Western Washington Area Health Education Center
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
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Dental R/UOP: Dental Rural/Underserved Opportunities Program
The Rural/Underserved Opportunities Program (R/UOP) This program is a two to four-week elective immersion experience for students, between their first and second years of dental school, to work with a dental preceptor in a rural or urban/underserved community. Western Washington AHEC’s role in this program is to coordinate clinical placements. The program objectives are to:
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Provide students with an early exposure to the challenges and rewards of practicing general dentistry in a rural or urban underserved setting.
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Promote in students a positive attitude toward rural and urban underserved community dentistry.
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Provide students with an opportunity to learn how community healthcare systems function.
Where does this Program fit into the dental student experience?
The preclinical experiences offered by this program are designed to provide stimulating training for first year dental students and to encourage interest in primary-care careers in the Northwest (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho). “Pre-clinical experiences” refer to educational opportunities available to dental students early in their training (generally within the first two years of dental school), before they begin their formal clinical rotations in the third and fourth year. This kind of early clinical exposure has been shown to have a positive influence on general dentistry. This summer rotation is the first intensive community-based clinical experience that most students have.
Student interest in these programs has increased each year. Students are provided with additional dental assisting course work that will better prepare them to add value to the clinics during their rotations this year. We have combined all of the opportunities this year under a program called “1st Year Rural and Underserved Opportunities Program (R/UOP).
Other Health Professional Rotations As resources permit, Western Washington Area Health Education Center assists other students in locating rural and underserved rotations. Please contact WWAHEC for more information about an individualized experience.
For more information contact:
Jodi Palmer, Assistant Director
Western Washington Area Health Education Center
2033 Sixth Avenue, Suite 310
Seattle, WA 98121
206.441.7137
or visit the University of Washington School of Dentistry website
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
or
Page updated 07/30/2007