The Columbia Crown 2022-2023

Letter from the Editor

I’ve been a part of the editorial committee since I arrived at dental school and it has been so amazing to see not only the magazine evolving creatively over time but the Columbia in person community bounce back better than ever this year.

After rounding up our collection of articles for this issue, we realized there was one major theme: connections. Connections among students, faculty, and the community have strengthened immensely as we’ve come to interact with each other face to face again on a regular basis and are what make the dental school experience worthwhile. We hope to feature the links that hold our community together in various ways and hopefully to impact you, the reader, through our stories.

It has truly been an honor to cover the incredible events happening at Columbia each year. I want to thank our co-chairs, Jonathan and Sophia, for leading the committee on this issue, as well as our committee members Samuel and Caroline for their wonderful writing contributions. Also special thanks to Sophia for designing a beautiful cover! We are all incredibly proud of this edition and in the spirit of reconnecting with those around us after a period of distance, we hope you can celebrate the ways in which CDM fosters connections with us through this edition!

Rebecca Li

Contents

Editorial Staff

Editor in Chief: Rebecca Li

Chairs: Jonathan Tran and Sophia Hernandez

Committee: Samuel Cox and Caroline Hegemann

Keeping Active at Columbia

Written by Caroline Hegemann

Amidst the busy life that dental school offers, exercise often takes a back seat. However, we know that maintaining fitness is crucial for physical and mental health. Whether it’s going for a daily walk, getting to the gym, taking workout classes, or dancing as a study break, there are lots of ways to fit some physical activity into your routine. Here are some of the ways that CDM students stay active:

Join a club!

One new club on campus, the Physical Fitness club, started by D2s Sophie Gysling and Kayla Gorelick, is working to increase opportunities for group exercise, offer resources for workouts, and educate on the importance of fitness. Beyond individual wellbeing, fitness is crucial for longevity in dentistry as well. While the club is active in posting fitness videos that members can follow and giving other fitness tips, they will also be hosting a speaker event discussing the importance of hand and back health to dentistry. As

we all know, the body is a system, and health in one area is crucial to maintaining health of the whole!

Staying active became important to Kayla while she was studying for the DAT amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. She reminisces that “I found that running, working out, yoga, and swimming were extremely stress relieving activities and helped to ground me during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Whether studying for the DAT, cramming for BHD, or preparing for boards, long hours at the computer can be exhausting. She added that “being physically active helps me to unwind and

Above: Cameron Callahan and Drew Bott after completing the IRONMAN 70.3 Timberman in Laconia, New Hampshire.

concentrate on schoolwork after, so it is worth taking the hour out of your day to make yourself feel good!”

If physical activity isn’t a part of your routine and you’re ready to make it one, Sophie has some tips for you. She said, “Start small and don’t make your goals too lofty to begin with. You want to set yourself up for success, any movement is better than no movement!” If you’re looking for some company, she adds “turning some of your social activities into physical activities is another great way to get yourself excited about adding more movement into your week!”

Stay tuned for more activities held by this club, which may include walking tours and hikes. You can email Alex Krause (ank2171) or follow the club on Instagram @cdm. physicalwellness if you are interested in getting involved.

Another new club with a fitness focus is the High Speeds, which was started by D3s Natalia PardoLombo and Meredith Rogers. Natalia said, “The main reason for starting High Speeds is to build a running community at Columbia so people feel motivated and together when they want to run! My goals for the club are to integrate the classes as well as run races together and have more people complete the NYC Marathon.”

Natalia has run at least 9 races just in New York City. Her favorite race so far has been the Bronx 10 Miler, noting that having friends cheering you on can

make a big difference. If you’re looking for a change of scenery, Natalia said, “I love love love running at Central Park around the Reservoir! It’s so nice and calming, and there are great views at sunset hour.”

