The Craftsmanship of Public Health

Amanda Lossef is a senior majoring in psychology, but she isn’t planning a career in social work or counseling. Instead, she wants to use her knowledge of the human mind in a different care profession: dentistry.

“For dentistry, you can major in anything,” Lossef said. “I felt that studying psychology would help me to better understand people and develop my empathy.”

The dentist’s office isn’t the most popular place. It can be anxiety-inducing, with sharp instruments and intricate procedures, so dentists need to know how to communicate clearly and calm patients down.

Dentistry is, on the surface, a scientific field, but for Lossef, it’s as much an art form. Outside classes, she likes to draw with pastel and charcoal, sew clothing, and craft leather works like wallets and pocketbooks. And with the same hands, she looks forward to designing dentures, crowns, and restorations that not only promote oral health, but also look natural and aesthetically pleasing.

“I really appreciate the intricacy required in dentistry, the detail of that work, and the idea that I’ll be helping people while working with my hands,” Lossef said. “It’s exciting that I’ll get to combine my interests in art, craftsmanship, and working with people to improve their health, while acquiring a deeper knowledge of science and the human body.”

Craftsmanship is what drew her to the Health Science Library’s Makerspace and Virtual Reality Studio, where she’s worked for the past year. She introduces students to the various tools and resources in each space, answers questions, troubleshoots problems and equipment malfunctions, and even helps patrons with design, like making medical devices or sewing clothing.

“There’ll often be someone who walks in for the first time, and I get to welcome them in and give them a tour. And I’m always excited when people come in again, and I see their progress and growth. That’s my favorite part,” Lossef said.

Her favorite projects are medical-related, of course. Lossef has helped people use resin printers to make surgical guides for dentistry, and one researcher made replicas of human teeth from an archeological excavation. She’s also helped students design artificial joints, models of the pharynx, blood pressure cuffs, and an insulin pump holder for people with diabetes.

“It’s exciting to see how people can be creative with devices that improve the lives of people who have diseases or require medical treatments,” she said.

Lossef came to the university from Washington, D.C., where she grew up. She heard the people of Minnesota are very nice, “and I find that to be true,” she said. She was able to make friends through student groups, like the chess club and the pre-dental club, and also through the Makerspace.

She met another student who was majoring in apparel design, just as Lossef was finishing making a skirt and blouse at the Makerspace, and the two took a trip together to see commercial sewing machines in the Design School in St. Paul.

“It’s fun to find people to connect with who are also creative,” Lossef said. “The Libraries are really creative spaces. It’s pretty amazing that people can come here, and use these resources without an additional fee, and learn new skills.”

Steven Bleau, the Makerspace lab manager, said Lossef’s presence has helped transform the area into a community hub, turning a complex space into something that feels accessible to everyone.

In the first few months of her tenure, the Makerspace saw a net increase of 1,294 visitors compared to the same period the year prior. That 28 percent growth isn’t a coincidence, he said.

When Lossef attended a formal tour for the University’s Dental School, for example, she reflexively advocated for the Makerspace and VR Studio, and promoted the space and services to her fellow prospective students.

“What distinguishes Amanda is her ability to seamlessly integrate her academic journey with her role at the Libraries,” Bleau said. “It is this natural, almost instinctive drive to champion the library’s mission that makes her such a standout member of our team.”

After Lossef graduates this semester, she’s heading to New Jersey to attend the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. She plans to become a general dentist, so she can see people of all ages and handle a wide variety of cases.

“I’m very grateful to my supervisors, my mentors in the Makerspace and VR Studio. They’re really kind people, and they’ve been very generous with their knowledge and in training me,” Lossef said. 

This article is an excerpt of a longer article published by the University of Minnesota Libraries. Read the original article.

By Adria Carpenter