Dentistry academics do their Supervised Internship in Family Clinic

Supervised internship plays a fundamental role in the formation of any academic, providing a unique opportunity for practical learning and to connect with their future profession. For Dentistry students of the University of Rio Verde, the contact with the practical field starts as soon as the first period in the course.

With two Dentistry School Clinics, UniRV stands out by offering free services to the community. Trying to widen the field of work of the future professionals and guaranteeing they experience the realities of the public health system, 6th period students (full-time) and 9th period (nighttime) have also done the Supervised Internship at the Family Clinic. Academics used the theoretical knowledges gained in the classroom in a real clinical environment, under the guidance of a dentist, getting, thus, the opportunity of experiencing the challenges and specificities of dentistry.

Dentistry alumna, Paola Gomes, know of the importance of this stage. Today, working as a general dentist at the Valdeci Pires Family Clinic and supervising the work academics do once a week in her office, the dentist highlights that one of the main advantages of the supervised internship is the possibility that academics get familiarized with the real community demands and understand the importance of access to oral health: “It is very rewarding to welcome students, for, while attending patients from the public health system, dentistry students are able to deal with several cases, including more complex situations and patients with different treatment necessities.”

According to professor Ms. Giovanna Chaves Souza Borges, the Supervised Internship allows academics to develop interpersonal skills, learn to establish trustful relationships with patients by explaining procedures clearly and passing on relevant information to keeping good oral health. “In Family Clinics they meet a new area of work. Academics have the chance to interact with other health professionals in a multidisciplinary way, allowing for knowledge exchange.”

Currently, students do procedures in the Units of the following neighborhoods: Gameleira, São Tomaz, Promissão, Laranjeiras and Valdeci Pires. The subject, taught by professors Ms. Robert Rodrigues do Espírito Santo, Ms. Giovanna Chaves Souza Borges and by Fabiana Simões Proto do Nascimento, has 34 academics that carry out the internship for six months.

A student in the ninth period, Renato Oliveira de Freitas, comments euphorically, about the work he develops and emphasizes that the subject helps in comprehending the needs of the population and creating a social consciousness. “This is an enriching experience that prepares us to face the challenges of practicing dentistry, guaranteeing quality services and promoting oral health in a wider perspective.”

Trying to secure the population’s access to medication, beginning with the correct promotion of their use and guaranteeing the wholeness of care, the units in Rio Verde have their own pharmacy. To the Valdeci Pires UBS manager, Mirtenes Costa, offering pharmaceutical assistance to patients is fundamental for every process and recommendation be respected. “We have a pharmacy that is at our disposal to help the population with medication and this, without a doubt, contributes to the strengthening of the public health system,” comments the nurse.

“Academics that go through the Supervised Internship are about to graduate. This is an experience that, apart from preparing future professionals to the marketplace, it makes them have a wider view of their work”, comments the Rector, professor Alberto Barella.