News: Senate approves changes to Internationally Trained Dentists Program
Schulich Dentistry’s 10-year strategic plan maps out four directions in support of the achievement of the School’s vision to be one of Canada’s best dental schools, delivering an extraordinary scholarly experience that prepares our students to be exceptional dental professionals, within their communities and on the global stage.
In order to achieve the goals outlined for learning, changes related to the clinical education, operation, teaching and practice management processes for Dentistry are being discussed and implemented. One such change involves the School’s Internationally Trained Dentists (ITD) Program.
On March 15, Western’s Senate approved the School’s ITD Program from the current two-year format to a three-year format beginning in 2020/2021.
Moving to a three-year program will:
- provide increased training to ITD students in the simulation lab to refine and enrich their skills prior to clinical training;
- ensure that all
third year students from the ITD and the DDS programs have a more cohesive foundational knowledge prior to clinical training and that there is calibration of skills and knowledge for all students enteringthird year and their clinical training.
What does this mean for the School?
- Continuation of the ITD program with 20 students per year as it is currently, thereby not increasing the number of students in the patient clinics;
Enriched educational experience for all students;- Graduates who are even more confident, competent and prepared to practice evidence-based dentistry;
- Tuition will result in an increase
of revenue, which will be used to hire additional Schulich Dentistry faculty members; - Greater utilization of infrastructure;
- An increase in hours and access to the Simulation Clinic to include evenings and weekends; and
- Ongoing provision of care to community members.
