Fourth-year dental students Kim Pierre, Gisselle Perez and Gabe Crocker traveled to the Dominican Republic during the summer to provide dental care to underserved communities through the Somos Amigos program, which operates a free medical and dental clinic in the rural area of El Naranjito.
Over the course of a week, Pierre treated around 60 patients for various procedures, including fillings and extractions.
“The patient population was very diverse; many were Haitian immigrants, and as a Haitian myself, it felt like treating my own family, which was a beautiful experience,” Pierre said.
The students worked alongside other volunteers, including dentists and hygienists from the Dominican Republic and Richard A. Williamson, DDS, an associate professor at the UNMC College of Dentistry.
Crocker valued the supportive and collaborative team environment.
“We worked long days that were full of patients. Our team showed great camaraderie as we worked to complete everything in a timely manner. All the volunteers shared the same goal of figuring out how we could best help the team take care of the patients,” Crocker said.
Perez experienced a boost in her self-confidence.
“Treating patients outside of the classroom, in a setting that I’m not familiar with, helped me realize that UNMC does a really good job at preparing us for what we do, and I came back a lot more confident in my work,” Perez said.
The students said the lessons they learned will stay with them forever. For example, Crocker appreciated the helpfulness and patience of the other volunteers.
“I don’t know Spanish, so the language barrier was challenging for me, but everyone was so encouraging. They helped me learn new words so I could communicate with the patients,” Crocker said.
Pierre said she experienced first-hand the importance of being culturally sensitive.
“Everyone has their own story that makes them unique, and it’s important as a health care provider to take your patients’ stories into account when you’re treating them,” Pierre said.
Crocker spoke about the benefits of stepping outside your comfort zone.
“Being able to step into that position where it’s different and being in an uncomfortable scenario is great for anyone and helps you realize the importance of what you’re able to accomplish through helping the underserved,” Crocker said.
Pierre said the memories of this experience will stay with her forever.
“I am thankful and feel very privileged to have had this opportunity. I’ll carry this experience with me when I start practicing after dental school, and it’s something I’ll always talk about – being able to help others,” Pierre said.
WTG Gabe, Gisselle, and Kim! You are all awesome, so excited that you had the opportunity to participate in this wonderful experience. Good luck to you all with your dental careers!
-Dr. Stacy