At UTime College, Mila Zeltser runs vocational courses for dental assistants. They take place in the evenings twice a week - this allows students to combine study with work.
”I immigrated to Israel having a diploma in philology – as teacher of the Russian language and literature,” says Mila. “But in the late 1970s, no one was interested here in either my perfect Russian language or my diploma with honors as a teacher. I was offered to retrain and was sent to a special course for “academaim”.
During the course, Mila mastered the skills of a dental assistant. She started working in Bat Yam in the department of the Clalit Health Services. Soon, the doctor Mila worked with was promoted and transferred to Rosh Hayin. He also invited his assistant to go on working there.
“I worked there as a senior dental assistant for many years,” says Mila.
About 10 years ago, Mila Zeltser was invited to teach at the Academic College of Management, and then at UTime College (head office in Rishon LeZion).
“It hurts you when you see how philologists, especially Russian language teachers, work in Israel and what meager pay they get”.
”You are absolutely right,” says Mila Zeltser. “It’s just that few of them ever think of taking a risk and trying themselves in a completely new industry.”
“The dental assistant course is quite challenging, isn't it?”
“A student can be trained in a month”, says Mila Zeltser, “but he will act like a robot, not understanding what he is doing. Such a student will remember that the doctor needs to be given this or that instrument, but will never answer the question: why? I teach my students differently. The main thing for me is that every student not only learns the names of tools and materials, but thoroughly understands the essence of the treatment process”.
From the point of view of Mila Zeltser, the profession of a dental assistant has many similarities with the specialty of a surgical nurse.
“In fact, the assistant’s thought should be at least one step ahead of the doctor’s thought,” she explains. “The assistant must not only be able to perform some manipulations - the main thing for him is to understand what physiological processes occur, what and why the patient feels during this”.
“In Israel, as throughout the world, extremely complex implantation operations are performed. During such an operation, the dental assistant essentially acts as a nurse in the surgical department, right?”
“Yes, but a novice assistant will not be allowed to participate in such an operation - this requires experience,” says Mila Zeltser. “You need to know by heart the purpose of each tool and understand what you are doing. My students dream of going into the operating room, although this work is not easy. Firstly, there must be complete mutual understanding between the assistant and the doctor - including at the level of glances, without words. Secondly, the assistant often requires even more patience than the doctor. For example, in working with children. They, and especially their parents, need a special approach. The specialty is incredibly interesting.”
“And it's very popular, isn't it?”
“My graduates work in almost all health insurance funds and in many private dental clinics. And also in hospitals! As a rule, they are hired with pleasure: a diploma from our UTime college is quoted. For example, my graduate now works at the Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petah Tikva, assisting leading surgeons in operations performed under general anesthesia. At Clalit-Smile, this graduate was quickly promoted, where she holds the post of shift supervisor. Another former student of mine from Bat Yam also works in a hospital. I usually recommend to my students: never stop studying, work hard, develop your skills, progress and take additional professional courses.”
Mila gives another example:
“Now an endocrinologist is studying in my group. She had not yet passed the license confirmation exam and decided not to waste time - she went to study to become a dental assistant. Another young woman-accountant began studying with us. In Russia, she worked remotely. And she was mortally tired of languishing within four walls. She came to Israel and decided to re-study... Quite a lot of nurses are studying with me. The nurses are experienced. They find it incredibly interesting to learn."
One day, a nurse who had once confirmed her diploma in Israel and had worked in her specialty for several years in a therapy department of a large hospital signed up for a course with Mila.
“In the end, she felt that she was tired and burned out at work,” says Mila. “She decided to retrain as a dental assistant. The salary is no worse than in the therapy department, but the work is easier.”
“Is the specialty of dental assistant in demand among men?”
“Yes! A young engineer is studying with me now, and a school teacher is finishing his course,” says Mila Zeltser. “In general, there are many teachers among our graduates. In Israel, most of them were initially forced to work as security guards or cleaning staff. The salary is minimal. And suddenly they get a diploma of a dental assistant. White robe. Communication with doctors and patients. Self-esteem immediately increases, as does your salary. You go to work and you feel happy. It is an unspeakable joy for me to meet my graduates. They are very happy!”
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