If you’re interested in joining the club, you can expect “to meet new people, go on runs, enjoy dinners/treats together and just explore NYC in another light!” Natalia recommends anyone who’s starting out to run one mile at any pace. With repetition it will get easier and more enjoyable. She added, “Even if it’s not running, I hope everyone finds something they’re passionate about outside of dentistry in dental school. This is a time when everything is overwhelming, but you really always need to remember to put yourself and your interests first because your overall health is really important. Reach out to me if you have any questions about running, school or just want to be friends and grab a coffee!”

Sign up for a challenge!

Beyond that, physical activity is a good way to challenge your abilities. Earlier this semester, D2 students Drew Bott and Cameron Callahan completed their first Ironman. Both students had a background in running and Cameron in swimming as well, so Cameron noted that the “logical challenge would be combining running, swimming, and biking” in an Ironman. He added that “it was probably the most mentally challenging thing [they’d]

Below: Natalia Pardo-Lombo and Meredith Rogers after completing the Staten Island Half last October.

Above: Kayla Gorelick and Sophie Gysling while hiking Upper Taylor Falls, Jamaica, VT.

accomplished,” but it was also incredibly rewarding.

“The ‘why’ is that we wanted to see how far we could push our bodies,” said Drew. He also reported that “neither of us had biking experience so we bought the cheapest bikes, and the longest ride we went on before the race was less than half the race distance.” They agree that the biking would have been much more enjoyable with nicer bikes (and probably more practice). Extreme races like an Ironman may not be in everyone’s future, but the boost of knowing you completed a tough rep, workout, competition, or any other physical challenge can be powerful. Drew has 3 scheduled marathons coming up, and both students plan to continue competing. If you’re looking for a new challenge for yourself, New York has a lot to offer, including races. That could be a good place to start!

Support a cause

about!

D3 Elena Healy is another student who knows a bit about New York races. This November Elena completed her first marathon in the NYC Marathon in honor of her dad who is battling stage IV renal cell carcinoma. Elena noted that when her dad, a marathoner himself, was diagnosed, “The only thing I could think to do was to sign up for the NYC Marathon, to raise money for kidney cancer research through MSKCC’s Fred’s Team. I had never run a full mile without stopping but I was determined that if I could do this, my dad could fight cancer.”

A personal challenge, pushing yourself further than what you knew was possible, can be the bearer of hope when hope is needed. The New York City marathon this year was unseasonably warm. While this made people in the stands, myself included, more comfortable, the conditions were very hard for runners. In fact, it was the city’s hottest marathon since the race was moved from October to early November in 1986.1 The higher dew point made it harder for runners to regulate their body temperatures, which resulted in more injuries and slower times. Elena felt the burden of these temperatures. She said, “I had trained in summer heat and humidity, so I didn’t let this forecast faze me. I soon learned that you cannot outrun physiology. I was experiencing new aches, increasingly high heart rates, and labored breathing for my typical pace. At mile 17, I quite literally hit rock bottom. Those aches transformed into full muscle spasms in both of my calves and my legs suddenly gave out from under me, leaving me face to face with the NYC concrete.” With 9 miles to go, she “splashed some water on [her] bleeding knees and set back on what [she] set out to do.”

At the marathon, at least 50,000 fans supported the runners2. “Running is often thought to be an individual sport, but on that day, it proved to be anything but,” Elena said. “The New Yorker’s that came out to support the runners are the only reason so many of us completed that race. The power that strangers can have by cheering your name, handing you snacks, giving you high fives, and telling you that “you can do it” can

you're passionate

Left: Elena Healy running the NYC marathon in November.

Below: Names of Elena's supporters written on her race shirt.

carry you farther than your own two legs can alone.”

Although it is extremely competitive to qualify for the New York marathon, there are also options to run through charity organizations or by running 9 NYC races in the previous calendar year. Running for an organization, such as MSKCC’s Fred’s Team like Elena, is a great way to raise money and awareness for a cause you are passionate about. If running a marathon isn’t for you, clearly the fans make a big difference, and you should consider spectating next November.

