SIU SDM Hosts Third Annual Dentistry Day BESt Healthcare Institute 2026 Summer Program

SIU SDM Hosts Third Annual Dentistry Day BESt Healthcare Institute 2026 Summer Program

On June 25, Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) hosted the third annual Dentistry Day for student participants in the BESt Healthcare Institute 2026 Summer Program. The Institute is a four-week STEM-based intensive designed to spark high school students' interest in related careers and create a pipeline of well-prepared candidates for careers in healthcare, as well as lives of service, leadership and community impact. SIU SDM Dean Saulius Drukteinis, DMD, MS, PhD, welcomed the students to campus.

"We are thrilled each year to have students considering careers in the health professions visit our SIU School of Dental Medicine campus in Alton. It helps to get the word out about the advantages of a career in dentistry and to guide students in understanding clear pathways to success," said Dean Drukteinis.

Student participants spent the day on the Alton campus immersed in dental practice through interactive presentations, mini-lectures, lunch, a campus tour, a student discussion panel and hands-on preclinical exercises in the School's John and Anna Markarian Simulation Lab. Students grabbed their tools and Bunsen burners and filled cavities.

Here is a sample of just a few reactions that brought many smiles.

"I appreciated the hands-on activities and tour, as well as the student panel with genuine and honest advice. Unique, one-of-a-kind experience!"

"All of the instructors and dentistry students were so nice and engaging, and the hands-on activities were incredibly interesting and fun."

"I really enjoyed the sense of community that was portrayed from every dental faculty and students. I had so much learning about specific insights from different specialties in dentistry."

"Making the molds for the teeth was my favorite part."

"I enjoyed the hands-on activities we did in the lab and I learned a lot about dentistry that I never would have before. Now I'm thinking it might not be that bad."

"I really enjoyed it and it motivated me to seek a dental pathway for a profession. This was amazing!!!"

Earlier in the year on June 10 the SIU SDM Chapter of the Hispanic Dental Association participated in a similar pathway program including also interactive presentations, panels and hands-on learning at the High School Hispanic Leadership Institute by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Saint Louis. Eight SIU SDM dental students and their faculty member spent the day with more than 30 high school students.

"At SIU School of Dental Medicine, we believe that expanding awareness of oral health careers begins long before students apply to college," said Nathalia Garcia, DDS, MS, Assistant Dean for Career Development at SIU SDM. "Through our collaborations with programs like the BESt Healthcare Institute and the Hispanic Leadership Institute, we are creating meaningful opportunities for high school students from diverse backgrounds to explore dentistry through mentorship, hands-on experiences, and personal connections with our faculty and students. We hope these experiences inspire the next generation of oral health professionals and help build a workforce that reflects and serves the diverse communities we care for."

The SIU SMD collaboration with BESt Healthcare Summer Institute was established to encourage dentistry as a career path within the healthcare professions. The partnership aims to offer high school students with essential resources and mentorship, fostering their interest in and pursuit of dental careers.

The SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) students, residents, faculty and staff manage approximately 30,000 patient visits each year at its patient clinics in Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville. These patient care experiences provide students, residents and fellows with the training they need to graduate and become highly skilled dentists and specialists. The School of Dental Medicine is a vital oral health care provider for dental patients in southern and central Illinois, as well as the St. Louis metropolitan region. SIU SDM provides a dental home for approximately 10,000 active patients in any given year.

Photos by Howard Ash