Career and Post-Graduate Development
Elizabeth Wolosin
Class Year
Majors
Internship Location
Overview
Elizabeth plans to pursue a career as a dentist after Ursinus. She wanted to shadow her own dentist to both solidify her decision to pursue dentistry and to see what it’s like on the other side of the chair. Because she’s interested in all things biology, she felt that having the hands-on experience would confirm that dentistry is the field for her, as opposed to medicine. Some of her tasks throughout her internship were preparing rooms for patients, helping to create dental molds and whitening trays, and reproducing teeth with a wax model. She even got the opportunity to visit labs where they make retainers, veneers, dentures, and Invisalign. Her goal was to get some real-world experiences in the dental field and after her internship, she was successful and feels confident that dentistry is right for her.
Skills Utilized
Having great communication skills was important for Elizabeth because she consistently met with the staff and patients. She also needed sculpting skills to create teeth with wax, which additionally required keen hand-eye coordination.
Who I Met that Made a Difference
Everyone at the office made a really positive influence on Elizabeth throughout her internship. They all welcomed her with open arms and were prepared to assist her not only with office duties, but also career preparation.
Future Implications
Elizabeth’s internship was a great way for her to enter into the field. She now has valuable connections and knowledge that she didn’t have before. The experience also proved to her that dentistry is the right field for her.
The Coolest Part of the Experience
Elizabeth’s favorite part of her internship was being able to observe wisdom teeth removal. She was amazed at how quickly and precisely the surgeon executed the surgery. She also loved being able to see the improvement of a patient with decaying teeth end up with a beautiful smile and healthy teeth.
Advice
“My advice to those pursuing an internship is to identify an area of interest that has some meaning or piques their curiosity.”