As an aspiring dentist, you believe you have the personality and drive you need to make your future patients smile. But as a pre-university student, have you ever had the chance to get up close and personal with a dental hospital or clinic? How will you impress university admissions, and how can you prove to yourself that dentistry is your calling?
At Gap Medics, we know that a global education can make all the difference to a student’s development, both as an individual and an applicant (just ask any of our 8,000+ program alumni). Whether you seek insight for your dental school interviews or confidence in your career choice, our pre-university work experience program will place you right in the heart of an international hospital or clinic to observe real dentists at work.
With support at our core, you and your family can rest assured that you are getting the most immersive work experience available in the most appropriate environment for your age. Our exclusive guest houses, friendly staff, and comprehensive pre-departure services provide the perfect foundation for the educational adventure of a lifetime with new friends from around the world.
Our dentistry program is open all year, and you can attend for as many weeks as you like (we recommend two). Programs begin on Sundays and end on Saturdays, leaving ample time for you to arrive at and depart from your destination.
Poland is the ideal location for students wishing to see the same high-quality healthcare they would expect back home. The country has a publicly funded healthcare system and the hospitals and clinics benefit from cutting-edge equipment and resources. As a result, those who choose to shadow dentists here can expect to see a wide variety of dental conditions. Be prepared to have your eyes opened to new conditions, new procedures, and new inspiration for your future career!
The population, location, and climate of many Caribbean islands plays a huge role in shaping the types of cases that their health professionals are faced with. The heat brings tropical diseases such as dengue fever, while the increase in road traffic brings a variety of injuries to be treated in the emergency room or dental clinic.
While the departments in the Dominican Republic are understandably more traditional than in Australia and resources can sometimes be limited, students who join us can expect the same high-quality mentorship as anywhere else. You will be paired with your own dedicated mentor who will be there to answer your questions and explain complex cases - what better way to learn while gaining a global perspective on dentistry?
You will be placed in a Gap Medics partner hospital or clinic the Monday after your arrival, and you will spend weekdays shadowing your dedicated mentor in healthcare. We partner with busy facilities around the world that offer comprehensive insight into the work of real dentists. Our partner hospitals undergo a rigorous vetting process before they are able to host our students, ensuring an unbeatable standard of quality when it comes to the educational value and academic rigour of our program.
Your department mentor will be a professional dentist working in a dental hospital or clinic. They will help you get the most from your experience by providing clear guidance and supervision as you witness everything from routine cleanings to abscesses and extractions. We work very closely with our partner hospitals to ensure that our mentors are fully qualified and understand the educational aims of our program.
You will also attend global health tutorials throughout your placement. Our hospital mentors host these informal sessions at the Gap Medics house, focussing on the local cultural, social, and economic factors that will help you understand and interpret what you see in the hospital each day.
Dr Joanna Chodorowska is an owner of the Bianco Dental Clinic as well as the leading doctor. Dr Chodorowska specialises in preventative dentistry as well as cosmetic and endodontic dentistry. With Dr Chodorowska as your mentor, you are likely to observe complex patient treatment beginning from the collection of a patient medical history, diagnosis, and treatment using a Carl Zeiss microscope to optimise the quality of results. Dr Chodorowska may also take you to see other procedures within the clinic.
We believe that all members of our staff have a responsibility to protect and care for our students, and our greatest pride is the relaxed family environment that we create to help foster your education and exploration. In addition to chefs, housekeepers, night managers, and security teams, Gap Medics houses also employ dedicated placement coordinators to help support and guide you throughout your dentistry program.
Your placement coordinators will brief you at the Gap Medics house, accompany you to the hospital, and introduce you to your mentors. As experts on our destinations and offerings, these friendly individuals also love to advise our students on local travel opportunities and facilitate exciting and inclusive on-site activities – so if you fancy a game of volleyball, a traditional barbecue, or a table-football tournament, they will have you covered.
Maryla grew up in the Polish city of Krakow, and has a fantastic knowledge of all things Warsaw - especially having lived and worked there since graduating university in 2012.
Maryla looks after students in a variety of different placements across our partner hospitals. Her close friendships with our mentors in these departments help keep everyone smiling even on the busiest days. She’s always ready to help and is never more than a phone call away should you need anything.
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