To update those of you whom I may not have seen in some time, I am currently a third-year dental student at Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska, with an expected graduation in May 2027. I am so excited to share that I have been accepted to participate in the ILAC Summer Health Program in July. The flagship program of Creighton-ILAC, this interdisciplinary program gives students and professionals in nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and medicine the opportunity to build relationships across cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic barriers and to provide basic health care to Dominicans living in rural communities.
As an ILAC program participant, I will be volunteering in one of the campos, or rural villages, in the DR to provide dental care to those in need. I will be traveling with 19 other dental classmates, being supervised by dental school professors and other volunteer dentists. Since last May, I have been immersed in the clinical portion of my dental education. My clinical training has allowed me to manage my own caseload, performing exams, cleanings, filings, root canal treatments, extractions, and more.
Since my initial interview with Creighton Dental, being a part of the ILAC trip has been a goal of mine. Since my former studies of Global Health at UW-Madison allowed me the opportunity to travel abroad, I have had the itch for international travel, an excitement I picked up from my grandparents. Volunteering at Creighton’s many after-hours clinics, I have not only improved my dental skills but also rediscovered the excitement of speaking Spanish with our Latino patients, a skill I am continually improving.
Raising funds is of importance; however, equally important is spreading the word about programs such as ILAC. A great grassroots effort that nets many small donations is as important to me as a few larger ones, so please spread the word. If you would like to contribute, contributions can be sent to me by:
- Venmo me directly @ Cole-bell914
- Visit and donate to my GoFundMe page:
- Send a physical check to Cole Bell, 6641 Gettysburg Dr, Madison, WI, 53705
Our group is extremely grateful for any contributions, big or small. If you can’t help financially at this time, I hope you will remember our program and other programs like it.
Thank you for any contribution. Please reach out with any questions or comments that you have.
Cole Bell