June 2009

International College of Dentist's
GREAT EXPECTATIONS MENTORING PROFESSIONALISM PROGRAM
Draws Enthusiasm

"Learning must be the greatest moment in your life and it must be in an environment that is inspiring, motivating and allows individuals to celebrate failure as part of the growing/learning process." --Art Dugoni

Great Expectations is a mentoring program developed at the Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M Health Science Center. This mentoring professionalism program is designed to guide the beginning dental student toward a more professional attitude and behavior through peer influence. Initially this peer influence is through selected upper classmates who have been chosen by the faculty for their professional demeanor and integrity. Mentors from faculty and practicing ICD volunteers assist the junior and senior mentors to host small groups of under classmates in various activities that can range anywhere from a simple social get-together to subjects of mutual interest such as practicing high speed tooth preparation on a dentiform.

Participation is completely voluntary but the groups tend to develop a cohesive camaraderie early on in the process. Many practicing Fellows host visits to their offices to give students a feeling for practice after dental school. Of course discussions about professional behavior are encouraged and are taught more by example than in a didactic form. Slowly the peer-to-peer student influence is transferred from practicing dentists and faculty mentors so that by graduation the student will have acquired a more professional understanding and demeanor, and view his or her fellow practitioners as peers.

Your State ICD Leadership Coordinator has additional information and resources available to help initiate this award winning program in your Alma Mater or a school near you. An informational brochure is available at http://www.usa-icd.org/information/PDFs/Great_Expectations_mentoring.pdf. If there is a place in your heart to help mentor students, treat them with respect, and give them a helping hand toward viewing themselves as a professional practitioner, you should contact your Leadership Coordinator to see how you might help.

This is truly one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that deserves careful consideration because participation can really change the future of dentistry. Be a part of the action and make a difference while having more fun than you have had for quite a while!

Great Expectations Mentoring Professionalism Subcommittee
C. Moody Alexander (TX)
M. Christine Benoit (RI)
Mark E. Gannaway (TX)
Curtis R. Johnson (SD)
Peter P. Korch, III (PA)
Jack W. Clinton (OR) Consultant
Marc S. Smith (IN) Chair

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