Översikt
- Shadow experienced dentists in clinics and health centres and learn from observing them. This is a great opportunity to get insight into how dentistry is practiced in a developing country.
- In Mexico, many disadvantaged communities lack access to basic medical and dental services. You’ll do dental outreaches in these communities, and give back while gaining practical experience.
- You’ll be based in the city of Guadalajara. With scenic surroundings and a bustling city centre, it’s the perfect setting to experience life in Mexico.
Startdatum:
När som helst
Se datumMinimitid:
En vecka
Ålder:
18 eller över
You need to speak basic Spanish.
Is a Dentistry internship in Mexico right for me?
Our Dentistry internship in Mexico is perfect for anyone interested in a career in dentistry. It will give you relevant experience to draw on when you apply to study. If you’re already studying, you can seize the opportunity to build on your practical dental knowledge.
You can use this experience to add work experience to your CV, and it will give you a lot to talk about in interviews. Talk about what you saw and learned, and how you overcame any challenges you faced. You’ll also have a deeper insight into the healthcare challenges people face in developing countries.
You don’t need any previous experience to join. You'll have a supervisor to guide you, and you can reach out to Projects Abroad staff anytime you need to. You can find out whether dentistry is the right career for you by getting first-hand experience of what the day-to-day life of a dentist is like.
However, you do need to be at least 18 years old to join. You’ll also need to speak basic Spanish.
This project runs throughout the year. You can join at any time of year for a minimum of two weeks. We encourage you to stay longer so you can see and learn more.
What will I do at my dentistry placement in Mexico?
You’ll work in a dental clinic or healthcare centre. In both placements, there are plenty of ways you can learn and gain experience. These are some of your main tasks:
- Shadow and observe local dentistry staff and experience their daily routine
- Assist with minor tasks like patient screenings and preparing instruments for procedures
- Conduct community outreaches and raise awareness of the importance of oral hygiene
Your work will focus on these areas:
Observe professional dentists
The majority of your internship will be spent shadowing dentists in a dental clinic or healthcare centre. You’ll get to observe patients being screened, sit in on consultations, and observe procedures. These procedures include teeth extractions and tooth cavity cleaning.
You may also be able to observe more complex procedures, like endodontics procedures and maxillofacial surgeries. You will be permitted to enter the operating room to observe.
Assist dentistry staff
You’ll also have the chance to assist with minor tasks. This will include helping prepare instruments and equipment, and giving patients information about oral hygiene.
Community outreaches
You can also raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene during outreaches in schools and around the community. You’ll give talks on how to brush teeth correctly and you can make oral hygiene posters to hang on classroom walls. This will give students a visual reminder about why they need to care for their teeth.
Where in Mexico will I work?
Guadalajara
This internship is located in Guadalajara, a traditional city filled with leafy boulevards and winding cobblestone streets. It has a busy city centre, with buzzing street life and a great culinary scene. But there are also more rural communities on the outskirts where a lot of our outreach work is focused.
You will gain dentistry work experience in Mexico, at a dental clinic or healthcare centre. The facilities in Mexico are well equipped, and it will be a good opportunity to see how dentists work in developing countries.
What is a typical day at a dentistry placement in Mexico like?
On a typical day, you’ll wake up and enjoy a tasty breakfast with your host family. You’ll use public transport to get to your placement. On your first day, our staff will show you the easiest way to get there.
Your work day will run from 8am until 1pm, Monday to Friday. You’ll have your weekends free.
You will usually shadow the dentists in consultations and occasionally on easy procedures, depending on what is scheduled for the day.
Once a month (depending on the overall number of interns) you’ll go out into a rural community to help at outreaches or raise awareness about dental care.
In the evenings, you can spend time exploring local markets or visiting the string of culinary establishments in the city centre. Or you could spend time with your host family to get to know them better, and fully immerse yourself in their way of life.
What are the aims and impact of this project?
The aim of this project is to give you the chance to learn more about dentistry first-hand. You’ll learn directly from dentists, and they’ll teach you how to diagnose and treat the conditions you see. We encourage you to ask questions and take notes to make the most of your internship.
In Mexico, many of the disadvantaged communities we work with have little or no access to basic healthcare or dental services. Either they can’t afford to pay for treatment, or they have no means to travel to a clinic. You will be part of our efforts to overcome this by participating in outreach work.
