UB students return to classroom to inspire next generation of dentists

One of the first members of his family to attend college, UB dental student Adam Underwood is in uncharted territory. Without the advice of a mentor in dentistry, he forged his career path on his own.

To ensure high schools students receive the guidance he never had, Underwood co-founded the Dental Pipeline Program, a School of Dental Medicine program that provides underrepresented minority and low-income students with the guidance and resources to become oral health care professionals.

“At their age, I didn’t have a mentor to lead me in the right direction,” says Underwood, who is entering the final year of his DDS degree.

“Through this program, we hope to give these students goals to aim for and an idea of what paths to take after graduating from high school to potentially become health care providers here in Western New York.”

Underwood was inspired to start the program three years ago while taking a dental school course on community outreach. The principal of the Health Sciences Charter School visited the class, sharing with the dental students the need for volunteers to help mentor young students.

After the class, Underwood and dental student Arthur Bigsby met with the principal and teamed up to launch the program, which initially was designed as a one-on-one mentoring session with high school students. The sessions quickly evolved into weekly after-school classes at the charter school that are attended by nearly 20 students.

The program recently partnered with the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to host the third annual “Doctors Back to School Day” on April 29 at Health Sciences Charter School.

Throughout the day, UB dental students led hands-on activities with more than 100 10th-grade students. Activities included learning how to create dental impressions and mouth guards, a crash course on dental anatomy and more.  

The high school students also learned about the various careers in dentistry they could pursue while playing a Jeopardy-themed game centered on oral health care. Participants received toothpaste, toothbrushes and other oral hygiene supplies donated by Henry Schein, the world’s largest provider of health care products and services.

“This is an outstanding example of the school’s outreach to support our community and, in particular, demonstrates the commitment of these two outstanding students to improve the career prospects of underrepresented and low-income students,” says Joseph J. Zambon, dean of the UB dental school.

This year, the Dental Pipeline Program was held in partnership with the Buffalo Urban League, which facilitated a daily after-school program at Health Sciences Charter School.

Each Thursday, UB dental students guide workshops on topics ranging from teeth whitening to college applications. Many of the high school students who attend the weekly classes served as workshop or class leaders during “Doctors Back to School Day.”

“Some of the students who show up, you wouldn’t think they’d ever be interested in dentistry. However, by the third week, they’re asking questions and you can see that you’ve made a connection with them,” Underwood says.

“If we can inspire a student like this just once a semester, the program is a success.”

As Underwood enters the final year of his studies at UB, he plans to transition leadership of the Dental Pipeline Program to dental students Sean Challenger and Graham Whinery. Under their guidance, he says, the program will reach new heights and more schools in Buffalo.