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DOWAGIAC — Cass Family Clinic has converted a home on M-51 in Dowagiac to provide free housing for University of Michigan dental students during their clinical rotations at Cass Family Clinic’s dental facilities in Cassopolis and Niles.

Cass Family Clinic held a ribbon cutting at the newly-remodeled dorm on Oct. 24. Located next to Cass Family Clinic’s new Dowagiac location, the dorm features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a kitchen, dining area, living room, and an outside patio for the students.

“With a few modifications to an existing house in Dowagiac, we are now able to provide a welcoming home for our University of Michigan dental interns as they complete their rotations,” said Cass Family Clinic CEO Joe Gavan. “We’re thrilled to be able to offer them an inviting and convenient place to stay during their time with us at Cass Family Clinic.”

Cass Family Clinic has been partnering with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry for the past three years to provide hands-on clinical experience to fourth-year dental students during the school year.

This year, Cass Family Clinic will host a total of 36 students – with four dental students coming in for two weeks at a time, rotating between the organization’s Niles and Cassopolis dental clinics.

“It’s a great way for us to see more patients at the clinic and be able to meet the continuous demands of the community,” said Dr. Madison Mick, dental director at Cass Family Clinic, who was the only dentist on staff when the program started in 2022. “As a dentist, it allows me to practice, while also teach students and explain the why behind what we’re doing.”

During their rotations, the dental students form relationships with Cass Family Clinic’s dental staff, build patient rapport, practice their chair-side manners with patients, and perform certain dental procedures.

“They’re learning what it is like to work in a clinical setting and get a real feel for how a dental clinic flows during a typical day,” said Dr. Mick. “While at Cass Family Clinic dental clinic, they’re truly understanding how much time it takes to get through a procedure – which is an important skill to have – and that takes practice.”

Dr. Sarah A. Tomaka, DDS, MPH, assistant dean of Community-Based Collaborative Care and Education (CBCE) and clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, said Cass Family Clinic is one of the University’s most requested rotation sites among its dental students.

“The interns receive a foundation in dentistry at the University, but they really grow while on rotation, especially at Cass Family Clinic,” said Tomaka. “They gain speed, a breadth of new experiences and cases, and an understanding of why serving the underserved is so important.  The guidance received from preceptors, like Dr. Mick and Dr. Plank at Cass Family Clinic, is immeasurable, as they teach our interns how to be great dentists and compassionate human beings. Because of clinics like Cass Family Clinic, over 10% of our graduates choose public health as their career choice, which is more than double the national average. We are so grateful for our partnership with Cass Family Clinic and hope to remain in the family for years to come.”

Maxine Taylor, a dental student at University of Michigan, recently completed her two-week clinical rotation at Cass Family Clinic and said: “The clinic is a warm, friendly environment that has welcomed my curiosity and my desire to grow my skill set, while also providing me a better understanding of what real-world dentistry can look like.”