The UNMC College of Dentistry’s Pre-Dental Day annual event welcomed more than 100 undergraduate students this April from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The visitors spent a full day learning about the college and about dentistry as a profession. They wore special T-shirts, ate breakfast, lunch and snacks, and networked. They took part in simulation exercises and mock interviews.
“Pre-Dental Day continues to be a meaningful opportunity for aspiring dental students to get a firsthand look at what UNMC has to offer,” said Gregory Bennett, DMD, executive associate dean, who also served as a faculty volunteer for the event.
And while faculty like Dr. Bennett pitch in, the event is nearly fully UNMC dental student-organized, with national and campus support from the American Student Dental Association. Third-year dental student Calissa Zanderson, who led this year’s event, said planning of Pre-Dental Day went back to November.
In addition to the day’s programming, the dental students organized applications and enrollment, T-shirts, food and the awarding of six scholarships. UNMC ASDA treasurer Robin Do, D3, took the lead on collecting funds and paying bills. Sara Klein, student services associate, made the calls on catering.
“This is definitely the type of event I would’ve appreciated before dental school, and I’m so glad we’re able to put this on for students,” said Brooke Hansen, D3, one of the dental student volunteers.
Faculty volunteer Bradley Krivohlavek, DDS, said it was encouraging to see the excitement and enthusiasm for the event.
“It is only going to get bigger and better in the future,” he said.
While many of the hands-on aspects were similar to previous Pre-Dental Days, this year there was a special emphasis on keeping the tone casual, Zanderson said. The T-shirts drove home this vibe, removing the expectation to dress to impress. The goal was that this year’s Pre-Dental Day be informative but fun.
“This is a fun event,” Zanderson said. “In the past, it had been a little stressful, students were worried about their mock interviews. But we wanted it to be more about what dentistry is like and what a great career it can be.”
Adam Deutsch, D3, another of about 50 UNMC dental student volunteers who helped put on the event agreed.
“As someone who attended UNMC’s Pre-Dental Day as an undergrad student at UNL, it was even more fun to be on the teaching side of things this go around,” he said. “The day truly encapsulates what life is like as a dental student into the span of eight hours, and further prepares students for the fun and rigor that lies ahead.”
The visitors responded, Deutsch said. “The participants were such great guests and asked great questions all day long. You can see they really had an interest in their future.”
That’s always the goal of Pre-Dental Day, Dr. Bennett said.
“Whether it was their first time stepping through our doors or a return visit to deepen their understanding, each student left with a richer sense of what a future in dentistry could look like and what UNMC can offer them on that journey,” he said.