Student perspectives
Dental Learning Hub spoke with Monica Vallejo and Juan Velasco, dental students from the Complutense University in Madrid, Spain, about their studies and aspirations for the future.
Name: Mónica Zafra Vallejo
University: Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
Year of Study: 5th
Age: 22
Extracurricular interests: Any sport: Horse riding, skiing, playing tennis, skating, playing volleyball. I also like reading, listening to music. And I wish I could play the guitar very well someday. I like travelling very much because to know other cultures and other places are ones of my favourite interests.
Why did you choose to study dentistry?
Since an early age, I have demonstrated enthusiasm for all the careers in relation to human health. When I finished school I was not sure if I would like to study medicine or dentistry. Finally, I chose the second one and If I will have to choose again, I strongly believe that I´ll choose the same option. Apart of the career´s contents, I like so much the diary interpersonal relationship you can establish with the patients.
What is your favourite subject in dentistry?
Honestly, I like every subject in dentistry. However, Implantology and Perio-Prosthetic are my favourites.
What do you enjoy most about dentistry?
The personal satisfaction of knowing that you are helping people to solve oral health problems. Also I like the kind of manual and precise way to work, and it´s something you can practise every day in our career.
What do you hope to achieve in your career as a dentist?
To achieve a correct formation with the aim of being a professional competent and, of course, to work as long as necessary in a profession with I adore.
Would you study further?
Yes, I finish in June and next year I would like to continue studying in a post-graduate programme. I´m not sure if I would like to do it in Spain or in a country like the United States, or in both. But I´ll do it because, personally, I think that in dentistry the acquisition of knowledge is an ongoing process.
What are the challenges of practicing dentistry in your country?
From my point of view, there is a lot of competitiveness because of the number of dentists. In Spain, specifically in Madrid, there are too many dental schools, which means that every year a lot of students (particularly from the private universities) are looking for work in a place full of dentists.
Name: Juan Francisco Agudo Velasco
University: Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
Year of Study: 5th
Age: 23
Extracurricular interests: I like sport (football, tennis, skiing) and cinema, theatre and travelling around the world.
Why did you choose to study dentistry?
I like health science, in fact I wanted to study medicine at first. When I was a child I always dreamt I was a doctor and saved lives. But when I finished school, I decided dentistry was a fantastic career and I didn´t have to study for so many years.
What is your favourite subject in dentistry?
I enjoy general dentistry and oral surgery.
What do you enjoy most about dentistry?
Clinical activities with patients is the best for me. I like talking with patients to enquire about their problems and to know what to do in each case.
What do you hope to achieve in your career as a dentist?
I hope I´ll become a great dentist. There are a lot of dentists in the world, but I want to be one of the best.
Would you study further?
I would like to study further in the United States. I was there last October and it was amazing. I think I would learn a lot there. But I love Spain and going away would be a bit difficult for me.
What are the challenges in practicing dentistry in your country?
Improving professional skills in general dentistry, developing new specialities like oral surgery and orthodontics, and improving research on implantology, aesthetic and preventive dentistry.
send your comments and questions to editorial@dental-learninghub.com
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