World

UB Dental Program aims to Increase the Number of Native American Dentists

Published

4 years ago

July 11, 2019

Not many Native American Students study dentistry. And it is becoming a growing concern. This year 10,500 students applied to attend dental school in the United States. And only 16 of those were Native Americans according to the American Dental Education Association.

An initiative to increase the number of students studying dentistry called the NAPD Student Gateway Program was started by two institutions. And the Native American Pre Dental Student Gateway is taken by the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and Seneca Nation Health System. It aims to reduce the disparity by introducing the Native American students to Dentistry.

Joseph Salamon is the DDS, program director, dental services director for Seneca Nation Health Services and also the clinical instructor in the UB school of Dental Medicine. And he said – “Simply, put there are not enough Native American students pursuing a career in dentistry.”

He also added- “The program seeks to encourage and enhance Native American application to dental school through exposure to various aspects of professional dental education with the goal of diversifying the pre dental application pool and extending educational opportunity to the historically underrepresented Native American Community.”

According to Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, such programs help in lifting the number of native dentists. This program gives many students a week long internship, where they practice various disciplines and specialities within the dental profession. This program is in second year now. And this year it took place from June 24 to June 28. Many Students took crash courses in dentistry and learnt clinical techniques.

Not just that, they also participated in oral surgery boot camp and toured local health care product manufacturers. And the interested students also received guidance from current dental students.

The program was effective this year because it attracted Native American students. And it drew 5 students from Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

“This Program is a unique dental school pipeline in the United States. Reaching out to Native American communities not only enhances the diversity of our student body, but also expands the number of caregivers sensitive to the unique oral health issues amongst this community.”- . And it is what Stephen Abel, DDS, associate dean for student, community and professional initiatives in the UB School of Dental Medicine said.

World

Top Road Trip Destinations in Canada

Published

2 months ago

April 16, 2023

Jenny Jackson

Did you know that 1.93 million Americans traveled to Canada in 2020? That number was down year-over-year due to COVID-related travel restrictions.

While some Americans visit the Great White North via plane, others prefer road trips. It can be fun to plan an itinerary, book a hotel, pack the luggage, load your family into the car, and head to the border. But if a road trip to Canada is in the plans for you and yours this summer, what Canadian destinations are worth the potentially thousands of miles of driving? Keep reading to learn about the top road trip destinations in Canada.

Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan

Grasslands National Park is one of Canada’s 44 national parks and park reserves. Whether you’re an earlier bird or a night owl, the national park in Southern Saskatchewan provides an ideal prairie landscape. It’s the perfect place to unwind, immerse yourself in nature, and recalibrate your life.

Enjoy the great outdoors on a campsite, or take part in hiking adventures by exploring trails. The solitude and breathtaking beauty of this national park will leave you in awe. Make time for the Ecotour Scenic Drive. It’s about 20 km (around 12.5 miles) long and will take one to three hours to complete depending on your pace.

Toronto to Stratford, Ontario

If there’s one Canadian city most Americans have heard of, it’s Toronto. Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is the fourth largest city on the continent. It’s also home to the only authentic castle in North America. Casa Loma, located in midtown Toronto, is worth the visit. So, too, is the CN Tower, which is the biggest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. The city also has citizens representing 200+ ethnic groups.

While there’s plenty to see and do in Toronto, why stop there? It’s a good idea to include a Toronto-to-Stratford excursion while on your road trip to Canada. You must travel 150 km (about 93 miles ) west to get to Stratford. You’ll see Victorian architecture and get to take in the live theater. Most Americans probably haven’t heard of Stratford before. But when you come for a visit, there’s a good possibility you won’t ever forget it.

North Cape Coastal Drive, Prince Edward Island

If you haven’t ever taken a road trip to Prince Edward Island, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s Canada’s smallest province, but it sure offers a boatload of fun. Are you a foodie or do you like to indulge in the local cuisine when traveling? Check out the western peninsula. You can delight your tastebuds with the range of food available.

Make time to visit the Canadian Potato Museum in the province. After taking in the sites and attractions at the museum, enjoy a meal at the onsite PEI Potato Country Kitchen. The menu has items like the chili topped baked potato, which features a baked potato, homemade chili, and cheese. Meanwhile, the pulled pork potato features a baked potato topped with pulled pork, cheese, and sour cream on the side. That’s just a sampling, and all baked potato dishes are served with fresh-cut, homemade chips.

If you’re intersted in a U.S. to Canada road trip this year, the options above will give you some ideas. The sky’s the limit since there’s so much to see and do.

You’ll want to ensure your vehicle is in good working order to avoid breakdowns. You’ll also want to stay alert on the road since you’ll be traveling a lot of miles and spending hours behind the wheel of your car.

If you get into an accident, you must know what to do. In addition to reporting the accident, calling your insurer, and possibly even booking a rental car to complete your road trip, you’ll want to contact a personal injury lawyer if anyone is injured.

No one wants to consider accidents or injuries when on a road trip. But it’s best to hope for the best while being prepared for the worst. You’ll enjoy the journey and the destination a lot more when you’ve done everything possible to prepare for any possible issues.