Dental Health Summer Institute Puts Old Dominion University Graduate on Path to Dental Hygiene Career

A summer program designed to introduce high school students to careers in dentistry helped Ben Quansah discover his own path to dental hygiene. Four years later, he has gone from exploring the profession as a high school student to working as a registered dental hygienist.

Ben Quansah, Old Dominion University dental hygiene graduate. Photo credit: Michael DiBari/Old Dominion University.

The Dental Health Summer Institute, a partnership between the Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation and the Old Dominion University Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene—part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer College of Health Sciences—introduces high school students to career paths in dentistry. Funded by the Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation and taught by dental hygiene faculty and guest speakers, the institute is now planning its sixth year.

Mr. Quansah enrolled in the inaugural program in 2022 because of his interest in dental-related careers.

“I knew I wanted some aspect of the dental field,” said Mr. Quansah. “I just didn’t have a solidified plan.”

The virtual program combined lectures with hands-on activities that helped confirm Mr. Quansah’s interest in pursuing dental hygiene as a career. Participants received boxes of dental hygiene supplies and printed materials to use at home while learning about oral health, head and neck anatomy, dental radiology, dental materials, professional roles within dentistry and the admissions process for higher education.

After high school, Mr. Quansah used what he learned through the Dental Health Summer Institute to guide his next steps. He completed prerequisite courses at a community college, shadowed professionals in dental offices and then transferred to Old Dominion University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene through the Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene.

At Old Dominion University, Mr. Quansah moved from exploring dental careers to developing the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills required to enter the profession.

Mr. Quansah graduated in May 2026, completing a journey that began with a summer program he discovered as a high school student. He now works as a registered dental hygienist in a general dental practice near his family while continuing to explore opportunities for further education.

His family played an important role along the way. Mr. Quansah’s parents came to the United States from Ghana, and he grew up in a family that strongly valued education. The middle child between two sisters, he credits his mother as one of his biggest supporters throughout his academic journey.

“I want to continue my education to the maximum I can,” he said.

For Mr. Quansah, the path from a high school summer experience to a career in dental hygiene illustrates the potential impact of introducing students to dental professions before they reach college—and giving them opportunities to see where their interests might lead.

Courtesy of Old Dominion University

Published on October 14, 2026