New mentorship
scheme launched
 A dental mentorship programme co-organised by the HKU Dental Alumni Association (HKUDAA) and the HKU Faculty of Dentistry was officially launched on 25 February 2011.
Throughout this year, local dentists will mentor pairs of second-year undergraduates through meetings and visits to mentors' dental practices. Although several pilot mentorship schemes have taken place previously, the Mentorship Programme 2010-2011 is the first involving a whole student year-cohort, thanks to increased knowledge exchange (KE) efforts and impetus from 2010 being the HKUDAA's 25th anniversary.
"When the HKUDAA turned 25, the Dean proposed mentoring to mark the occasion. We're very grateful to the Dean, Deanery, and Knowledge Transfer Unit for their help, as well as Listerine (Johnson & Johnson) for supporting the scheme with a KE Grant," says HKUDAA President Dr Michael SF Mui. "By sharing professional knowledge and providing support to mentees, dentist-mentors will be able to add another dimension of learning for BDS students, while strengthening bonds between alumni and our alma mater."
Dean Samaranayake agrees, adding, 'The timing of the mentorship scheme is special, not only because of the HKUDAA silver jubilee and HKU Centenary, but also because our BDS II students have just finished their BDS Clinical Induction Programme and are ready to receive public patients under the supervision of their clinical instructors. Having access to real dentists at this time will be invaluable to their learning experience at the Faculty."
Following welcome addresses given by the Dean, HKUDAA President, and mentors Dr WIlliam Cheung and Dr Derek Baram, mentors and mentees paired up, exchanged contact details, and competed in an ice-breaker quiz about Faculty staff, which can be downloaded here.
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