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September 2006 Gateway to the Future: ICD Student Exchanges Global Focus The International College of Dentists is unlike other organizations that honor the extraordinary achievement and distinction of colleagues. The term “International” in its title imparts a global perspective to its activities. Its sponsorship and funding of student exchanges among the world’s dental schools is a striking example of the ICD’s global focus and its contribution to the education of dentists who will respond to professional challenges of the future in a rapidly changing international community. The Maryland Exchange In August/September of 2005, two senior dental students from the University of Maryland Dental School and the two senior dental students from the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology at the Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University in Lima, Peru participated in reciprocal exchanges of two-weeks. They observed dental educational processes, private and public dental practices, and gained an insight to local and regional oral health conditions in the United States and Peru. They also visited various cultural attractions and formed lasting friendships with colleagues with whom they may later participate in fulfillment of dentistry’s local, regional, and global challenges. Above all, they learned of dentistry and oral health beyond the limitations of their national borders. The sponsorship and financial support provided these “dental ambassadors” by the USA Section of the International College of Dentists not only enabled this venture but opened a “Gateway” to the future and clearly affirmed the ICD’s focus. Maryland’s student exchange with a partner institution in Peru is but the most recent, as the USA Section has previously sponsored and supported student exchanges between Maryland and dental schools in other countries. Students who participated in the exchanges feel they have added immeasurable professional and cultural enrichment to their education and are better prepared for the future. All expressed gratitude to the ICD for this exceptional international experience and expressed the hope that the benefits of the exchanges would be made available to counterparts in other dental schools in the global community. Global Gateway for ICD Fellows ICD Fellows of District 4’s Maryland Component also have an established “Gateway” to opportunities for leadership in the Dental School’s Global Maryland program, whose international ventures are designed to advance dental education, dental practice, and oral health. They may volunteer to serve as contributing planners, mentors of student activities, professional lecturers, and care providers in global dental missions conducted by faculty and students of the Dental School. Prospective venues for these missions may include Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Peru, India, Ireland, and Poland, countries in which Maryland’s Dental School has affiliated partner institutions. These relationships provide for faculty and student exchange, collaborative teaching and research, contribution to continuing education programs; and postgraduate education. ICD Fellow participation exemplifies an organization whose global focus is found in its title – the International College of Dentistry. In addition to the University of Maryland, other schools which have recently participated in this program include the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, New Jersey Dental School, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, Case School of Dental Medicine, and the Georgia Chapter of the USA Section. Michael M. Belenky, DDS, MPH, FACD, FICD, FPFA Previous Issues: Key-Mail archive Find other members at USA section online membership roster
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