Becoming Global Providers: GSDM Class of 2026 International Elective Externship Participants Reflect on Rural Clinical Experiences
Ten DMD students collaborated with partner organizations in four countries to provide oral healthcare services in communities with significant barriers to dental care as part of the school’s annual International Elective Externship program in 2026.
Participating students discussed key takeaways from their travels to Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras during an informational session to the GSDM community in May. Dr. Michelle Henshaw, associate dean of global & population health and professor of health policy & health services research, opened the informational session by encouraging DMD students to apply for upcoming International Elective Externship trips.
“What you get out of these experiences goes far beyond what you can get in the clinic,” Henshaw said. “Not just in terms of the clinical work you do but…the exposure to different population groups, different ways of treating care, creating new relationships and having that broader perspective on what dentistry is.”
Note: All participating students are members of the DMD Class of 2026. All photos were provided by participating students.
Panama: Northeast Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (NEVOSH)
Gabriel Chavez, Jesse Rogers, Habat Shairzai, and Abanoub Zakhary
January 18-26, 2026
Chavez, Rogers, Shairzai and Zakhary worked out of a school in Penonomé, Panama, with NEVOSH, an organization of medical professionals who provide healthcare to individuals who do not regular access to care.
The patients whom the students treated ranged in age from 1 year old to 85 years old, with many of these individuals needing extensive work. Every patient received an exam, preventative dental cleaning, and education on maintaining their oral health. Over the course of three-and-a-half days, the group saw more than 500 patients, performed more than 1,000 extractions, and completed hundreds of fillings.
Chavez said his experience during the International Elective Externship tested how adaptable he can be in new surroundings.
“You are not in the most ideal conditions,” Chavez said. “We are all better dentists coming out of it.”
Guatemala: Dentistry For All
Noor Charif and Daisy Nuñez Gil
February 5-14, 2026
Charif and Nuñez Gil visited El Remate, Peten, and Rio Dulce, Guatemala,with Dentistry for All, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing dental education, prevention, and corrective treatment to underserved populations. The two worked closely with Brad Krusky DMD 97 throughout their trip.
The two students saw 437 patients and conducted 1,387 total procedures between two locations. The pair collaborated with Proyecto Ix-Canaan in El Remate, a local community mission bringing dental healthcare to the Guatemalan population. In Rio Dulce, they worked with Casa Guatemala, a local orphanage and daycare.
Charif said the experience showed her the power of connecting with patients despite language barriers, referencing connecting with pediatric patients through taking pictures on her digital camera and singing along to songs from “KPop Demon Hunters.”
“Those moments reminded me that healthcare is about much more than clinical treatment,” Charif said. “Small interactions, shared laughter, and genuine effort can help build trust and create meaningful connections with patients and the community.”
Nicaragua: Superemos Foundation
Andrew Paredes and Stephanie Pearson
April 19-26, 2026
Paredes and Pearson worked with the Superemos Foundation, a non-profit foundation that promotes health and education in northern Nicaragua.
The two students were joined by Dr. Breno Reboucas PEDO 12 Oral Biology 07, interim chair of pediatric dentistry and clinical associate professor of general dentistry and pediatric dentistry, and Dr. Michelle Henshaw SPH 96 DPH 07, associate dean of global & population health and professor of health policy & health services research.
Throughout the trip, Pearson and Paredes provided care to children with untreated decay, with treatments including silver diamine fluoride, silver modified atraumatic restorative technique (SMART) restorations, and sealants. They saw approximately 100 patients in total.
Paraedes said the most interesting aspect of the International Elective Externship was seeing the long-term impact of the preventive care the GSDM trip has provided over the years.
“It was incredibly rewarding to witness that continuity of care and to know that these minimally invasive approaches are working in real-world, resource-limited settings,” Paredes said. “Just as meaningful was being able to relieve pain for very young children and improve their quality of life in a tangible, immediate way.
Honduras: Cape Cares
Parmida Masoudi and Tim Mercier
March 21-28, 2026
Masoudi and Mercier worked with Cape Cares, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that delivers dental and medical care through community-based clinics in rural Honduras.
In four days, the pair saw 229 patients whose ages ranged from 5 to 85 years old. The procedures they administered included extractions, anterior composite restorations, and silver diamine fluoride.
Masoudi said it was incredible seeing how far patients were willing to travel to receive care: Most patients traveled an average of one to two hours, but some traveled seven hours to the treatment site.
“It was so meaningful to witness how appreciative each patient was for any treatment we could provide given our limited resources,” Masoudi said. “What stood out even more was how much we were able to accomplish as a team—we saw more patients than anticipated, which made the experience feel very impactful and rewarding.”