Page 47 - WesternU View Summer 2019
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Charter class for the International Dentist Program (IDP) with Steven W. Friedrichsen, DDS, Dean, WesternU College of Dental Medicine.
WesternU Mini-Medical School
often on treating lung and respiratory diseases caused by practice dentistry in the U.S. and are working as dental
the region’s poor air quality. Under Dr. Vishwanath assistants, on dental research, or in other areas of the
Venketaraman’s leadership in the College of Osteopathic dental industry. Their goal is to get a DMD degree from
Medicine of the Pacific, this investment will advance the U.S., pass the clinical board exam and work as a
efforts to beat lung disease and give residents of the 35th practicing dentist here.”
District a fighting chance at leading healthy lives.”
WesternU welcomes second
Students begin classes in new
Mini-Medical School class
International Dentist Program
WesternU students from the Pediatric Interest Group
Five students who were professional dentists in their (PIG) hosted more than 40 kindergarten students from
country of origin started a new 26-month advanced La Verne Science & Technology Charter school, part of
standing International Dentist Program (IDP) in spring the Pomona Unified School District, for the school’s
2019 at Western University of Health Sciences. second Mini-Medical School.
IDP is part of WesternU’s College of Dental Medicine Kindergartners learned about the human body and
(CDM). It is designed to award a DMD degree to students medicine Friday, April 26, 2019 on WesternU’s Pomona
who have graduated from dental schools outside the U.S. campus.
or Canada.
Children received special white coats when they arrived,
The inaugural class, which started in March 2019, then rotated through stations, ending with an award
participated in an intensive 10-week course to expose them ceremony.
to CDM’s curriculum so they could be ready to join fellow
The five stations taught by WesternU students were the
second-year dental students in clinical rotations either at
Bone Station; Heart and Pulse Station; Hand Hygiene
the WesternU Health Dental Center or at offsite clinics.
Station/Operating Room Preparation; Mini Operating
Beginning summer semester in June 2019, they were Room Station and the Medical Equipment Station.
integrated with the rest of the approximately 69 students
Mini-Medical School is sponsored by the Provost’s Office,
in the Class of 2021.
Department of Strategic Alliances. Special thanks to
“These students are impressive people in what they’ve Dr. Mark Maine, director of student wellbeing at Pomona
gone through to get here to this country,” said CDM Unified School District, Dolores Lobiana and the
Associate Dean for Clinical Initiatives and Program kindergarten teachers from La Verne Science and
Development David Lazarchik, DMD. “They can’t Technology for making this event possible.
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