Dental Scholars Develop Listening, Questioning, Teamwork Skills

Listening and asking questions that draw out useful information from individuals, be they patients, colleagues, or others, is a skill that can be developed and is one that will become increasingly important in a knowledge-based society.

New Members

Currently 34 students are participating in the School of Dentistry’s Scholars Program in Dental Leadership. New members are:

• Evelyn Lucas-Perry (D3)
• Stephen Mancewicz (D3)
• Neelon Shah (D3)
• Yoshita Patel (D2)
• Affaf Saddy (D2)
• Saroj Saha (D1)

Additional Photos

That was the message to about 30 U-M School of Dentistry Dental Scholars during their annual kickoff program in late August.

“When we listen to someone, especially the stories they tell about themselves, we learn what a person’s interests, skills, and values are,” said Melissa Peet, PhD, director of the U-M Integrative Knowledge and ePortfolio Initiative.

Also an assistant research scientist in the School’s Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Peet told the Dental Scholars, “leadership is more than charisma.  The best leaders are always listeners.  They look for opportunities to build on a person’s strengths to help them thrive in their environment.”

Illustrating her point, Peet interviewed Dr. Dennis Lopatin, senior associate dean, for 30 minutes and afterwards highlighted what she learned and asked dental students what they had learned.

“When you talk to someone, get them to tell stories,” she said, “and listen closely to what they say because their stories convey a person’s knowledge and expertise.”

Advising them against becoming discouraged, Peet said, “each of us has the ability to generate knowledge by asking a person questions, listening to their answers, and then transferring it in many ways.  When you think about it,” she continued, “the best leaders are always listeners and they’re always looking for opportunities to build on a person’s capacities or strengths that allow them to thrive in their environment.”

Peet told Dental Scholars that if they want to lead others, “you have to know what the strengths of each person are so that you can help them be the best in whatever they’re doing.”

Useful Information

Dental students participating in the kickoff program said what they learned will help them.

Third-year dental student Stephen Mancewicz said the group training session taught him the importance of effective communication and how to ask probing questions.  “The interviewing information,” he said, “will be useful when learning how other leaders organize their thoughts and what triggers their thought processes.”

Yoshita Patel, president of her second-year dental class, agreed, and added that she joined the Dental Scholars program because “I wanted to further hone my leadership skills for the benefit of my peers as well as see my personal goals reach fruition.”  Patel said the program puts students in touch “with supportive mentors who work with you to reach your potential as a student leader.”

Evelyn-Lucas Perry, another third-year dental student, said the participation of her sister, Victoria, “heavily influenced my decision to join.”  Evelyn added that she “wanted to be involved in a program that builds a student’s leadership abilities and provides opportunities to demonstrate those skills.”

Begun in 2006, the Scholars Program in Dental Leadership program is composed of a select number of exceptional students from diverse backgrounds.  Independent from their dental studies, they work to develop skills they can use to promote change in dentistry, dental hygiene, education, research, or academia.