To date, the most important achievement of UAM-X has been the development of an original teaching proposal specifically planned to address national problems.
The theoretical basis of the Xochimilco Project and its educational methodology is based on:
1. The link between the teaching-learning process and the current social problems;
2. The development of a methodology that builds upon that linkage; and
3. The emergence of a new type of relationship between university and society.
The relationship with concrete problems of society takes place through the participation of the university as a source and disseminator of knowledge. Thus, licensed dental programs are tailored to the aforementioned proposals, which suggests the training of dentists based on an analysis of the health-disease problem. This problem is expressed in terms of "transformation objects" in each of the teaching units, acting upon them through an associated service model. Dental students carry out their in-service learning activities in four dental clinics (LDC) located in different communities. The clinics are the expression of the social reality which students learn about and in which they are trained.
Accordingly, we in the area of health are led to analyze present dental service models, which do not adequately meet the needs of different socioeconomic strata. Current dental care is generally individualistic, fundamentally curative, and very expensive. UAM-X Stomatology Licentiate intends to train professionals in oral health education, promotion and prevention, who are able to perform as part of a multiprofessional health team, in a high-efficiency, low-cost service model. The program also intends to reach people and communities of different socioeconomic conditions with a health service concept that meets the needs of the majority and is available for all.
With this proposal, we joined the UNI Program and availed ourselves of an opportunity to develop a consistent, socially appropriate philosophy for integration with health services and the community. The UNI Program provides the University a chance for improving the conceptual and methodological development of the Xochimilco model whereby, in concert with the community participation, programs may be implemented to improve the population's health and well-being. Thus, primary care settings, secondary service centers such as the hospital and dental clinic, and even community meeting places all become part of the "classroom" for multidisciplinary training of health professionals.
Our proposal is grounded by an experience in the community of Tlahuac since the University was founded. The specific courses of action encompassed by this proposal are as follows:
1. To complete an epidemiological oral health survey as part of the community diagnosis and to define preventive and essential treatment programs designed to reach specific high risk groups.
2. To contribute to the improvement of health centers infrastructure and to plan dental care systems and models.
3. To expand the coverage of primary and secondary dental services by incorporating UAM's students in ongoing community programs and organizing an oral health referral network.
4. To update university and services dental personnel so as to plan and operate SILOS services models and to define criteria for quality control in dentistry.
5. To participate in the training of health promoters and community members to stimulate self-care behaviors.
The Licentiate plans for all groups to first experience a UNI Project in Tlahuac, after which lessons learned may be applied in the remaining three peripheral clinics. Teaching is to be developed such that the entire dental faculty and student body take part in the Project, thereby enhancing the acceptance of these practices by other university services.
In the context of existing social conditions, the UNI-UAM-X Project is an opportunity, an experiment, and a challenge for proving the merits of innovation in dental education and simultaneously putting into practice the concepts we teach.