Your main role during outreaches will be to help raise awareness about the importance of dental hygiene. By teaching local community members the ins and outs of dental care, you’ll help with preventing tooth decay and gum disease.
To make sure we’re always working towards a long-term vision, we’ve outlined several goals in our Medical Management Plan:
- Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
- Promote awareness of non-communicable diseases
- Improve hygiene standards
- Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients
- Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge
Join a Dentistry internship in Mexico and help us work towards these goals.
Medical electives for students
This project is also perfect for university medical and healthcare elective students. The real-world insight and knowledge you gain will help shape you as a future medical professional. You will also learn to work with different people and get a broader perspective of global healthcare systems and issues. This benefits your career for years to come. We can organise a placement that meets all of your university's requirements.
Projekthandlingsplaner
Vi har utarbetat långsiktiga mål för våra projekt och dokumenterat målen i våra projekthandlingsplaner. Våra projekthandlingsplaner används också för att planera ditt arbete. Tack vare våra projekthandlingsplaner kan du vara säker på att du arbetar mot ett långsiktigt mål och vi kan kontinuerligt utvärdera och förbättra vårt arbete. Våra projekthandlingsplaner säkerställer att vi gör en verklig skillnad.
Läs mer om våra projekthandlingsplaner.
Vi mäter resultatet av vårt arbete varje år
Vi arbetar mot långsiktigt mål med årliga delmål. Varje volontär och praktikant som deltar på ett av våra projekt hjälper oss att nå dessa långsiktiga mål. På så sätt kan även de som volontärarbetar eller praktiserar en kortare tid göra verklig skillnad. Varje person bygger på arbetet som tidigare volontärer och praktikanter gjort. Varje år utvärderar vi resultatet av vårt arbete. Du kan hitta en sammanställning av vad vi uppnått under året i vår Global Impact Report.
För mer information om vilken insats våra volontärer, praktikanter och personal gjort under året, läs vår senaste rapport.
Mat och boende
Du kommer bo hos en värdfamilj i Guadalajara. Din värdfamilj kommer välkomna dig som en familjemedlem till deras hem. De kommer lära dig mer om deras traditioner och om den lokala kulturen. Vi tror att det här är det bästa sättet att verkligen lära känna kulturen i ett nytt land. Du kommer få en unik upplevelse av Mexiko.
Vi försöker alltid placera dig så att du bor med en annan Projects Abroad volontär eller praktikant. Ditt rum kommer vara enkelt men bekvämt, rent och säkert.
Din projektavgift inkluderar tre måltider om dagen.
Läs mer om våra boenden.
Fritidsaktiviteter när du är ledig
Du kommer ha massor av roliga saker att välja mellan på din fritid i Mexiko. Med sina vackra stränder, fängslande konstgallerier och livliga restauranger har Mexiko något för alla.
Det är något speciellt med att gå på rundtur i gamla byggnader. Om du gillar neo-gotisk arkitektur, ta tillvara på din tid i Mexiko och åk på en resa till Templo Expiatorio del Santisisimo Sacramento. Katedralen är ett sant konstverk med sina snirkliga kyrkspiror och glimmande färggranna glasfönster. Det finns också många museum vilket gör att du kan lära dig mer om Mexikos fascinerande historia.
Vill du göra något helt annorlunda? Varför inte tillbringa en dag i den lummiga växtligheten i Las Peñas Ecological Park och spana efter vilda djur.
Ingen resa till Mexiko är komplett innan du smakat på mängder av goda mexikanska rätter. Tillbringa dina kvällar med att njuta av pozole eller tamales på en lokal restaurang, samtidigt som du ser solen gå ner över horisonten.
Vi har många volontärer som åker till Mexiko, så du kommer garanterat lära känna nya vänner och reskompisar. Det gör att du kan välja att utforska Mexiko självständigt eller i grupp.
Säkerhet och personalstöd
Din säkerhet är vår första prioritet. Vi har många processer och system på plats för att se till att du har all hjälp och support som du behöver. För oss är det viktigt att du ska känna dig trygg när du reser med oss. Vår egen Projects Abroad personal finns tillgänglig för hjälp och stöd 24h om dygnet. De kommer se till att du trivs i ditt boende och känner dig hemma på din projektplacering. Om du skulle stöta på något problem, finns vår personal alltid där för att hjälpa dig.
Läs mer om support och säkerhet.
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