DDS learners gain motivation and perspective from hands-on Heidelberg exchange

Two DDS learners gained insight and experience thanks to their participation in an international exchange program.

Instituted by Karin Quick, DDS, PhD, director of the Division of Dental Public Health and director of global programs, the Heidelberg exchange is a virtual, year-long program with an optional in-person travel component.

Students from Heidelberg traveled to Minnesota in March. “After spending months connecting through zoom calls and discussing healthcare in each other’s countries, German dental students came to visit us,” recalled Isaac Tadé, DDS ’25, who participated in the program this year. “Through their stay, relationships between students from both countries strengthened immensely, and we quickly became good friends.”

Those bonds of friendship—and personal experiences of multiculturalism—inspired Tadé and Preet Kanwal Dhaliwal, DDS ’24, to see Heidelberg firsthand.

“Coming from a multicultural background as a mixed race person has taught me the importance of a global perspective, inclusion, open-mindedness and lifelong learning,” Tadé said. Combined with the positive experience he had with the German students in Minnesota, “it was only natural that when funding became available to travel to Germany that I jumped at the opportunity.”

Dhaliwal also credits her experiences as an international dentist, originally trained in India before pursuing her degree through PASS, for her desire to explore other cultures. “By immersing myself in a different educational system and cultural environment, I aim to not only passively absorb new ideas but also actively engage in stimulating discussions and provoke fresh perspectives,” she said. “Having experienced the contrasts between the educational systems of India and the United States, I’m keen to further explore and understand different approaches to learning and practice.”

Tadé and Dhaliwal traveled to Heidelberg for a week at the end of May. They lived with host students, attended classes at Heidelberg University, rotated through comprehensive care clinics and witnessed advanced oral and maxillofacial surgeries.

“Our days were filled with hands-on learning and observation until day’s end,” reflected Dhaliwal. “The opportunity to closely witness advanced maxillofacial surgeries was both awe-inspiring and educational.”

Tadé considered the experience “enlightening.”

“What I appreciated most about the observatory was that it was mostly student-led,” he explained. “I got to truly see the city and university in the footsteps of my German peers. I enjoyed the work-life balance of observing student operations and some of the world’s most advanced maxillofacial surgeries during clinical hours, while exploring Heidelberg’s rich history, sights and culture after school.”  

The students gained valuable perspectives on life and health care during their time abroad, from learning about various health care models to witnessing the extreme—and punishing—punctuality of the German train system.

Dhaliwal left with “a more comprehensive understanding of dentistry on a global scale, enriching my cultural competency and professional adaptability,” thanks in large part to the hands-on environment Heidelberg fostered. Tadé, similarly, feels like “a more informed world citizen,” more knowledgeable about “the considerations to make if I were to own my own practice one day.”

Both learners will take their first-hand experiences to the classroom and to the clinic, embracing “a multifaceted understanding of both the dental profession and the broader world around me,” according to Dhaliwal. Tadé hopes that “this program is the starting point of a fruitful and connected global health career.”

And as they move forward, Dhaliwal and Tadé will remember this opportunity and how it transformed their world views.

“Overall, my time in Heidelberg has reinforced my commitment to excellence in oral health care, and has sparked a desire to continually seek out opportunities for growth and learning in the field,” said Dhaliwal. “Whether through further education, research endeavors or international collaborations, I am motivated to contribute to the advancement of dentistry and positively impact patient care on a global scale.”