Mentor Program

What Is the Mentor Program?

The WSDA Mentor Program matches University of Washington School of Dentistry students with mentor dentists who are members of the Washington State Dental Association.

The Mentor Program gives students a valuable opportunity to connect with and learn from WSDA dentists, and gives dentists the opportunity to share advice and expertise with future members of their profession.

Who Is Eligible?

All UW School of Dentistry dental students
All WSDA member dentists (both actively practicing and retired) from anywhere in the state

Program Expectations

The Mentor Program is mostly self-guided, with an emphasis on mentor/mentee communication in whichever method works best for you. To ensure a successful mentor-student match, WSDA asks participants to consider our program expectations.

Program Expectations: Mentor Dentists
Because the Mentor Program is mostly self-guided, both dentists and students must make an individual effort to connect with each other.

WSDA asks that our mentor dentists:
- Commit to mentoring their student(s) through their graduation year.
- Remain a member of the WSDA through their time in the program.
- Make their best effort to attend the annual Mentor Reception.
- Invite students to meet in person at other WSDA events (PNDC, Dental Action Day, etc.) or through self-scheduled meet-ups (mentor dinners, coffee meetings, office shadowing opportunities, etc.) throughout the year.
- Reach out regularly to connect through phone and email when in-person meetings are not possible.
Program Expectations: Students
Because the Mentor Program is mostly self-guided, both dentists and students must make an individual effort to connect with each other.

WSDA asks that our student participants:
- Make their best effort to attend the annual Mentor Reception.
- Invite their mentor to meet in person at other WSDA events (PNDC, Dental Action Day, etc.)
- Reach out to their mentor to schedule other in-person meetings throughout the year when possible.
- Reach out regularly to connect through phone and email when in-person meetings are not possible.

Both students and dentists who find that their match has not fulfilled program expectations and would like a re-match may contact Martina Torres at martinat@wsda.org.

Questions?

Please contact Martina Torres at martinat@wsda.org with program questions.

Photos courtesy of UW School of Dentistry

Mentor Program

What Is the Mentor Program?

Who Is Eligible?

Program Expectations

Questions?

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