BAHEC Program Students Explore Science and Dental Careers at GSDM

This summer, the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine participated in the Boston Area Health Education Center (BAHEC) summer enrichment program. High school students from throughout Boston came to GSDM for presentations, discussions, and hands-on experiences in science and health. The BAHEC program fosters youth excitement and knowledge about careers in health, with a long-term aim towards addressing health career disparities.

BAHEC students attended five electives at GSDM on Monday afternoons from July 10^th to August 7^th. The electives primarily focused on presentation and communication skills. At the July 17^th session, Kendrick Smaellie and Afaf Hourani presented on saliva and its role in oral health, including a caries risk assessment. Students tested their saliva with pH indicator strips and assessed their caries risk. On other days of the week, BAHEC students attended other courses, field placements, and field trips.

On Thursday, August 3^rd, the BAHEC students went to field placement in collaboration with the Population Health and Research office. The field placement gave the students hands-on experiences, including the opportunity to take alginate impressions and use dental stone. They also learned about the risk of caries via pH levels of high sugar and low sugar beverages.

BAHEC students from across institutions participated in the [BAHEC Career Expo] at Boston University on July 14^th. The BAHEC program concluded on August 17^th with a Closing Ceremony.

BAHEC is part of the Massachusetts Area Health Education Center (MassAHEC) Network, a statewide system to address health disparities with a focus on workforce development. BAHEC works with a number of partner institutions, including Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health, and Boston Children’s Hospital. Students in the program are in high school and come from under-served areas of Boston. BAHEC also offers in-school academic year programs and after-school programs.