DENTISTRY PROGRAM
“Amazing Andes Spanish School” offer the “Smile Ecuador” Dental Program through an agreement with the “Sonrie Ecuador” Clinics in Quito
AMAZING ANDES is the only Spanish School to offer this enriching dental program combined with Spanish classes. Our program offers quality education and opportunities for exchange students so they are able to return home with new skills and knowledge to further benefit their career and local communities. This program offers dental and pre-dental students the opportunity to participate in rotations at local “Sonrie Ecuador”, or “Smile Ecuador”, dental clinics.
The “Sonrie Ecuador” clinics provide dental care and promote oral health in Quito and surrounding neighborhoods. The clinics have been operating for over twelve years and continually strive to better the services offered to their patients. These clinics are at the forefront of providing dental care with modern treatments available.
This unique program intends to build and strengthen the skills of participants through an exchange of information, ideas and practical knowledge in the context of Ecuadorian culture. The principal component of the program is the clinical placement. The program will serve for those students interested in dentistry. The program will establish, train, and develop cultural and dental resources as well as highlight the different specializations of the dental profession in Ecuador.
Students will be able to actively participate in a variety of dental procedures. We hope that these students will in turn share their experience with other participants and health professionals, exchanging ideas on health care structures, management, difference and organization, while at the same time gain valuable knowledge and language skills through Spanish classes.
This program will provide a rich and diverse experience for dentistry students or professionals. The views of Ecuadorian dental professionals who practice in a “third world” country are interesting and thought provoking. Students will see challenges of providing the best possible dental care to the different socio-economic classes of Ecuador, while at the same time improving their cultural competency and broadening their public health knowledge. Participants in the dental program are offered a special service-learning experience. The program provides an opportunity to observe and engage in the delivery of dental care in Ecuador, while providing the chance to develop one`s personal motivations and desired criteria for community service experiences.
The program is designed for participants to spend four hours in the dental clinic and four hours in Spanish classes daily (a total of 50 hours during one month). The time in the clinic will be split between theoretic, practical instruction and meetings with practitioners. All students will have an option during their first week in Quito to study Spanish and begin hospital rotations or to only study Spanish. The Spanish-only option is meant to accommodate students who might not be comfortable working in hospitals without Spanish preparation. Your experience will be heightened tremendously if you can understand what the doctors and patients are telling you. For this reason, Spanish classes are a very important part of the program.
At the end of the program or internship term, participants will have a clear picture of the many aspects of the dental field and oral care in Ecuador. Participants will be exposed to and develop the skills to manage medical records and privatized health information. Participants will be able to adequately manage patient reception.
In our globalized and inter-connected world, the importance of learning from other cultures and professionals is becoming more important. Students and professionals alike are seeking opportunities to learn abroad and enrich their education with a cultural exchange
This incredible cultural experience, combined with an Ecuadorian family home-stay, will leave participants with invaluable life skills that will stay with them forever. It will also provide an unforgettable cultural and learning experience for those interested or involved in the dental profession.
