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Predoctoral Course Catalog

DENTSL 550

Second Year RUOP (Rural & Under-served Opportunities Program) Selective

Course Director: Rachel Greene & Mary Smith
Credits: 6
Quarters/Yr of Program: Summer / 2

Course Overview

The Rural/Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) is a service-learning clinical rotation for second-year predoctoral dental students. It provides students with early exposure to the challenges and rewards of practicing dentistry in rural and/or underserved settings. Students practice oral-health-care delivery in these clinics and communities, identify barriers to care, and serve diverse populations to enable the further development of cultural competence. The course includes an online component of weekly assignments and discussions that support the clinical experience.

Learning Objectives

The student who successfully completes this course will be able to:

1. Identify oral health needs unique to rural and/or underserved communities and associated barriers to dental treatment.
2. Identify the challenges in providing care to patients in rural and/or underserved communities.
3. Practice basic dental procedures.
4. Demonstrate basic dental assisting functions.
5. Demonstrate effective four-handed instrument exchange.
6. Describe the operations of a community health clinic.
7. Identify leadership opportunities that could influence the provision of care for patients in rural and/or underserved communities.

UWSOD Competencies: C-01, C-05, C-07, C-19, CE-01, CE-06

Date last updated: 2023-08-09