Dental Adventures Abroad: 2025 International Externship Exchange Program Students Share Their Worldly Experiences
Fifteen students from the DMD Class of 2026 traveled across the globe to gain international dental perspectives during the 2025 GSDM International Externship Exchange Program. Through this program, GSDM has partnerships with four international dental schools: Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University, England’s University of Manchester, India’s Manipal College of Dental Sciences & Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, and China’s Peking University School of Stomatology.
Program participants shared their travel stories in a presentation to the GSDM community in December.
Gabrielle Poliak DMD 26, Omolade Adeniyi DMD 26, Lea Baddoura DMD 26, and Jillian Rivera DMD 26 visited Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University. Throughout their program, they participated in numerous clinical seminars and assisted with the Pakkred Disabled Children’s Center mobile unit. The four students also presented flowers as part of Wai Kru Day (Teacher’s Appreciation Ceremony).
Rivera said, “This experience allowed me to grow more as a dental student and see how dental school works in Thailand. One of my favorite days at the school was seeing an excision of a dentigerous cyst. I loved seeing their dental museum they had right in their school and getting to engage in meaningful conversations with the doctors and students.”
Baddoura said, “This trip is something I will never forget and I am so grateful to have been able to travel to Thailand with such an amazing group. From the food, to the warm people, to the cultural sites, I had the most amazing time. Participating in the International Exchange Program was something I wanted to do since before I was even accepted into BU, and it still exceeded my expectations in every way.”
Gracie Abdalla DMD 26, Michael Kaczor DMD 26, William Farroll DMD 26, and Mirranda Kinaia DMD 26 visited England’s University of Manchester. During their visit, they shadowed students in the undergraduate pediatric, periodontology, orthodontic, and oral surgery clinics; they also practiced composite skills and attending numerous lectures. They were exposed to the National Health Service, the United Kingdom’s government-funded healthcare system. Their cultural exclusions included visiting Scotland and London.
Kaczor said, “The Manchester International Exchange Program was truly the most memorable and rewarding experience that I have had in dental school. The opportunity to travel to England and learn dentistry while simultaneously immersing myself in another culture was an unforgettable experience.”
Kinaia said, “Traveling across the pond to experience the NHS system firsthand has been a longtime bucket list item of mine, so having the opportunity to be part of the Manchester Exchange group is something I will always be grateful for. We learned a great deal about how the healthcare system functions and how the dental school operates.”
Abdalla said, “The international externship exchange was a truly meaningful and rewarding educational experience. It offered a culturally enriching opportunity to compare a different healthcare system and better understand how it influences treatment outcomes.”
Farroll said, “The opportunity to collaborate with our colleagues from the University of Manchester in the U.K. was an incredibly enriching experience. We made some incredible connections that will last long into our professional careers!”
Shriji Patel DMD 26, Jessica Siu DMD 26, and Nicole Cheng DMD 26 traveled to India’s Manipal College of Dental Sciences & Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences. The three students attended various hands-on workshops and assisted with public health dentistry programs, including elementary school visits and a mobile dental clinic. They also attended the India Independence Day Parade, the Krishna Temple, and a sunrise Taj Mahal Tour.
Siu said, “Not only was I able to broaden my clinical perspective through observation in the many areas of specialties at both Manipal and MAIDS dental schools, but I was also able to try new foods and explore the country’s vibrant history and sights. The faculty and students I have met through this exchange program made the experience even more memorable.”
Patel said, “The experience was truly unmatched. From immersive, hands-on workshops to observing orthognathic surgeries alongside surgeons, this externship far exceeded my expectations. I am especially thankful for the meaningful connections we built with our colleagues in India and for witnessing firsthand the depth of the long-standing relationship with BU Dental.”
Saher Arora DMD 26, Isha Aggarwal DMD 26, Andrew Paredes DMD 26, and Sofia Lagazzi DMD 26 went to China’s Peking University School of Stomatology. The four students observed operating rooms with trauma, cleft lip, facial reconstruction, and tumor resection cases. They practiced microsurgery suturing techniques and were introduced to virtual reality dentistry. During the program, they visited the Great Wall of China and attended the FDI World Dental Conference in Shanghai.
Paredes said, “From the moment we arrived, I was struck by how vibrantly different the culture was from life in the United States. The dental school and surrounding cities were constantly bustling, reflecting a fast-paced environment matched by remarkable technological innovation. I would highly recommend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to any dental student seeking to broaden their perspective both clinically and culturally.”
Lagazzi said, “The experience was both professionally rewarding and culturally immersive, deepening my appreciation for global dentistry and reinforcing that compassion and patient connection transcend language and borders.”
Note: All photos were provided by participating students