The article was originally published by Allen Sara on his site, Dental Veterans. Allen is a former army infantryman who is now studying dentistry at the University of Michigan.
Dentistry and other health care professions (medical school, nursing, physician assistants and nurse practitioners) are typically not at the top of the list when active duty service members look to transition out of the military. But these career paths can provide great options for veterans who want to continue to serve their community.
According to the US News and World Report, 4 of the top 5 “Best 100 Jobs” are in the medical profession. These health professions offer high quality of life, rewarding work, and a flexible lifestyle.
And these professions need veterans within their ranks.
Veteran attributes can help in studies
Dentistry and other healthcare professions are the ideal paths for veterans following their military service. There are simple traits and basic life skills that are second nature to veterans:
- Always carrying a pen (needed a lot in healthcare!)
- Being on time to class
- Respecting faculty in positions of authority
These attributes can initially set you apart from the traditional 22-24-year-old dental student.
Dental school is without question the most demanding academic experience most will encounter. The volume and complexity of the curriculum are challenging for the highest achieving students. Generally speaking, very few dental students are prepared for this. As a result, clinical and academic setbacks are inevitable.
But veterans can excel in this environment of stress and adversity. Time spent in challenging situations and stressful environments can prepare veterans for success as dental students.
Continue to serve in dentistry
More importantly, the profession of dentistry needs more veterans!
Purpose, service, and a sense of community is something that every transitioning veteran struggles with after the military. Dentistry is a profession well-suited to address these issues.
Medical literacy is an issue specifically in the dental community. Healthcare has a lot of technical jargon and big words, and most people don’t always know what they are being told.
Interpersonal and communication skills developed during military service allow the provider to effectively communicate with patients. Treatment plans can be complex and it’s helpful to have some who can translate the technical details into something an average person can understand. Veterans are often well-suited for this task.
Benefits and educational entitlements earned through military service can allow veterans to complete a professional education like dental school for a fraction of the price or FREE! The Post 9-11 GI Bill, VA Vocational Rehabilitation (learn more here) and the Military HPSP scholarships can make school an affordable option for veterans.
With student loans hovering around $300K for the average dental student this allows graduates to provide quality care to patients without the stress of student loans. This increases the quality of care of the patient and decreases the stress of the dentists.
Make the community healthier
With living veterans from major conflicts dating back to the 1940’s the veteran community is continually growing. Unfortunately so is the void in veteran health care. Veteran dentists have an obligation to take care of their fellow vets.
Dental anxiety and finances are some of the major contributing factors that prevent people from seeking dental treatment. This causes patients to end up in the emergency room for something that could have easily been prevented with simple dental treatment. By increasing the number of veteran dentists in the profession I believe that we can bridge the gap, relate to veteran patients, and ensure their oral healthcare needs are met.
If you are able to help just five to ten veterans per week/month/year we are doing a great service to the community and improving their comprehensive oral and systemic health.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
Related:
Military to Medical School: Ralph Bogan