Shadowing Dentistry School Faculty?

[Theta1]

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I was looking up some of the general practitioners who have their own practice or work in the dental clinic over in the medical campus at my school and was wondering if it was a good idea to shadow them? They are mostly associate professors at the dentistry school, but also have their own practices.

I already e-mailed a few of them asking if I could come in and observe some procedures...

 

[jigabodo]

I think it would be a good idea.

 

[wigglytooth]

I agree. If you are able to do it, it is a great idea. It can help if you get the recommendation of one of the faculty.

Not only could it help for a recommendation letter, but those who teach part time are more likely to want to go into more detail in what they're doing. Your experience may be richer than randomly finding a dentist because it is hard to find someone who would take the time or effort to talk out what he/she is doing and why.

 

[Theta1]

^
Exactly, but I don't want to come across as wanting to kiss ass. I'm not going to be able to be familiar with anything in the student clinics because undergraduate volunteers are pretty much told to just stay out of the way as much as possible.

Hopefully, I'll get a few replies. Most of them seem to work for half a day per week. I emailed the ones who I would be able to shadow during their hours.

Almost all of the pre-dent students at the undergraduate campus volunteer at the student clinics and log in hours, but don't really get one-on-one time with a dentist who will explain and answer questions concerning various procedures. I thought it would be better if I could just observe one faculty member at their private consultations with patients.

If not, then I'll have to call around and ask various dentists around the area. I just figured a faculty dentist would probably be more eager and willing to explain things to me.

 

[jeezy]

would it look bad for other schools.. since you spent time and built contacts at a competing school?