April 21, 2021
C AREERS Special
Edition
Page 5
Back to
Hands On
Learning
Dental hygiene
students return to
downtown clinic
A year ago, like the rest of the world,
Portland Community College’s Dental Hy-
giene and Assisting students were thrown
a curveball. When the pandemic hit, PCC
was forced to transition to virtual opera-
tions that resulted in it closing in-person
classes indefinitely.
The move was devastating. Dental
students need in-person practice on real
patients in order to have the skills and
experience to join a workforce that is in
desperate need of qualified workers.
“We all kind of panicked,” remembered
Jennifer Osawa, a dental hygiene student.
“We wondered, ‘How can this be? What
happens if we lose our skills?’
When PCC went to remote operations,
38 Dental Hygiene Program students were
enrolled — 20 in their second year and 18
in their first.
Working with college resources, Dental
Dental Hygiene and Assisting students at Portland Community College practice on real patients in order to have the skills and
experience to join a workforce that is in desperate need of qualified workers.
Director Josette Beach was able to help
the second-year students graduate at the
end of summer. Staff worked hard to help
the students complete the required extern-
ships at local dental offices and wrap-up
their certificates, a mere one term later
than usual.
But the first-year hopefuls couldn’t
practice their skills on actual patients as
they were forced to study remotely online.
“I was stressed about all of my classes
and my life at home,” said student Lau-
ra Loaiciga Ulloa. “I was OK with a few
C onTinued on P age 6