1 What activities have you performed that demonstrate your ability to work effectively with people?

The best evidence that I have of my ability to work with people is the fact that I am highly appreciated by my colleagues and supervisors in my current position as a Clinical Demonstrator at the XXXX Medical and Dental College—where I graduated from dental school in 2009—since June 16^th of 2014. My day-to-day responsibilities include patient evaluation, diagnosis and treatment management; I also teach fourth-year students and general practice residents. Treating patients at the same time that I teach students has helped me to perfect my professional capacity in numerous areas, learning greater levels of patience, exploring the complexities of ethical issues and building team work through leadership, fostering our sense of shared purpose and quest for professional excellence. I also completed a one year residency here at Lahore Medical and Dental College from April 2010 through March 2011, serving as general practice resident with two months spent in each rotation in every department of dentistry. 

Equally important to my career trajectory as a dentist and the challenges that I have faced along the way learning to communicate as effectively as possible with patients and colleagues alike is the testimony of my extensive association resulting primarily from a dental internship at XXXX; providing me with advanced training in MCPS in operative dentistry and extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of cases related to restorative dentistry and endodontics. I did case presentations, led discussions, and helped to organize as well as attend conferences where I always presented.

2 Please describe your immediate and long-term professional goals. 

My sense of purpose in life deepened greatly during the course of my dental internship at XXXX especially because it provided me with a platform to treat low-income patients of a variety of different ethnic backgrounds, all with extremely limited resources. While I found treating these people to be extraordinarily challenging in some cases, primarily because of budget constraints, I learned to think quickly on my feet and make life-changing decisions in a split-second fashion, because I simply had no other choice. Learning to channel my energies in the most pragmatic way possible, always healing and resolving conflicts, I never failed to maintain my focus and my cool. I was also a great professional asset to my parents’ hospital where I served for some time as Assistant Director. My experience in hospital administration will always be with me, inspiring and empowering me with creative ideas for excellence in dentistry, especially with respect to the underserved.

I have long developed a special interest in the issue of infection control and I intend to continue to build my own special research base in this area in which I hope to distinguish myself by my publications in the future and I look forward to deepening my critical edge and distinguishing myself in this area in particular as a student in your program. After completing your distinguished program I plan to continue to further my education both formally and informally in the area of Endodontics, devoting myself to a professional lifetime of both research and practice in this area.

3 Describe (if applicable) your work experience (paid or unpaid) in the U.S. or Canada and how it contributes to your professional experience.

I feel strongly that I have already become a truly international dentist primarily on the basis of my successful completion of an internship in Connecticut from Sept 2013- March 2014 for Dental Arts of Avon PC, assisting and observed Dr. XXXX, D.M.D.

I recently completed a 150-hour volunteer observership in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department and General Dentistry at Brooklyn Hospital Center where I have been exposed to numerous dental cases from simple extractions to extractions under sedations to sinus lifting to implant-supported, complete and partial dentures. I have been attending conferences here as well on issues such as guided tissue regeneration, ANUG and LANAP and I have had the opportunity  to follow numerous cases of oral surgery in the operation threater including Enucleation of OKC and bone augmentation.

My hard work during this volunteer period has been very much appreciated by the Chairman of the Dentistry Program and also the director of the General Practice Residency Program. They have both given me letters of recommendation in addition to receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from Brooklyn Hospital.

My volunteer experiences here in the USA have helped me to better appreciate the way in which great doctors attend to the patient in a holistic fashion, spiritually, mentally and physically, and always with compassion and sincerity. I have myself become more passionate, modest, refined and cooperative, especially with respect to our patients. One special highlight of my work in the USA was volunteering with CLOUD 9, organizing an event that took place on June 29th 2013 to raise funds for the charitable activities of the XXXX Memorial Hospital, which cares for victims of cancer who have scare resources.

4 What qualities of the University of XXXX School of Dental Medicine do you feel will help you achieve your professional goals and how?

The Dental program offered at UXXXX will put me on the world stage of dentistry, the facility is very advanced and up to date on every aspect of dentistry; being a student there would help me to achieve my goal of getting the best training and education available. Growing up in a family where my parents and siblings are all doctors and received the best education available to them, I do not want to settle for anything less either. The clinical and research opportunities available at UXXXX represent the optimal springboard on which to excel as an international dentist in the future, especially since I have already fallen in love with your campus and its history.

Most of all, I hope to be accepted into your especially distinguished program at UXXXX because of the excellent clinical training and the research opportunities that your program provides. I see Operative Dentistry as the HEART OF DENTISTRY and Endodontics as the queen of the oral health sciences. I thank you for considering my application to UXXXX.

What can I say? The Statement is simply BRILLIANT. Thanks very much.

