Dental Summit: WVU Charting a Course to Dental School

Have you ever been on a journey to a long-awaited destination and unknowingly taken a wrong turn? If only a map or navigation system was available, getting back on course would diffuse mounting frustration and eliminate unnecessary loss of time. This scenario can be applied to many of our Pipeline recruits. There are talented students out there who are thirsty for a chance to enter dental school.  Many of them have taken a wrong turn along the way that thwarted steady progress toward dental school admission. The West Virginia University (WVU) School of Dentistry summer enrichment program, Dental Summit, provides a navigation system or map to remove any confusion in the admissions process and to help students stay on track for a successful journey into dentistry.

Student receiving an individual admissions consultation

In June, 19 motivated college and graduate students from eight states and the District of Columbia arrived at WVU for a two-week summer enrichment program. With over 50% under-represented minorities, the class was geographically, economically, and racially diverse. The broad-based curriculum presented by dental and basic science faculty, dental alumni, and several university administrators offered roadmaps for academic success. The students attended all-day sessions gathering in-depth information about admissions procedures and requirements; learning about current issues in oral health care; and participating in modules paralleling dental school experiences. Other seminars focused on educational debt management, time management, team-building, and communication-enhancement techniques.

On the lighter side, “dress for success” and simulated interview experiences culminated in a tie-tying contest and lively discussion as models donned attire to help students delineate appropriate and inappropriate professional attire. Several exercises were designed to unearth issues and produce learning outcomes that revealed the complexity and value of diversity. The Associate Director of WVU Center for Black Culture and Research, Mr. McFadden, held a very thought-provoking and interactive workshop on diversity. “My goal was to highlight the importance of being honest and open in the hope that students will embrace the diversity that will undoubtedly be part of a dental practice,” said Mr. McFadden. Discussions on cultural proficiency were woven throughout the Summit, which confirmed the oral health needs and access issues experienced by vulnerable populations. Students were able to apply firsthand information taught in the classroom at a dental office situated in a rural, underserved community with a population less than 500.

Student working on suturing exercise

Many Summit presenters introduced their sessions with brief accounts of their own barriers surmounted while becoming dentists. These personal stories appeared to have a significant impact as illustrated in the following comment by a student about one doctor’s story, “As you reflected on your journey to become a dentist, the display of emotions truly touched me.  I relate and always will keep that as motivation in my pursuit to become a dentist.” 

With significant increases in the number of dental school applications, building a compelling application is more important than ever. A key starting point for pre-dental students is a clear view of admission criteria and how to position themselves for favorable evaluations by admission committees. Dental Summit, like other Pipeline summer enrichment programs, is doing just that - providing a compass for pre-dental students to chart a successful course into dental school. 

For more information on the Dental Summit at WVU, please contact Dr. Price at sprice@hsc.wvu.edu.