MCC’s Dental Peer Mentoring Program Helps Students Thrive

In Middlesex Community College’s dental hygiene program, students are prepared to pass their clinical board exam and enter the field in two years. To help guide the success of the students, Middlesex created the Dental Peer Mentoring Program for individuals completing their final year in the program to mentor new students.

“Having a mentor/mentee experience is valuable because it provides support and friendship,” said Victoria Yashyn, an MCC dental hygiene student of Lexington. “Having someone that you can ask questions, advice, and vent to is very important to have in this program. Ithink one of the biggest attributes that a mentor can have is to show support! I like to encourage my mentee with positive words.”

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For Yashyn, MCC’s Peer Mentoring Program relies on continuous communication. As a mentee, she received advice, support and kindness that kept her motivated. In the mentor role, she reaches out to see how her mentor is doing and if they have questions. She also stays in touch with her previous mentor to check on each other and discuss topics related to dental hygiene.

Ashley McIntyre is an MCC second-year dental hygiene student of Billerica. Working with a mentor in her first year helped her adjust to being in the program. In addition to checking in throughout the year, her mentor gave advice, guided her through clinic expectations and academic coursework, and sat as her patient multiple times to build McIntyre’s confidence in her abilities. Now as a mentor herself, she provides this same level of support.

“Even after she graduated, she came back to support me, which meant a lot and showed the strong sense of community within the program,” McIntyre said. “Being able to give back in this way has been very meaningful, and it’s rewarding to help newer students feel more comfortable and confident as they begin their journey in the program. This experience has strengthened my communication and leadership skills and reinforced the importance of supporting others in a collaborative healthcare environment.”

Mentors are matched to their mentees over the summer to start building immediate connections. During orientation, the program hosts a meet and greet to introduce mentoring pairs and faculty. Current students also sit on a panel where they share their experiences, offer advice, and discuss challenges they faced during their first year and how they overcame them.

The mentoring program runs throughout the year, both in the academic and clinical environments. First-year students observe their mentors working in MCC’s dental hygiene clinic to better understand the process. They also participate in open lab sessions to develop their clinical skills through hands-on practice. Later in the year, mentors observe first-year students in the clinic to provide feedback and guidance.

MCC’s chapter of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA) also plays a key role in building a strong sense of community in the program. All students can attend social and community outreach– from giving tours of MCC’s clinics and educating community members about services to interacting with families at community locations to help make dental visits less intimidating for children.

Participating in these activities and feeling connected to the community leads to improved success for students, according to Christine Lombardo, MCC’s Chair of Dental Hygiene. As the students transition into mentors, faculty emphasize the importance of being supportive and approachable.

“The program fosters strong peer support, builds confidence, and enhances both academic and clinical success,” Lombardo said. “We consistently see meaningful relationships develop, and it’s rewarding to watch students grow while supporting one another.”

Learn more about MCC’s dental hygiene program.