Following the launch of the new Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme at the University of Malawi College of Medicine in August last year, the students who enrolled in BDS 1 are progressing well. Recently, they joined forces with their fellow students who are in the Foundation Year, and who will form the second intake to BDS 1 in August 2020, to create a ‘corporate’ T-shirt. Having taken delivery of their new T-shirts, they arranged a photo-shoot to launch their visual identity:
After considering a number of designs they had settled on the following:
After their indoor photograph, they decided to have some further shots taken out and about on the sunny College of Medicine campus:
Having announced recently on this blog the exciting appointment of Dr James Mchenga as the first Academic Head of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme, it is wonderful to see how the first intake of students is flourishing.
Having received these photos, I asked Luke Phiri, one of the students, if he could ask some of his fellow BDS students for some quotes on their experience of the course so far. All were very positive and showed a real commitment to the programme. Here is a small selection:
“Becoming a dentist is not a simple job to accomplish. However, if you think you can do it, nothing can draw you back. You can do it.”
“Do your best, your very best, and every day.”
“We, dental students meet hindrances and think we will not make it. It always seems impossible until it is done.”
“Becoming a dentist is my dream ever. Yes, there are many giant bullies I may be afraid of handouts, studies, or whatever. I may have fear but ‘Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it’.”
“No masterpiece was ever created by a lazy artist, never. Always stay committed and dedicated to fulfil your dream to be a dentist.”
“Our focus is to be the best pioneers of this program and we will always ‘focus on the focus’.”
I head out to Malawi in a couple of week’s time and really look forward to meeting these budding young dental professionals for a face-to-face catch-up. You’ll be able to read all about it in a future blog post.
So lovely to hear this news and I can imagine how exciting it must be for the dental students.