U of T’s Summer Mentorship Program at the Faculty of Dentistry

By Rachel Boutet

On July 20th, the Faculty of Dentistry virtually welcomed visiting high school students taking part in U of T’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP). The program was created to help address concerns about the under-representation of Black and Indigenous people within the health sciences. These students from around the GTA are given the chance to explore the health professions at the University of Toronto. This year saw record-breaking enrolment numbers with 110 grade 11 students registered. Participating students earn a credit toward their high school diploma.

In previous years, students were given the opportunity to use the patient simulator to do a dental cleaning and take impressions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s activities were virtual. 

Students were broken up into groups and paired with current DDS students who talked about how to prepare for applying to the Faculty of Dentistry, including how to make a strong application and what happens during the interview and admissions process. The DDS students also talked about their courses and showed videos of them performing simulations, followed by a Q&A period. IDAPP students shared their experiences of their program and being an international student.

“Our students love volunteering for this program,” says Lucy Ferraro, administrative program coordinator at the Faculty. “It’s a mentorship opportunity for them as well. In past years, I’ve seen our students share contact information with the high school students so they can continue to act as a mentor throughout the application process.”

When the Faculty of Dentistry first took part in the program, there were 50 high school students registered for the dentistry session. This year, all 110 students signed up, showing the increasingly popular demand of the profession. The experience gives the high school students a better sense of what it’s like to be a dentist, helping them discover if it’s the right career path for them. 

“By connecting with the DDS students, they are able to envision their future, seeing if they work hard, they can achieve great things,” says Ferraro. “I’m also incredibly proud of our students and the way they represent our Faculty.”

Ferraro notes that this day wouldn’t be possible without a collective effort from members of the Faculty. 

“It has been a great team effort with our students volunteering, support from staff, clinic director and Dean Haas,” she says. 

Photo: From the 2018 SMP session which was held in person (Jeff Comber)