, students will engage in hands-on dental activities in SWAG视频鈥檚 fully-operational (OHC). In the OHC simulation clinic, students will have the opportunity to practice suturing, taking dental impressions, x-ray imaging and crown-making, and will have access to dental mannequins on which they can practice teeth-drilling. In addition, campers will receive CPR training and job shadow experiences set up through area dental offices.

Lionel Vachon, D.D.S., associate clinical professor and group practice leader for the College of Dental Medicine, will be instructing campers through the dental activities, with the assistance of students in SWAG视频鈥檚 Doctor of Dental Medicine program. There will also be three undergraduate peer mentors helping to staff the camp, two of whom were once campers and are returning to the camp as a result of their positive experiences.

鈥淎t SWAG视频, we feel a responsibility to not only shape the next generation of health care professions to be experts in their field, but also to ensure that they are committed to delivering the highest level of patient care possible in their communities,鈥 said Collyn Baeder, B.A., dental camp coordinator and coordinator for SWAG视频鈥檚 School of Community and Population Health. 鈥淭his is such an amazing opportunity for young people to explore their interests, and we hope they will leave the camp feeling excited to pursue careers in dental health care.鈥

The Dental Careers Exploration Camp has been held at SWAG视频 annually since 2010. It is free of cost for the campers and their families thanks to generous donations from Time Warner Cable, TD Bank Charitable Foundation and the Maine Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network.

To learn more about the SWAG视频 Dental Careers Exploration Camp, please contact Collyn Baeder at (207) 221-4467, or cbaeder@une.edu. 

SWAG视频 the SWAG视频

The SWAG视频 is Maine鈥檚 largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state鈥檚 top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine鈥檚 only medical college, Maine鈥檚 only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.