From Mentee to Mentor

***This story appears in the UCLA School of Dentistry's Spring 2023 Magazine***

Yi-Ling Loo, '20, D.D.S. '24, moved from student’s desk to instructor's podium in near-record time.

The third-year D.D.S. candidate serves as course co-director and lecturer for the UCLA School of Dentistry’s Basic Dental Principles (BDP) program, having participated in BDP herself as a Bruin undergraduate a few short years ago.

BDP was conceptualized in 2005 through a collaboration between faculty member Carol Bibb, Ph.D., D.D.S. ’78, and Jennifer Crowe, D.D.S. ‘06, then a third-year dental student interested in becoming an educator in the field. The program is offered over two academic quarters – the first consisting of a lecture series covering a broad range of topics, the second involving four hands-on sessions in the preclinical lab – BDP gives prospective dental students an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the field and explore dentistry as a career choice.

Dr. Bibb considers BDP her most treasured contribution to the School in nearly 40 years as a faculty member.

BDP is an opportunity for pre-dental students to confirm their interest in the field by experiencing lecture and lab courses like they will take in dental school. The opportunity to meet current dental students as mentors and role models is also invaluable,” Dr. Bibb said. “It is common to hear that the BDP experience inspired pre-dental students to choose UCLA Dentistry in hopes that they will be able to participate as student teachers themselves.”

At the same time, Dr. Bibb delights in the platform BDP provides for faculty members to mentor D.D.S. students interested in teaching. Several BDP course lecturer alumni have moved on to serve as faculty at the School of Dentistry.

Loo is a shining example of somebody taking full advantage of this program. Originally from St. Louis, Mo., Loo moved to Los Angeles at age one. Her first exposure to the UCLA School of Dentistry came not through BDP, but as a patient in both its Pediatric Clinic and Bales Orthodontic Clinic. These experiences piqued an early interest in the field, as resident practitioners were very friendly and took the time to explain procedures.

Loo knew since middle school that she wanted to pursue a career in dentistry and put herself on that path as a biochemistry major at UCLA, graduating in 2020. She started in BDP as a sophomore, then completed the lab series the following year.

That was in addition to a robust slate of extracurricular activities that saw Loo embrace her half-Japanese heritage; she joined the drumming group Kyodo Taiko, volunteered at the Japanese American National Museum, and worked with patients at Keiro, a senior care organization.

While Loo was focused on dentistry from an early age, she sees incredible value in BDP for students still uncertain about the field.

“The breadth of topics covered and the quality of how lectures are delivered is what I really liked about the program,” she said. “The lab component is a great opportunity to practice drilling before getting to dental school, as many people like the idea of dentistry but do not get to practice before delving into the field.”

“The lecture series does not merely scratch the surface level but rather goes into detailed topics such as organized dentistry, public health, endodontics, and so much more. The knowledge gained from the program is highly applicable towards shadowing experiences as well,” Loo added.

Basic Dental Principles moved its lecture series online during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained virtual ever since, from which opportunity has sprung. When Loo took the course in 2018, enrollment was limited to 80 students due to classroom capacity. The new online platform has allowed pre-dental students from beyond UCLA to participate in the lecture series, and this year there are more than 200 enrollees from across the country and the globe. After completing BDP, Bruin undergrads earn transcript credit for undertaking upper-division research, while those from outside the university gain a valuable CV addition for their dental school applications.

Current BDP students see benefits in learning from instructors who are still on personal journeys in dentistry themselves.

“BDP has solidified my interest in dentistry, and it has been an amazing opportunity to learn more about the field before jumping into it,” said Astha Patel, a third-year UCLA student majoring in biochemistry. “I really enjoy the variety of topics offered and that our instructors are always friendly and open to helping. They constantly encourage students and remind us that the long journey is worth the wait.

Loo’s path to becoming a BDP program director began last academic year when she applied to become a lab coordinator. In this role, she procured course supplies, administered exams, guided students on their poster projects, and helped lead a team of D2 classmates working one-on-one with pre-dental students in the simulation lab.

Alongside fellow third-year Myriam Hakimeh (herself a double Bruin), Loo ascended to her current role leading the lecture component. In addition to lesson planning, they select lecturers and new lab coordinators from the School of Dentistry student body and organize quarterly teach-backs, which allow D.D.S. candidates to practice their BDP lectures in front of peers and faculty members.

Much like her undergraduate experience, Loo dove head-first into extracurricular activities at the School of Dentistry. She’s part of the Board of Counselors’ Leadership Institute cohort – which introduces UCLA dental students to established professional mentors – and recently, she participated in an educational and cultural exchange with two Japanese dental schools. In March, Loo was awarded the Dorothy Schick Endowed Scholarship, recognizing academic excellence.

As her UCLA School of Dentistry student journey enters its home stretch, Loo is planning to pursue specialty training in pediatric dentistry and looks forward to a career as a clinician, educator, and patient advocate.

“I had a really great experience with my dentist when I was growing up that made me feel dental care and oral hygiene are super important. My goal is to become a practitioner who can make a similar impact on my patients' lives,” Loo said. “I’m grateful for opportunities such as BDP, which have helped me develop my teaching and communication skills. I hope to be able to use all of the valuable experiences UCLA has afforded me and continue to grow and become a great dentist!”