ASDA Buffalo Participates in Summer STEP Program

By Elizabeth Stanko, Class of 2017

The Medical STEP program runs year-round and promotes the entry of historically underrepresented high school students into scientific and health-related careers. UB Dental offered to host a group of these students over the summer to give them a broader perspective of dentistry. The seven students held a broad range of potential career interests, ranging from computer game design to oncology. We coordinated a schedule to try and touch on everyone’s interests, uniting them under the umbrella of dentistry (which sometimes proved tricky)!

The summer program held three main components—dental activities, research, and outreach. SDM faculty and students were fantastic in helping. Faculty members provided interactive presentations, students assisted with hands-on experimental learning activities (i.e. plaque disclosure in the pedo clinic, waxing teeth, suturing), and student researchers presented their topics. Wednesdays were spent participating in Mayor Byron Brown’s Clean Sweeps, which motivated the students to organize an event at Hutch Tech High School to educate ROTC students on oral health.

Thank you to Debbie Licata, Jackie DiMartino, Dr. Dian, Renee Mapp, Dr. Meyer, Dr. Schifferle, Dr. Miller, Peter Bush, Tracey Fest, Dr. Severin, Roger and the B28 crew, Dr. Shibly, Dr. Thompson, Cindy Flowers, Dr. Cohan, Adam Underwood, Rachel Ducey, Allison Manly, Megan Messer, Jordan Telin, Kevin Kurtzner, Vinny Aquino, Andrew Trooien, and Adam Gregor for making the program such a positive experience!