Walking into the waiting area at Matt Bynum\u2019s office is almost like walking into his living room. It\u2019s comfortable. Bynum, known by his patients as Dr. Matt, doesn\u2019t even wear a white coat. Eliminating barriers in the doctor-patient relationship is part of his practice and a lesson he imparts to young dentists-to-be.<\/p>\n
In the past two years, Bynum has mentored three Furman students, including his son, Luke Bynum \u201923, who is currently enrolled in dental school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Last summer, he hosted Katelyn Sousa \u201924, captain of Furman\u2019s lacrosse team. She will begin her dental training this fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cInternships like these provide Furman students with invaluable hands-on experience in health-related fields,\u201d said Kerry Sease, executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health (IACH). \u201cIt allows them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations, build professional networks and gain the skills and confidence needed to excel in their future health careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
IACH currently offers 225 internships throughout the summer and the academic year to give students opportunities to gain academic credit and explore different health professions with more than 100 community partners. These IACH collaborations enhance the health and well-being of the whole community. Health Education Manager Loretta Crowley and Health Careers Internships Coordinator Rebecca Redman manage those relationships.<\/p>\n
Caleb Kim \u201926 was Bynum\u2019s latest intern from Furman during the spring semester. Kim and his identical twin brother, Joshua, are both health science majors from Charlotte, North Carolina, and they\u2019re both planning careers in dentistry. This semester, Joshua also completed his internship at Family Dental Health in Greenville with the support of IACH.<\/p>\n
This spring, Caleb Kim also volunteered as part of the dental program at the Greenville Free Medical Clinic on Thursdays. His experience with Bynum Aesthetic Dentistry gave him a second opportunity, a window into another side of general dentistry, he said. Kim\u2019s experience working alongside Bynum and fellow dentist Mollie Matz on Wednesdays enabled him to observe a wide range of procedures, including veneers, crowns and implants. He also assisted the dental hygienists and dental assistants with patients and helped set up rooms and sterilize equipment.<\/p>\n
In one case, he was able to observe a \u201cfull smile change,\u201d a dental surgery where a patient with no teeth received an entire set of dental implants.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was so impressed by how Dr. Matt treated his patients,\u201d Kim said. \u201cHe is gifted at making his patients feel comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a soft skill that\u2019s vitally important for dentists, a skill that\u2019s part of a growth mindset he works to share with students, said Bynum, who has been practicing for 29 years and co-authored a book, \u201cThe Boomerang Effect,\u201d which focuses on what dentists need to believe to be financially and emotionally successful.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always ask myself, how can we help the next generation of students,\u201d he said. \u201cMy goals are to share my passion for dentistry with them, to build students\u2019 confidence as they interact with patients and to help them to really enjoy their time with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bynum\u2019s formula seems to be working, and he\u2019s looking forward to hosting more Furman students in the future through his partnership with IACH.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis experience has reaffirmed my passion for dentistry,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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