“`html
SANTIAGO, January 26, 2026 – Kim Malen Milanao Huircan is breaking barriers as the first in her family to earn a university degree, and she’s doing it while advocating for culturally sensitive dental care. Milanao Huircan recently completed her studies as a Dental Surgeon at the University of Chile, focusing her research on the oral health perspectives within Mapuche communities.
A New Doctor, A new Perspective on Indigenous Dental Health
Milanao Huircan’s thesis highlights the critical need for culturally informed approaches to dental care for Chile’s Indigenous populations.
- Milanao Huircan’s research focused on the Boroa territory and the Boroa-Filulawen intercultural Health Center.
- Her work underscores the lack of epidemiological data regarding the oral health of Indigenous peoples in Chile.
- The new doctor’s journey is a testament to the power of community support and cultural identity.
- Her thesis, titled “Dentistry and cultural identity: oral health perspectives in the Mapuche communities of the Boroa territory and the Health experience of the Boroa-Filulawen Intercultural Health Center”, is a precedent for recognizing ancestral knowledge in dental health.
Milanao Huircan’s achievement isn’t just a personal triumph; it’s a call for systemic change. “I realized that there was very little epidemiological history in the health of indigenous peoples,” she explained, noting the challenges faced by individuals in Boroa who lacked access to dental care and support networks. She aimed to address the discrimination she experienced and make visible the under-representation of Indigenous health issues within the university setting.
Honoring Heritage and Scientific Rigor
The completion of Milanao Huircan’s research, known as KySLAoOo, was guided by Dr. Marcela Farías Vergara, Director of Extension, with support from Dr. Valentina Fajreldin CHuaqui and Dr. César Leyton Robinson,academics from the Department of Public Health. The examination was chaired by Prof. Dr. irene Morales Bozo,Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry,and attended by a large contingent of dental professionals,family members,and Prof. Do
“Her work is a testament to the strength and resilience of future generations of our origin.” She attributed her daughter’s success to a foundation of respect, love, and the importance of reading, instilled by her grandfather.
Related
