The University of Bridgeport Fones School of Dental Hygiene DHYG 304- Dental Hygiene Internship Course Instructor-Laurel L Risom, RDH, MPH Student Name: Jennie Velez
- Describe two (2) criteria you are (were) looking for in your internship site and what made you select the one you did? I was looking for a non-traditional site. This particular site requires traveling from school to school and adapt to different environments and situations. I was looking to work with the pediatric population. Moreover, I knew that my mentor is also a professor teaching at the master’s degree level at UB; thus, I thought with Ms. Bishop-Pullan as my mentor, I would have the opportunity to learn not only the clinical part of this type of setting but the administrative part also.Describe two (2) criteria you are (were) looking for in your internship site and what made you select the one you did?
2. Did you experience both personal and professional growth with your intership? Please explain: I definitely did experience personal and professional growth. This was a great opportunity that allowed me to interact with children and their caregivers. I always thought that out of the populations, the one I least felt comfortable was the pediatric population, thus this site provided me the opportunity to gain a bit more experience with children. Furthermore, I worked with three of the hygienists and one of the dentists in the program; this allowed me to experience what would be to work with different hygienists and a dentist, as well as, communicate with them in a professional level.
3. Internships are give and take situation, please explain: a) what did you give? b) What did you receive? I believe I facilitated some tasks for my mentor and the other hygienists. For example, I helped to translate for some parents. I also helped them with all the data entry they all required to do at the end of the year.
What I received was experience from very knowledgeable, passionate, and very experienced hygienists. I made connections with my mentor and the rest of the team. And I received some skills that I would definitely need if I decide to work in public health.
4. Describe an experience you had during your internshio that you did not expect to have, please explain: There are two dentists also working in the program and they see children from all the Stamford schools. During a clinic day, a 6-year-old boy came to see Dr. Paras. The little boy was very afraid, did not speak English, and he would not open his mouth. My surprise was that after I talked to him, he did not want to let go of my hand, and fortunately, Dr. Paras was able to complete the treatment.
5. If you could describe your internship in one word, what would that word be? Explain why you chose that word. I would describe my internship site as Dynamic. The work is not only in one specific site. The children are not always available, yet, the hygienists are very creative, and they find a way to have a productive day, even if they need to shift gear and do other activities. The hygienists are very active, positive, energetic, and work very well together as a team.
6. Describe one of your personal characteristics that had an impact on your intership and the people you intended with. I think of myself as a proactive person and who likes to take the initiative to help and facilitate work for everyone I work with. I think my mentor and the other hygienists did not constantly have to ask for help because I was always willing to assist with any tasks.6. Describe one of your personal characteristics that had an impact on your intership and the people you intended with.
Jennie Velez 