July 13, 2026

UP high schoolers explore oral health careers through Planet Smilez

Marquette, Mich. — On July 11, more than 30 high schoolers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula explored oral health careers through Planet Smilez’s Discovering Dentistry Symposium, a one-day, immersive experience designed to connect children to a future in oral health. The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health hosted the event.

“This program helps students see themselves in careers they may have never considered,” said Kathryn Pawlak, DDS, founder of Planet Smilez. “By meeting different kinds of oral health professionals and dental students, youth begin to understand that there are many paths into oral health—and that they belong in those careers.”

Throughout the day, students rotated through hands‑on activities, completed real‑world problem‑solving challenges and connected directly with University of Michigan School of Dentistry educators and dental students, who traveled upstate for the event.

The Discovering Dentistry Symposium was funded by the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF), which is committed to strengthening the oral health safety net. More than 1.9 million Michiganders, especially those living in rural northern parts of the state, live in areas where access to dental care is limited.

“Investing in UP students today helps create the oral health workforce rural communities will need tomorrow,” said Holli Seabury, EdD, executive director of the DDF. “Our goal is to encourage young people to pursue these careers and come home to practice where they’re needed most.”

In addition to learning about dentistry, dental hygiene, dental assisting and dental therapy, students were invited to continue their journey through a six‑session virtual mentorship program with Dr. Pawlak and Dr. Lauren Gritzer, Planet Smilez’s community impact and evaluation director. This opportunity pairs students with guidance and encouragement as they explore education pathways and career possibilities beyond the classroom.

To learn more about Planet Smilez and future events, visit PlanetSmilez.org.

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Media Contacts:

Jen Anderson
Delta Dental Foundation
517-375-5507
jmanderson@deltadentalmi.com