A ViM STORY—Educating Future Dental Clinicians

For the past four years, a rotation of Tufts dental students have been coming to live in Great Barrington for five-week “externships” at VIM.

We host one student at a time, and they live in a space generously provided by one of our volunteers. Students work in the clinic every day under the tutelage of our volunteer dentists, enhancing their clinical skills and learning about our patient-centered culture. We also introduce students to local dentists and dental practices, with an eye towards bringing new, young dentists to the area. 

“Students are able to learn about volunteering, the Berkshires, our culture, and our mission,” says VIM’s Dental Practice Manager Whitney Smith. “They get to see how patient-centered dental care works in practice.”

Springfield Community College also sends all second-year hygiene students to VIM to work one-on-one with Whitney, a hygienist, seeing patients. And we’re looking forward to Springfield Technical College sending assisting students to VIM this fall!

These programs are made possible by an Access to Care grant from the Massachusetts Dental Society and by you, our supporters. Thank you!