Students in the ADEA Academic Career Fellowship program presented educational research projects
Third-year students in the American Dental Education Association Academic Dental Career Fellowship Program present their research.
Third-year dental students in the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Academic Dental Career Fellowship Program (ADCP) recently gathered to present their education-related research projects.
These projects are the culmination of the student's experience in the year-long program that encourages the pursuit of academic careers in dentistry.
"Our students put tremendous effort into developing unique and engaging projects through the ADEA Academic Dentistry Careers Fellowship Program," said Dr. Katherine Fleming, assistant professor of pediatric dentistry and faculty liaison for the UConn ADEA chapter. "The presentations highlighted not only show the breadth of their research and teaching experiences, but also their enthusiasm for contributing to the future of academic dentistry."
Working alongside a faculty member for the duration of the program, students in the ADEA ADCFP receive first-hand insight into the life of a faculty educator or researcher. The program also provides opportunities for fellows to learn about career pathways in academic dentistry and receive hands-on training specific to teaching and research.
Ellen Lamm, whose research was on testing novel teaching methods for the 2017 staging and grading criteria for periodontitis, credits the program for giving her a glimpse of a future career in academic dentistry.
"The fellowship was very informative and gave me great insight into what a career in academia looks like including what it's like to prepare learning materials for students," said Lamm. "I will cherish the time I spent with my mentor and my faculty interviews as well!"
Marcus Costa's research project focused on gamification in pre-doctoral orthodontic education and explored how interactive learning methods may improve student engagement and participation in the classroom.
"The ADEA Academic Dentistry Careers Fellowship Program was a great experience because it allowed me to work closely with faculty mentors and learn more about the academic side of dentistry outside of the traditional classroom experience," said Costa. "I especially enjoyed collaborating to create academic resources that can be used for years to come and that future students can continue building upon through their own projects and research."
Bryson Christian, who presented research on orthodontic screening and dental education, also appreciated the experience he gained from the program.
"What I appreciate the most about this fellowship is the breadth of experiences that it has given me," Christian said. "This year, I've conducted and presented research, developed a learning module to be integrated within our curriculum, and gained several new mentors. I found an amazing research mentor in Dr. Thais Fernandes Poleti who helped me create a research project based on my curiosity about orthodontic screening and dental education. As someone who is interested in becoming a dental educator at some point, I loved interviewing faculty to better understand the day-to-day reality of the career."
