| Journal |
Fall 2001
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Service learning
Yes, we care. Yes, we can.
By, Fred Kasischke
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| Eric Park, SD'01, greets waiting patients while providing dental care in Belize. Each student participates in local and/or international service learning projects as part of their training. |
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
is Service Learning. The School of Dentistry intends its service learning
program to provide concrete examples of how dentistry and dental hygiene
can be at its heart an endeavor to serve people’s basic needs.
The history of our institution’s origin reveals a group of people
brought together by their desire to serve and to build a school oriented
toward service.
“In our work of medical evangelism we have sent out physicians and
nurses to the far corners of the earth, but as yet we have no provision
for dental service in our organized mission work.” Those sentiments,
penned in 1936 by Herbert G. Childs Jr., DDS, were part of a brief to
consider the advisability of establishing a dental college for Seventh-day
Adventists. The need was real and present; the formation and establishment
was years in the making. Numerous proposals were submitted. The committee
minutes show frankness and Christian confrontation, but the theme never
altered.
The School the pioneers intended was one which clearly acknowledged the
source of all wisdom, consistently pursued excellence in academic and
clinical training, and modeled, by practice, love from the heart of God
through the hands of dental professionals to all people.
In October 1951, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists authorized
the formation of the dental school.
Minutes of the Administrative Council of October 9, 1957, reveal the early
intentions of LLUSD.
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| Three children in a refugee camp in Myanmar near the Thailand border practice brushing their teeth. |
“Recognizing the place and the need
for spiritual, mental, and physical development among faculty as well
as students, we therefore pledge our re-dedication to the principles of
Christian education. We pledge our efforts toward accomplishing the world
mission of Christian people which, of necessity, recognizes the importance
of mission activities by students and faculty.”
The names Howard Marin, DDS, Kenneth Wical, DDS, James Crawford, DDS,
conjure up warm memories in the minds of many LLUSD veterans. They picture
places like Mecca, California; Chiapas, Mexico; Monument Valley, Utah;
and they experience again the positive feelings which always accompany
service to those in need.
Students and faculty went to Mecca in 1955, participating in the first
effort at providing dental care to those in need outside the School’s
clinics. In 1958, the summer mission program began with service rendered
in Chiapas. The first permanent service learning site was established
in 1966 at Monument Valley, providing dental care for the Navajo Indians.
For the next 30 years, 450 students supervised by dental faculty treated
more than 43,000, Native Indian patients. Yes, we care. Yes, we can.
| The powerful theme “Yes, we care. Yes, we can” refers to sensing a need and using all available resources to respond to the need. |
This theme and attitude continue today. It has been called
“dental missions,” “overseas clerkships,” “extramural
programs,” “community outreach,” and currently, “service
learning,” but it has always continued the dream of the pioneers
of LLUSD, to make service the soul of the School.
But why? What is the anatomy of an act of service? It would most certainly
include the following factors: personal acknowledgement of God as Creator;
recognition of the supreme value He places on each human life; affirmation
and development of gifts and abilities He has given; deep-felt appreciation
for what God has provided; desire for the very best for every human being;
deliberate choice to act on that motivation for others;
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| Senior dental hygiene students (seated, lower right) Hans Lemky, Preethi Dara, and Sue Kim provide care during their recent mission trip to Malawi, while dozens of youngsters and their parents patiently wait their turn to receive treatment. |
a transferring of God’s gifts and love toward you
to the betterment of another; a resulting scientifically verifiable biological
benefit to yourself; and a personal sense of congruence with your Creator,
providing depth and purpose for life.
The experience of one dental student personalizes the process of the act
of service. “I was burned out, frustrated, and had lost interest
in dentistry,” states Eunice Hong, who is now in the orthodontic
specialty program. “I had completed my third year of dentistry, and
wondered what I was doing, why I was here, and what God had in mind for
me.”
Dr. Hong simply wanted to go home during spring break and reconsider her
future. But she made a decision to join another student and a dental faculty
on a mission trip to Armenia to provide dental care to children in an
orphanage.
“I will never be the same again,” Dr. Hong said upon returning.
