A new student-produced documentary titled “Davao Smiles” captures a humanitarian dental mission in the Philippines led by Professor Emeritus Paul S. Rose. Created by students in the communication program at the University of Utah Asia Campus, the film follows a two-day outreach event in Davao City that provides free dental care to underserved children and families. The project and documentary exemplify the power of student storytelling to highlight global collaboration and compassion.
Directed and filmed by students in Rose’s Documentary Production course (COMM 4560), “Davao Smiles” documents a volunteer effort that took place on Nov. 1–2, 2024. The team accompanied Korean and Filipino dental professionals who offered care to 91 patients as part of National Children’s Month in the Philippines. The country faces limited access to dental care, with only 2.51 dentists per 10,000 people, compared to 5.41 in South Korea.
“This was a meaningful opportunity for our students to use storytelling to highlight a global act of compassion,” said Rose. “They developed real-world production skills and saw firsthand how cross-cultural partnerships can make a difference.”
Key partners included Dr. Gamaliel Urbi of Urbidontics in Davao, who led the mission locally, and Dr. JeongWoo Lee of Chicago Dental Clinic in Bupyeong, South Korea, who organized the participation of Korean clinicians. The nonprofit Global Impact supported on-the-ground logistics, providing transportation, meals and educational materials for patients and families.
The documentary was directed by communication major Sejong Kim. “Because of all the preparation from the documentary production course, I had a clear vision and roadmap in my mind going into production, which helped me stay calm and confident while shooting,” she said. “Rather than just learning theory, we got hands-on experience that gave us real insight and confidence to make documentaries in the future. Our professor also shared practical tips we never would’ve known otherwise—like how to properly log footage or how to give valuable feedback during editing.”
Hyunjin Lee, the film’s editor, reflected on her experience as both a creator and learner. “Our time in the Philippines was quite tough—we had to deal with tight schedules, extreme heat and heavy equipment while following the cast. But in the end, it became a great memory thanks to our dream team,” she said.
Students received travel support from the University of Utah College of Humanities and the Utah Asia Campus. Local dental students and members of the Philippine Army also contributed to the project’s success, offering services and logistical help to reach underserved communities.
The film has been submitted to a national film festival in South Korea and will premiere later this year in both Korean and English. A trailer is available on the Department of Communication’s website.
To learn more about “Davao Smiles” and the students behind it, click here.