S.A. (Application for Dentistry program June 2011)

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International Dentist Program Application Personal Statement Editing Help

Being a dentist was not a childhood dream, for me, the dream took shape only gradually with my passion for dentistry growing over time. The dominant factor in guiding me towards dentistry as a career was my own successful oral health treatments as a child. I finished dental school in my native India in October of 2013, then immigrating to the USA the following year. I finished my Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration with a 3.86 GPA this past May of 2016, of which I am very proud; and I have also been doing my utmost to prepare myself for your competitive DDS Program for foreign-trained dentists since my arrival in America, both as a volunteer and as a professional.

I grew up determined to use my life to improve the lives of others and initially decided to pursue psychology to reach this goal. However I was always attracted to dentistry and this attraction grew as I came into contact with those finding great satisfaction in the profession. I am attracted because of the opportunities it offers to provide so many benefits, speedily healing discomfort and pain, widening dietary choices and, most of all, repairing or creating a pleasing smile and so enhancing confidence with all the advantages in life that this brings. After careful consideration and significant exposure to the world of dentistry, I have now decided to seek to acquire the skills and training in dentistry to enable me to enjoy the benefits in terms of job satisfaction and in providing life enhancing benefits to patients.

My goal is to become a first class dentist in general practice. General practice is my favored specialty because of the opportunities to create and maintain long-term relationships with patients and indeed, whole families and communities, and to provide education in oral and dental health to patients and others, especially children and young people. I am fluent in Korean and English and I am studying Chinese and Spanish in order to enable me to communicate with a wider range of patients.

I majored in Psychology for my bachelor degree and hope to apply the knowledge acquired both in understanding the feelings of patients and in finding and applying ways to soothe and treat fearful especially child, patients. I would be very interested in assisting in research in this subject. One of my ‘minors’ was art which I greatly enjoyed and in which I excelled. This exposure has developed my esthetic sensitivity and manual dexterity which are both relevant transferable skills that I hope to bring to my dental studies and work.

In order to prepare myself for this change of direction I have sought as much exposure to dentistry as possible. I have taken a one year course at Harvard Extension School for those seeking to make a career change into dentistry and have been working part-time as a Dental Assistant for the past six months. I have also recently provided research assistance to third year Harvard dental students at Dr.Oyama’s lab.  I am also a member of ‘Dentists for Humanity’ and have undertaken dental related volunteer work both in the US and in Haiti, where I assisted in triage, provided fluoride treatment to child patients, sterilized instruments and provided other assistance as required. It was highly gratifying to see grimaces of pain turned into smiles of relief and gratitude. I am also very excited at the prospect of working in a field in which so many exciting advances in techniques and materials are being made.

All these exposures to the profession have totally confirmed me in my career choice. I was raised to regard voluntary work as an obligation rather than a choice and it is my firm intention to give some of my time and skills to the underserved throughout my career.

I am very aware that a dentist must be culturally sensitive and aware. My own experiences have been useful in creating these characteristics. I came to the US from Korea at the age of 17 and quickly reached fluency in English and adjusted to a new and fascinating if, occasionally baffling, culture and environment. I have great empathy with those sharing these challenges. I have happily worked, studied and socialized with people of many ethnic and social backgrounds. I get on easily with others and have an amiable personality. I am curious about other cultures and enjoy sharing knowledge of my own rich heritage.

To summarize: I am academically able, I have demonstrated flexibility and determination in my life to date, I have a very strong work ethic, I have acquired significant exposure to the profession, I have skills and training that are directly applicable to this career and I believe that I possess the interpersonal skills that make me an excellent candidate but, most importantly, I have a deep, genuine and passionate desire to become a caring and highly skilled dentist.

Thank you for considering my application.

drrobertedinger@gmail.com

A young woman and a dentist from India, still only 24 years old, I have had many wonderful experiences in life. Soon after permanently relocating to the USA in 2012, for example, I began volunteered at the XXXX Hospital in XXXX NC, primarily because I felt strongly that I wanted to give something back to the people of this marvelous country who welcomed me with open arms. In fact, I am so in love with America and grateful for being accepted here, that after completing your distinguished program, it is my intention to join America’s armed forces and care for the oral health needs of soldiers and their families. I desperately miss practicing dentistry and I humbly ask for your acceptance so that I might have the honor and privilege of resuming my career here in the USA.

Nothing, however, has brought me the sense of joy and fulfillment in my life as the year that I spent completing an internship at a government dental hospital in India before moving to America. I chose this assignment because I knew that it would be difficult, located in a rural area, very low fees: the workload was extremely rigorous and I had the privilege of working very long hours and helping hundreds and hundreds of India’s poorest and most desperate people, taking away their pain and helping them to heal, to smile again.

