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Young, Skilled and Changing Lives

Ostrow’s Community Clinics Selective Program places students in real-world community settings to test their skills, confidence and commitment to serving others.

BY MICHELLE McCARTHY

THE MAN IN THE CHAIR RAISED AN EYEBROW, visibly unsure. “You look so young,” he said, peering at Adriana Paez DDS ’25 as she introduced herself. The hesitation in his voice was one Paez had heard before during her Community Clinics Selective Program rotation at AltaMed General.

She smiled, masking the nerves with a calm professionalism she’d been building throughout dental school.

“Yes, sir, I’m a dental student from USC,” she replied, “but I’m here to take good care of you — and I’m supervised by our attending doctors.” Slowly, the man nodded, reassured by her poise.

Reflecting on situations like this, Paez, 27, says, “I get that a lot. At community clinics selectives, patients don’t always know we’re students, unlike at USC. It’s up to us to carry ourselves with confidence and quickly build trust.”

This moment encapsulates the essence of Ostrow’s Community Clinics Selective Program experience — placing students in real-world community settings where their skills are tested, their confidence is built, and their commitment to serving others is affirmed.

The program, offered during students’ final year — fourth for DDS, second for ASPID — is extracurricular and highly competitive. Students selected for the opportunity don’t just check off procedural requirements for graduation. They immerse themselves in high-volume clinics that serve diverse and underserved communities, often for the first time outside the controlled pace of a dental school.

Paez and classmate Nellie Manoukian DDS ’25 are two of those students. Both completed multiple rotations at community clinics selective sites, including AltaMed and the Free Clinic of Simi Valley. Each came in search of practical experience. What they left with was far more.

“It solidified my passion for working with underserved communities,” Paez shares. “The hands-on experience and mentorship I received helped me discover what kind of dentistry I want to practice.”

Manoukian echoes that sentiment. “I always throw myself into what I’m passionate about,” she says. “These selectives were the most impactful part of dental school for me.”

Fast-Paced, Immersive Learning

Community clinics selectives strip away the school clinic’s cushion of four-hour appointments and slow-paced treatment. At AltaMed, students like Paez and Manoukian can treat up to eight patients per day, learning to manage time, communicate effectively and perform procedures efficiently — all while delivering compassionate care.

“You’re seeing so many more cases in a day, and that’s where the learning happens,” says Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry Thomas Poelman, a volunteer faculty member at AltaMed General. “The jump from two patients a day in school to real-world clinic demands can be daunting. Community clinics selectives give students a taste of what’s coming, and they leave much more confident.”

Poelman recalls his own community clinic selective during dental school as the turning point in his clinical education. “It was the first time I thought, ‘OK, I can do this.’”

One of the biggest takeaways for students is learning to work with dental assistants in true four-handed dentistry. “That was something we rarely got in school,” Manoukian says. “You learn how to be efficient with another person helping you. It’s a different rhythm, and it’s essential.”

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry Lenny Mayorga DDS ’18 emphasizes that these selectives also sharpen students’ communication skills — and not just with pediatric patients. “Unlike rotations at USC, where parents often aren’t present, here they are. Students learn to explain treatment plans, answer questions and build trust with both the child and the caregiver,” says Mayorga, a pediatric dentist and volunteer faculty at AltaMed Pediatrics.

Dental school is rigorous, and balancing externships with academic demands is no small feat. Both Manoukian and Paez emphasize the importance of time management.

“I did my pediatric selective during my senior year when I had fewer patient requirements,” Manoukian explains. “I balanced studying for my law and ethics exam on the side.”

Paez took on her second selective while preparing for her licensing exam. “It was definitely a lot,” she says, “but I mapped out my weeks carefully. It was more work but worth every second.”

From Skepticism to Gratitude

While students encounter wary patients — simply because of how young they look — often, that surprise gives way to trust and, sometimes, even admiration.

At AltaMed, Mayorga remembers a 9-year-old patient who was getting antsy during treatment. A dental student, observing at the time, began speaking to the patient in Spanish. The unexpected connection helped calm the child, and the student stayed to soothe him until the procedure was complete.

“The dad was amazed,” Mayorga says. “He shook the student’s hand and thanked him for making his son feel safe.”

These selectives also expose students to new tools, materials and resource limitations. “We’re spoiled at school with everything we could need,” Manoukian says. “Out in the clinics, you learn to improvise and adapt, and you realize that sometimes less is more.”

Students see a range of pathologies and meet patients with complex needs. These interactions often cement a student’s sense of purpose.

“Seeing how grateful the patients were, especially when they learned I was from USC, was humbling,” Paez says. “They saw that someone cared enough to be there for them.”

Faculty members overseeing these rotations emphasize that these selectives are not only beneficial for students — they’re meaningful for the organizations as well.

“Our patients benefit, absolutely,” Poelman says. “These students help us see more patients, offer same-day treatment and function almost like an additional provider.”

At the same time, they’re preparing students to step into careers with confidence. “These selectives are like a bridge,” Mayorga says. “They show students what real-world dentistry looks like, and sometimes, they inspire them to return and serve in community settings long after graduation.”

A Lasting Impact

Students who are open-minded, proactive and eager to learn make the best candidates. “If you’re motivated and want to build speed and confidence before graduation, this is the best way to do it,” Poelman advises.

“Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone,” Manoukian adds. “You’ll learn more than you thought possible.”

For students like Paez and Manoukian, the Community Clinics Selective Program was more than an elective, it was transformative.

“I’m now heading into an advanced education in general dentistry residency with another federally qualified health center in San Diego,” Paez says. “That decision was shaped entirely by my selective experience.”

Manoukian puts it simply, “Every dental student should do this.”

Their message to current and prospective students is clear: The community clinics selective opportunity may be extracurricular, but its impact is anything but.

Fourth-year DDS and second-year ASPID students interested in learning more about the Community Clinics Selective Program should visit the Ostrow Community Clinics Selective page or reach out to course director Daniel Romo at dvr_620@ostrow.usc.edu.