Korean American Dental Association
Student Programs
All Student Programs
Students must be members of KADA to be eligible for participation with our programs.
If you are not a member, simply Register for Student Membership along with your student program application.
KADA Predental Mentorship Program Overview
The KADA Predental Mentorship Program is a summer program that helps students interested in dentistry. It includes hands-on experiences, lectures, and tours of dental schools. Since 2010, it aims to help participants become dentists, encouraging them to return as KADA members.
Eligibility: College students and postgraduates interested in dentistry.
- Fee: $500 (covers meals during lectures, materials, and the graduation banquet)
Program Highlights:
- Dentist Shadowing: Participants will shadow KADA dentists for at least 30 hours in Los Angeles and Orange County, gaining insight into daily dental practice and building professional connections.
- Lectures: Two Tuesday evening lectures on dental specialties and the application process. Dinner is included, and attendance is required.
- Workshops: Two hands-on training sessions covering alginate impressions, intraoral scanning, 3D printing, and mock interviews with dentists. Attendance is mandatory.
- School Tours: Optional visits to USC, UCLA, Loma Linda, and Western University, including Q&A sessions with admissions staff and students.
- Graduation Banquet: Celebrates program completion with certificates for participants and mentors.
Additional Support:
Participants may receive a committee letter of recommendation if reviewed positively. They might also be invited to future KADA events and recognized within the KADA community.
Participants may receive a committee letter of recommendation if reviewed positively. They might also be invited to future KADA events and recognized within the KADA community.
2026 Program Schedule:
Orientation + Hands-On 1 – June 20
Tour 1 – June 23
Lecture 1 + Q+A 1 – June 30
Tour 2 – July 10
Hands-On 2 + Mock Interview – July 18
Lecture 2 – July 21
Tour 3 – July 24
Lecture 3 + Q+A 2 – July 28
Tour 4 – August 7
Banquet – August 15
Tour 1 – June 23
Lecture 1 + Q+A 1 – June 30
Tour 2 – July 10
Hands-On 2 + Mock Interview – July 18
Lecture 2 – July 21
Tour 3 – July 24
Lecture 3 + Q+A 2 – July 28
Tour 4 – August 7
Banquet – August 15
Application deadline is June 18
Become A Mentor
We are also looking for additional mentors! If you are a dentist interested in registering please complete this form.
Dental Student Mentorship Program
Membership currently limited: Only Dental Students in Southern California may apply as mentees
KADA is proud to announce that we will be starting a mentorship program for current dental students.
The mentorship will begin with an orientation session with presentations of General Dental Practice as well as ADA-recognized clinical specialties such as Endodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, and Periodontics.
Then the students (mentees) will have opportunities to observe mentors in their private practice setting. Each mentee will contact any mentor offices on the list to arrange for clinical shadowing on their own time.
The goal of this mentorship program is not only to expose the dental students to various aspects of clinical dentistry but also to promote close personal relationships with practitioners as they mature in their career in dentistry.
There are currently about 20 mentor offices with various clinical specialties.
View List of Mentor Offices (.pdf)
Please sign up below to register as a Mentee or a Mentor.
KADA Student Reporters
Calling All Dental Students
KADA is looking for 2 student reporters per dental school for our monthly newsletter.
Student reporters report any fun and interesting facts, news, or activities of KADA members at your dental school. Once a month, your submissions will be reviewed by KADA’s communication/newsletter committee. Submissions will be published as a column in our monthly KADA newsletter.
This is a great opportunity to boost your resume, network with the active members of KADA, and open doors to networks, job opportunities, and scholarships.
Being a student reporter is a 1 year commitment.
If you are interested in this position, please click the button below for more information.
Don’t let your school be left behind!
Scholarship Program
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