• Student Corner
• Expressions Winter 2024

Students as Partners

Peer mentors bridge transition from theory to practice

Students receive letters of appreciation for mentoring their junior peers.
Back row from left: Erika Shek, Jaye Chan, Rowenna Yue, Hailey Wong, Candy Ng, Professor Michael Botelho
Front row from left: Peter Fong, Benjamin Shu, Airis Mok, Hins Lei.

Senior Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students at the HKU Faculty of Dentistry have set a commendable example of generosity and collegiality by offering to mentor year 3 students during their progression from theoretical studies and simulations to hands-on clinical practice and patient care.

Recognising the need for better preparation for clinic orientation and clinical skills training in the third year of dental studies, a dedicated group of 33 senior BDS students worked together to arrange a mentorship programme for BDS 3 students. The mentors provided moral and practical support as the BDS 3 students encountered the new and unfamiliar challenges of clinical practice, making the transition smoother and more manageable.

This successful collaboration exemplifies the concept of ‘students as partners’, demonstrating a commitment to facilitating colleagues’ growth and development. We encourage more student mentors to volunteer and repeat the scheme in the future.

By sharing their time, enthusiasm, and hard-earned knowledge, the senior students not only helped their junior counterparts gain confidence to navigate the complexities of the clinical environment, but also fostered a spirit of camaraderie and community. As one of the peer mentors stated, “We faced many challenges as dental students when entering clinical training. A mentorship programme to support our junior peers has been incredibly beneficial to them.”

Under the supervision of Professor Michael Botelho, Clinical Professor in Prosthodontics and Assistant Dean for Student Wellness, the inaugural peer mentorship scheme lasted from September 2023 to July 2024. “Despite their demanding schedules, our senior dental students were eager to share their experiences, enabling their junior peers to better prepare for their clinical training,” said Professor Botelho. “This successful collaboration exemplifies the concept of ‘students as partners’, demonstrating a commitment to facilitating colleagues’ growth and development. We encourage more student mentors to volunteer and repeat the scheme in the future.”