Pamela Nigrelli

Hi Todd,

I have a suggestion that may help you and your students secure an externship site. I am a Dental Program Director at my school. Part of my responsibility is to help engage the student in being a real part of the process. We have over 50 secured sites but each semester prior to the semester they go out on externship I have them try to get several business cards from dental offices near their residences. I then have them give them to me in order of how much they would like to do their externship at the office. Ranking the offices helps me when I call the office after I receive the card. I then call the office and give them a slight overview of our externship program. Some offices say they are not interested right away, other offices appreciate the fact that they have the ability to interview the student before they say yes. By letting the site have the final say in the process they are more willing to accept the student. They often say that we don't accept externship students but I know a office that would accept the student. This way the student feels like we are in this together!