In 2014, the UNMC College of Dentistry welcomed its first dental student as part of the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC), a non-profit institution affiliated with China’s Ministry of Education.
Offered in partnership with the UNMC Asia Pacific Rim Development Program, the CSC is the first program of its kind. It offers students an opportunity to earn health professions degrees at UNMC – funded by the Chinese government – with the expectation that students return to China after graduation to help meet the needs of China’s ever-growing health care system.
Now, that student is the first Chinese scholar to graduate from the College of Dentistry.
Xiaoxi (Sophie) Cui is a member of the dental class of 2018 and graduated May 3 with high distinction.
Cui is a native of Qingdao, a medium sized city in China’s Shandong Province. She earned her Bachelor of Dental Medicine degree from Shandong University and her Master of Periodontology degree from Peking University before deciding to apply to the UNMC College of Dentistry through the CSC program.
Among other differences, dental education in China is at the undergraduate level. Students begin dental school right after high school and programs typically last five years, after which they become practicing dentists.
“I didn’t think my training was enough to be a dentist after my bachelor’s degree,” Cui said. “That’s why I did the master’s in periodontology. After that I wanted to travel, and I knew that dental education in the U.S. is very advanced, so I wanted to learn here.”
For example, in China, Cui completed one crown prep before seeing her first patient. At UNMC, students are prepared with a whole year of lab work before stepping onto the clinic floor. In addition, UNMC taught her not only how to treat dental diseases, but also how to treat patients as a whole.
“This program emphasized patient relationships much more,” she said. “We learn how to practice empathy and how to take care of patients not just clinically, but emotionally too.”
Throughout her time in Nebraska, Cui learned a lot about a culture very different from her own. First off, the language barrier took a while to overcome (imagine learning anatomical terms in a different language). In addition, the move to Lincoln from large, bustling Chinese cities was an eye-opening experience. She recalled seeing hay bales for the first time during Panhandle Dental Day, and was surprised when cars stopped for her as she crossed the street.
At UNMC, Cui appreciated strong guidance and feedback from faculty members, and met many classmates-turned-friends.
“I felt like my classmates here were all very good students, very serious about their education and always willing to help each other,” she said.
She graduated feeling much more comfortable practicing dentistry on her own – but that doesn’t mean she is done learning. She plans to complete a general practice residency program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she will gain extra practice placing implants. Then she will return to China with the goal of splitting her time between private practice and teaching. Eventually she hopes to work and teach in both China and the United States.
“My most important purpose here was to learn,” Cui said. “But I also want to be able to help make my own country better. I hope to not only contribute back to China but also try to let American dentists know more about Chinese dentistry.”