I turned my PHD in Religion from the University of Southern California (1995) into a celebration of diversity in dental school admissions, especially for applicants born in the Developing World who look forward to returning to their countries of origin to help with the great need that exists for new initiatives in oral health care for the masses of ordinary people, many if not most of whom have never seen a dentist. Since finishing my own studies almost 20 years ago, I have dedicated my professional life to the study of what makes the Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose most effective, with special attention to dental school (Additional Information about Dr. Edinger).

Congratulations, you have studied the perfect subject! If you want to go into humanitarian dentistry, the developing world provides plenty of scope for the use of your skills. Get ready to grab your tools and join one of the programs the following fascinating organizations provide.

Organizations Doing Good Work Abroad

There are actually many NGOs and organziations out there which offer dentists the opportunity to travel and use their skills to help people less fortunate than themselves. Global Dental Relief is one of them. Their mission is to provide free dental care to children across the world. Volunteer dentists, hydienists, assistants and non-dental volunteers can all get involved and deliver treatment and preventative care at dental clinics set up in schools, orphanages and remote areas. They’ve worked with children in Nepal, India, Guatemala, Vietnam, Cambodia and Kenya so far. Check out what they can offer you at globaldentalrelief.org.

The Himalayan Dental Project has recently become one of the Himalayan Health Project’s offerings, so go to their website to find the details about their programs. The Himalayan Dental Project collaborated with large groups of international dentists from Singapore, New Zealand and the USA, who travelled to Ladakh and set up dental camps in remote regions when they were first set up. They now have a clinic complex in the capital city, Leh. They are also now expanding their work into Nepal and organizing dental health care camps in various locations.

At the time of writing, Health Volunteers Overseas has active projects in Cambodia, Kenya, Laos, Nicaragua and Tanzania, where you can spend two weeks on assignment supporting the implementation of a postdoctoral curriculum designed to train specialists, delivering lectures at dental schools and universities. Go to hvousa.org for more information.

The ADA Foundation has a useful search tool for dentists looking for volunteer opportunities. Just head over to internationalvolunteer.ada.org to find it.

Hirsche Smiles Foundation works exclusively in Guatemala and Mexico, taking plastic surgery and dental teams into remote mountain villages and other underprivileged areas to perform surgeries, restorations and sealants, and extractions. They’re a great organization to get involved with. Find them at hirschesmiles.org.

DDS4KIDS is a charitable dental service program that works closely with Red Cross staff, school administrations, healthcare workers to establish a better understanding of dental health, diseases and prevention. They have done work in Vietnam, Africa and are based in the USA. Get in touch with them at dds4kids.org.

Masters Programs

The reality of the situation is the better educated you are and the more training and experience you have under your belt, the more you have to offer in the developing world. Doing a Master’s in Pediatric Dentistry will allow you to offer the best possible care to children.  The King’s College London offers an M.Sc. in Paediatric Dentistry with core modules on all the aspects of pediatric dentistry you’ll need and a hands-on laboratory module in operative dentistry for children.

However, a clinical specialization could also be very useful, of course. There are a number of Master’s programs running at BPP University, London, such as the Master’s program in Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent) Periodontology , the Master in Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent) Implantology and the Oral Surgery program.  Any one of these courses would lead you into a specialism you could then apply in the developing world with amazing success.

The periodontology course is a 36-month course you could use to develop clinical techniques in implantology, and you have both part-time and full-time study options, one of which comes with an international clinical placement choice. Modules include the fundamentals of bone augmentation and grafting, principles of oral medicine and oral pathology, and aetiology and diagnosis of diseases of the periodontium.

Or perhaps Endodontology is your passion. The BPP also runs a course that focusses on the management of the compromised dental pulp, the biomechanics of osseointegration, endodontology retreatment and navigating the complex root canal anatomy, plus other advanced subjects in this field.

Restorative Dentistry is another possible option for you, if your plan is to develop your skills ready to pack your bags and head off somewhere new. Plymouth University’s program is led by a team of consultants and, visiting specialist clinicians and expert teachers, but it’s also structured to allow you to work while you study. Over the span of this self-paced, 3-year course, you’ll study the foundations of restorative dentistry, restoring teeth and tissues, and advanced restorative dentistry modules.  

Ready to begin your journey? The world is becoming a smaller place, but there are so many new cultures and environments for you to discover. The first step is getting prepared to give the best treatment you can to those in need, and that might involve doing a Masters. If that’s on the cards for your career, please do let us know if you’d like a helping hand writing your statement of purpose. That is a professional service we provide to thousands of students just like you, to make the ride smoother and easier and help you succeed in your career. Good luck.