Community Based Dental Education (CBDE)
Our programs aim to provide students with community-based experiences, particularly in clinics located in underserved communities. If you are interested in hosting students as part of our Community Based Dental Education course, please contact Gina Diakonov at diakonga@udmercy.edu or 313-494-6962.
Why CBDE is good for the student:
- Cultivates a positive attitude in caring for underserved populations
- Improves confidence by interacting with a diverse group of patients
- Develops a provider who is able to reflect on the oral health needs of a community being served
- Advances clinical skills by treating patients in busy patient-oriented facility
Why CBDE is good for the community:
- Addresses the access to care issues for the population served
- Increases the proportion of children, adolescents and adults who use the oral health care system, annually
- Fosters better trust and effective communication regarding oral health within the community
- Exposes students to careers in a safety net health center
- Helps to achieve objectives set by Healthy People 2020
Partner Clinics
All of our partnering clinics are located throughout Michigan.
Baldwin Family Health Care
- Baldwin
- Cadillac
- Grant
- White Cloud
Cherry Street Health
- Grand Rapids
Hamilton Community Health Network
- Flint
Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Dental Clinic
- Kalamazoo
My Community Dental Centers Inc.
- Cheboygan
- Gaylord
- East Jordan
- Mancelona
- St. Johns