Cross-national clerkships and cross-cultural training in the predoctoral dental curriculum: A multidisciplinary global health initiative

A unique cross-national predoctoral exchange has been launched by the "Global Health Initiative" of two dental schools. The US-Bulgarian model provides for multidisciplinary partnerships with foreign schools in key geographical regions as a strategy to improve global healthcare. Objectives are achieved through education, direct patient care, and humanitarian service to underserved populations in community clinics in each other's country. Cultural competence training ensures that graduates have interpersonal/communication skills to manage diverse patient populations and function successfully in a multicultural work environment. Graduating dentists who are community-oriented members of a culturally competent healthcare workforce can improve patient-provider communication and access to care among disparate groups both domestically and abroad. The cross-national clerkship is coordinated with government and non-government partners to abate potential harms of traditional volunteering providing short-term clinical treatment. The semester-long service-learning program allows students to use their clinical skills in real-life situations, while fostering civic responsibility in explicit partnership with the community. Exposing students to social, environmental and cultural influences that affect health and disease, increases understanding of cultural attitudes towards oral health and the doctor-patient relationship students can carry into practice back home. Team-oriented outreach also provides valuable professional exchanges, where faculty and students can discuss emerging issues and learn from their global colleagues about healthcare barriers faced by disparate groups. The curriculum aims to reduce healthcare disparities, both domestically and abroad, and encourages students to treat underserved communities after graduation. Cross-national clerkships teach students about philanthropy and volunteerism, while learning to serve each other despite their diversity.