A taste of the dental profession

High school students from across the region explored what a future in healthcare might look like during Dentistry Day at Southern Illinois University’s School of Dental Medicine. The full-day event, part of the BESt Healthcare Institute’s 2025 summer program, combined interactive activities and expert-led sessions to introduce teens from multicultural backgrounds to the world of medicine and dentistry.

Paul Brown, a rising senior at Parkway Central High School, wants to pursue dermatology and was pleasantly surprised by the hands-on experience. “I think I’m pretty good at filling cavities, so this might be an option.”

Tracy Machuki, a senior at Pattonville High School, also left the event with ideas about her career. “My day so far has been really, really fun,” she said. “I’ve been on the fence about pediatrics and dentistry, so I might combine them both.”

The four-week immersive program, held earlier this month, was designed to inspire the next generation of medical professionals. It was offered through a partnership between Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Express Scripts, Inc. and Washington University in St. Louis. 

“Our goal is to provide these students with valuable insights and hands-on experiences that highlight the opportunities and rewards of pursuing a career in dental health,” said Dr. Nathalia Garcia, an SIU professor and assistant dean for career development who helped facilitate the dental school’s participation.

Beyond drills and dental molds, Dentistry Day offered something even more meaningful — affirmation. Students received valuable insights from a panel of dental and pre-dental students, along with a dental hygienist, assuring them that they belong in the profession. It was the first time many of the teens could see themselves in white coats. The message was clear — the future of healthcare needs more voices, faces and perspectives like theirs. 

“One of our dental students shared that she never thought she was good enough for dentistry until a college professor told her, ‘Oh, you have a lot of talent to become a doctor.’ That moment made her believe she could pursue the profession because somebody believed in her potential,” Garcia said.

The SIU dental school collaboration with BESt Health Care Summer Institute was established to encourage dentistry as a career. The partnership aims to provide high school students with resources and mentorship to ignite an interest in dental careers. 

Ava Tobias, a senior at Incarnate Word Academy, said she’s been interested in medicine since she was much younger, inspired by television shows like “Doc McStuffins.” She said she’s intrigued by dentistry

“I like how delicate it is,” she said. “And the type of interaction you’re having with patients, dentistry is more positive than not.”

In 2020, the number of African American dentists reached 5,039 — just 3.8% of dentists nationwide, according to The Journal of the American Dental Association. SIU dental student A’lonn Love believes the small percentage of Black dentists is a motivator for introducing high school students to the profession.

“I knew I wanted to go to dental school when I was 16,” Love said. “I knew I wanted to go there, but I didn’t know how to get there.” He said he reached out to a Black dentist for direction, and the dentist became his mentor.

In the afternoon Dental Day session, students rolled up their sleeves for hands-on exercises inside the school’s simulation Lab. Guided by faculty and dental students, they practiced cavity preparation, learned how fillings are placed, and explored the basics of dental modeling — getting a real feel for the skills and precision the profession demands. 

During the afternoon session the high school students performed hands-on exercises in the School’s John and Anna Markarian Simulation Lab, which opened in 2014. Carmichael helped coordinate the hands-on dental workshop, which included cavity preparation, fillings, and dental modeling.

“There are no barriers. The sky is the limit,” Garcia said. “You can do whatever you want if you have passion and determination to do it.”

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