Dow BDS students secure 3rd position at DentalInnovate 2.0 with mental health research

KARACHI: A group of undergraduate dental students from Dow International Dental College (DIDC) clinched 3rd position in the poster presentation category at DentalInnovate 2.0, a national dental research event held at the Expo Center, Karachi and hosted by Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry (LCMD).

The student team’s research, titled “Perceived academic stress, subjective happiness, and satisfaction with life among BDS students at Dow International Dental College,” explored the complex link between academic pressure and emotional well-being within dental education — a subject that often goes unaddressed in professional training.

Using internationally validated psychological scales, the study measured how academic stress influences levels of happiness and life satisfaction among dental students. The findings highlight the urgent need for institutions to treat student mental health as a core component of academic policy.

“Our aim was to spotlight the emotional challenges dental students face under rigorous academic demands,” said one of the lead presenters. “We’re proud that our work has started this important conversation.”

The team included BDS students Rafia Imran, Dua Noori, Navera Nadir, Omema Yousuf, and Hareem Rizwan, working under the mentorship of Dr. Tehniat Ahmed. All are enrolled at Dow International Dental College, a constituent institution of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS).

Organized annually, DentalInnovate 2.0 draws participation from dental institutions across Pakistan, offering a platform for students and early-career researchers to present innovative ideas and scientific findings. This year’s competition saw dozens of entries from across the country, making the Dow team’s win especially significant.

Participants had the opportunity to interact with faculty, peers, and senior professionals from multiple institutions. Judges at the event commended the Dow students for choosing a topic of growing importance in the academic and clinical landscape.

The team credited their success to strong institutional support and guidance from faculty:

“This achievement would not have been possible without the encouragement of our mentors and the research-friendly environment provided by Dow.”

The students now hope to expand their research and advocate for better support systems within dental colleges, including counseling services and stress management training.