“I had no idea there was so much need and that as a student with
developing skills, I could help alleviate that need in the lives of so
many little ones. It enabled me to discover why I was doing dentistry,
and helped me refocus my efforts to be the best I could be.” She
returned to Armenia the following year and has plans to return again.
Each student today participates in service learning. The dental hygiene
student engages in a minimum of 30
|
Below is a table showing School
of Dentistry service learning activity from June 1, 2000 to May
31, 2001. |
hours and the dental student is involved in 120 hours
during their respective programs. This forms the clinical portion of the
service learning curriculum. The didactic component includes interaction
with the themes of science, ethics, theology, diversity, community collaboration,
and School history.
The excitement is contagious as students stream through the service learning
office exploring the variety of opportunities, both local and abroad.
It is encouraging to see the interest grow with each new class as they
experience the spirit of service—which is the soul of LLUSD and what
contributes to its uniqueness.
Currently eight local and underserved areas receive LLUSD student participants.
They are chosen specifically because of demonstrated need. Interestingly,
one of those sites is a return to Mecca—the first community area
served by the School. Children and adults receive dental hygiene and dentistry
procedures. A health education component is included, providing preventive
care information.
Regularly the service learning staff accepts requests to participate in
health fairs and screenings in the community. Students also do presentations
at adolescent drug rehabilitation centers, as well as teen pregnancy programs.
From June 1, 2000, to May 31, 2001, 877 students performed 5,160 procedures
on 4,021 patients in our surrounding community. Yes, we care. Yes,
we can.
From its earliest history, it was envisioned that dental professionals
trained at LLUSD would choose to serve internationally. The Adventist
Church currently oversees 76 international dental clinics—with 50
alumni participating. At times these places are used to host a student
dental team. The intent of the service learning
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| A dental student enlists the help of a youngster while providing dental treatment to a patient in Bangladesh. |
program is that every student has at least one opportunity
to participate in an international event. Faculty and alumni are actively
involved, and a supervising dentist accompanies each student team. Presently
53 faculty and alumni are available for future mission trips.
Repeat visits are part of the planning for the international trips. With
preventive care education, it is hoped that lifestyle changes will occur
so future trips will provide more restorative dentistry and less oral
surgery.
The goals of international service are many. The
foremost goal is to bring relief and restoration to people who do not
have access to dental care. Enabling students to experience the joy of
using their skills to benefit people in extreme need is important to the
purpose of LLUSD. These experiences are designed to foster a lifelong
desire in the hearts of students to continue service throughout their
careers—either through relief work or long-term service.
Educationally, it broadens students and faculty through working in the
context of another culture.
From June 1, 2000, to May 31, 2001, 58 students performed 4,578 procedures
on 3,185 patients in 13 countries.
Service learning is rich with benefits. It provides students with the
opportunity for personal and interpersonal development in areas of tolerance,
appreciation of other cultures, spiritual growth, personal efficacy, and
leadership and communication skills. It allows a connectedness between
faculty and students that is not
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| School of Dentistry students exchange information while visiting a dental college in Ukraine. |
available in the traditional educational setting. It is
a unique method by which students can understand and apply their knowledge
both through practice and reflection on their experiences. Students are
provided the choice to change their perspective on life and reframe their
understanding of social and health issues and the potential for change.
It is powerfully inspirational when history reaches forward and touches
the present. Harold Shryock, MD, dean of the School of Medicine (1951–1954)
is a name that repeatedly appears in the minutes of the early planning
meetings for the formation of the School of Dentistry. Edwin Shryock,
DDS, a faculty member and son of Harold, asked to see me not long ago.
The visit centered on his father’s interest in our service learning
program and particularly our international efforts. We discussed the variety
of opportunities for our students in the upcoming year.
Edwin talked with his father about the possibilities and informed me a
few days later that his father planned to sponsor four students on a mission
trip this year. The generosity of the spirit of service continues to be
vigorous.
Service learning is the soul of the School of Dentistry, fulfilling the
mission and dreams of its pioneers.
Donations for service learning, School of Dentistry, will be used to support
the continuance and expansion of service learning projects.
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Fred Kasischke, DMin, assistant dean, admissions and service learning, is constantly looking for ways for the School to continue to expand opportunities for dental and dental hygiene students to practice service learning. |
All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University.
All rights reserved. Revised February 14, 2001
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