The COVID-19 pandemic presented some challenges for Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS) to offer its regular camps for teens. But an unexpected grant through the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation and the RBC Foundation provided the perfect opportunity to connect with African Nova Scotian high school students who are interested in careers in the health professions.
For Sarah Upshaw, the program manager of , it was a great opportunity, although it meant creating a 14-week program at short notice. She worked with the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health to hold sessions on many different health professions, together with information about applying to university, scholarships, and financial literacy.
鈥淚 wanted to provide a meaningful experience for the students and make the best use of the funds I had for the program,鈥� says Upshaw.
Students in the co-op program at five local high schools provided the ideal audience for the new PLANS program. They were already enrolled in a co-op program, 80 hours of which was allocated to a placement. But because of COVID-19, traditional placements for co-op students interested in the health professions 鈥� such as in hospitals and nursing homes 鈥� were not available. The PLANS program helped to fill this gap.
What oral health professionals do
At the end of January, 10 Grade 11 and 12 students filed into a conference room at the Zatzman Sportsplex to listen as Cynthia Andrews, Heather Doucette, faculty members in the Faculty of Dentistry and School of Dental Hygiene, respectively, and Juliette Thomas, a dental assistant and the co-ordinator of the North Preston Dental Clinic, explained the roles of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. Second-year dental hygiene student Jennifer Johnson was also there to answer questions from a student perspective.
Dr. Andrews and Prof. Doucette talked about the educational requirements of their respective programs. They also gave a mini lesson on nutrition and what causes plaque and the problems it can cause. Juliette Thomas set out the responsibilities of her role at the North Preston Dental Clinic as both a dental assistant and the administrator of the clinic.
Prof. Doucette explained why it is important for more African Nova Scotian students to enter the oral health-care professions. 鈥淲e need more African Nova Scotians in the various health professions. It鈥檚 important to increase diversity in health care. Patients feel more comfortable with health-care providers who they can relate to and who may better understand particular barriers to care that they face.鈥�
Jennifer Johnson fielded questions from students who asked about the workload and the types of activities she was involved in. 鈥淵ou have an eight-to-five day, plus studying in the evenings,鈥� Jennifer told those gathered. 鈥淭hen in s