The Advanced Education in Dentistry (AEGD) Dental Camp, June 13-15, filled up faster than expected with high school students from across the state and from Wichita. The 20 participants will get plenty of hands-on experience and shadow dental residents in AEGD’s first-time camp.
Dental residents and their faculty in Wichita State University’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry are looking forward to hosting 20 high school students in the first AEGD Dental Camp, Wednesday, June 13-Friday, June 15.
Price of admission: Free. Experience gained: Priceless. The camp is being sponsored by the WSU College of Health Professions.
The students, ranging in age from 16-19 and arriving from all parts of Kansas, will meet at Fairmount Towers first thing Wednesday and hit the high-tech AEGD facility at 2838 N. Oliver before lunch.
Recruiting and retaining dentists
The demographics of the camp participants could hardly be a better match to the mission of the College of Health Professions program, said AEGD faculty member Mike Snowbarger.
With a majority of participants coming in from Altamont, Carbondale, Conway Springs, Garden City, Hays, Kansas City, Maple Hill, McPherson and Medicine Lodge, the first AEGD camp meshes especially well with the mission of recruiting and retaining dentists to practice in underserved areas of Kansas.
Snowbarger, who worked in his own dental practice for 30 years in Wichita, is impressed with the knowledge and skills that AEGD will offer the high school students.
“If you’re interested in becoming a dentist, you’re interested in hands-on experience,” said Snowbarger.
Hands-on is just what the campers will get. Working in the simulation lab and treatment rooms, they’ll take X-rays and make impressions of each other’s teeth. They’ll pour their own plaster model for a custom-made impression tray.
Students will also get simulated practice with cavities. They’ll drill holes in plastic teeth and fill them with silver, using the latest materials and equipment.
For suture simulation, however, students will make their stitches on low-tech but tried-and-true devices.
“We’ll be bringing in a lot of bananas,” said Snowbarger.
Busy days
When not working on projects, students will shadow dental residents as they treat patients and sit for lectures or demonstrations, according to Jasmine Guiterrez Massions, event coordinator for the dental camp.
Massions said the campers will have such busy days they’ll need to blow off steam in the evenings, so she has planned some activities.
Wednesday evening it’s back to Fairmount to wash up for a picnic supper and bowling at The Alley, one of Wichita’s finest entertainment facilities located close to the city’s Waterfront area on east 13th Street.
“We wanted to show off Wichita some,” said Massions. “Plus, bowling is great team-building sport.”
For Thursday’s evening activity, they’ll have a social dinner at Fairmount and then head to LaserQuest to plaster each other with paint instead of mold-making material.
Friday afternoon campers will participate in a mock graduation and celebration with their camp counselors, all of whom are students in either Wichita State’s pre-dental or dental hygiene programs.
Campers will return home, each with a personalized framed certificate and armed with new awareness, hands-on experience and invaluable career contacts that will help them determine their potential in dentistry.
Interview subjects from AEGD
Student Fu-Han Tsao; parent Chin-Pao Tsao
McPherson High School, junior year
Contact info: 612 Oxford Dr., McPherson 67460; (620) 755-7641; dark_1019@msn.com
It was after Fu-Han discovered that his father had contracted a disease and had to have all of his teeth surgically removed that he decided to become a dentist. He saw the pain that his father went through and wants to help prevent others from going through the same ordeal. As a child he wasn’t afraid of the dentist and remembers the happy feeling he had after getting his teeth fixed. Fu-Han would like to make everyone happy after they leave the dentist just like he felt.
Student Tu Vo; parent Hien Vo
Wichita Northwest High, junior year
Contact info: 835 N. Pine Grove, 67212; (316) 281-5419; vongochien08@yahoo.com
Tu is the youngest of 12 and was raised in Camau, Vietnam by his brothers and sisters while his parents were living in America. In spring 2002 when he was seven he and his brothers and sisters were finally able to join their parents here in the States. Tu was not aware of the significance of oral hygiene until he went to a dental clinic last year and had to have dental work done. Before then he had always “envied those whose smile shined so brightly.” This is what stimulated his interest in becoming a dentist. Tu is in the top 10 percent of his class and would like to work in a small local clinic.
Student Tianna Francis; parent Karen Wiley
Wichita Northwest High, senior year
Contact info: 1305 N. Minneapolis, 67214; (316) 807-1287; kaw1128@yahoo.com
Tianna would like to become a dental hygienist and would be the first generation to attend college in her family. She is proud of her 3.3 GPA and would like to attend WSU. Tianna is the oldest of four siblings and always strives to make the best decisions because she realizes that her choices not only affect her but her younger siblings as well.
Student Zoey Gubitoso; parent Mary Jo Gubitoso
Hays High School, junior year
Contact info: 1707 Wheatland Ave., Hays, 67601; (785) 498-9163; sd9691@hotmail.com
Zoey has a desire to help others and wishes to do this through dentistry. She recognizes the need for dentists in rural areas and looks forward to helping fulfill this need. She strives for personal improvement and advancement which she feels she demonstrates through her 3.95 GPA. Zoey works part-time, is involved in Big Brothers and Big Sisters, volunteers and helps to serve meals to the underprivileged, and works with Head Start Children all while active on the Hays High School girls golf team.