LSU student and recent Service Learning Trip participant Manishq shared some of his reflections with us recently on volunteering in a MEDLIFE dental clinic and explained how working directly with local dentists and real patients shaped his perspective on the dental field as well as his future career goals!
MEDLIFE: What did you learn today?
Manishq: “One thing I learned today was how important it is for people to get educated about the dental and oral healthcare field itself. A lot of the people that we met today, it was some of their first time really understanding the reason that it’s necessary to brush your teeth for example and keep good oral healthcare and good oral hygiene.”
MEDLIFE: What key insights did you gain from the doctors?
Manishq: “One thing that actually stood out to me was today one of the doctors told me how you have to prioritize various aspects of the mouth when you’re providing oral health care. For example, with fillings you have to prioritize the areas that are most in danger of either breaking or where people are eating. So you have to prioritize those important areas and then at the same time how important it is to communicate clearly with the patient so that they understand how to prevent future cavities or stuff like that.”
MEDLIFE: What does learning from real patients mean to you?
Manishq: “I think it’s everything. I think it’s the most crucial aspect about learning is you know, your hands on experience, your ability to connect with patients as a dentist so that they trust you. People are afraid of the dental field across the world, truly. So being able to form a connection with your patient, communicating with them clearly and then being able to provide quality care afterwards, that’s something I think has been paramount and the most important part.”
If you are currently researching how to become a dentist, stories like Manishq’s highlight the value of clinical exposure, cultural humility, and compassionate communication. Joining a dental Service Learning Trip with MEDLIFE allows you to support local healthcare professionals while gaining the inspiration and insight needed to become a patient-centered practitioner.
Looking for more reflections on volunteering with MEDLIFE from past SLT participants? Check out our other testimonials to learn what it’s like to go abroad and be a dental volunteer in a real clinic!
Interested in how you can assist people living in medically underserved areas in Latin America and Africa? Fill out the interest form below or download our brochure today to take the first step towards joining a MEDLIFE Service Learning Trip.