Develop a healthy relationship with exercise!

Finally, it is important that your relationship with exercise is a healthy one. D1 Bree Zhang noted that “having a good physical health is a foundation for good mental health […] Even if we can’t exercise, I think we should try to find ways to stay active because it’s so beneficial for learning and mood.” Some ways that Bree tries to stay active even on busy days are taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking the longer route home, morning runs, dancing as a study break, stretching, playing Frisbee, ice skating, ballroom dancing, and most recently joining the Columbia Latin Dance Club.

Bree said that, as she has a history of an eating disorder, she has focused on developing a healthy relationship with exercise. When an injury during dental school kept her from running and dancing, she began to “acknowledge that being active is a privilege that not everyone has, and [she is] lucky to have it usually as an available option.” She noted that she “couldn’t exercise the way [she wanted] to, leading [her] to feel out of control in parts of [her] life.” Reflecting on her relationship with exercise, she said “My goal of staying active is to nourish myself with physical activity and have fun---oftentimes enjoying movement with people helps! I try learning new sports because it puts away the “exercise” mindset and makes me focus on the “fun” and “learning” mindset of moving my body.”

The points that Bree made are essential: exercise is a very important part of wellbeing but can also be unhealthy if viewed in an extreme. Ensuring that the relationship one has with exercise is a healthy one is crucial to truly see the beneficial aspects, both mentally and physically, of physical activity. She added, “The best way to stay active is to come up with the purpose of feeling of energized and healthy.”

Above: (Left to Right) Samantha (Lewis) Eyen, Natalia Pardo-Lombo, Thi Nguyen, and Susan Zec at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile. Right: Bree Zhang ice skating this winter.

Halloween Hygiene

Compiled by Samuel Cox

This fall, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American Student Dental Association (ASDA), Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA), and Student National Dental Association (SNDA) chapters at Columbia University teamed up to host the Halloween Oral Hygiene Extravaganza. The event was held on October 30th, 2022 in Haven Plaza. Pediatric members of the Washington Heights community stopped by to play games, review effective brushing and flossing strategies, and receive goodie bags with oral hygiene supplies. The event was a hit and helped participants learn how to have fun on Halloween and take care of their teeth.

Passing the Torch

The most meaningful advice I can offer came from one of my mentors. “If I were to choose between attitude and aptitude, I choose attitude every time.” Having the right attitude goes a long way. I’m not recommending blind optimism, but rather the acknowledgment that things go wrong in spite of our earnest efforts and preparation. At times, I find even the simplest tasks humbling, not to mention the hard ones. To fail is normal and okay, to quit is not. Be a vessel for knowledge – learn at every opportunity, use the knowledge to empower your patients, and pass on the knowledge by mentoring others. And lastly, I leave you with a quote from my father at the dinner table. I know your mother isn’t a culinary genius. So when she serves you something you don’t like, don’t nibble! I think about this a lot and how it applies to clinic. Not every moment in clinic is a rewarding experience. There will be unsavory moments that require pushing forwardthe right attitude can carry you through those moments!

Dr. Lin will be pursuing a Periodontics Residency at Columbia University this Fall.

As my time at Columbia comes to an end, I look back at all the fond memories I’ve made, and there is one common denominator: friends. My friends and I studied for exams together, suffered through failures together, celebrated successes together, cried and stressed together, and explored NYC together. I don’t think I would have been able to get through dental school without my CDM family. Forming close bonds with one another is probably the biggest piece of advice I have. Yes, make time to study. Yes, make time to have fun. But don’t do it alone! Dental school is short, so make an effort to forge connections that will last a lifetime. Surround yourself with love and laughter and support, above all else.

(And if you’re heading out the door and you see a classmate in need of an assistant, take a few minutes to suction or to bring them more gauze. The universe rewards good karma!)"

Dr. Lazarova will be pursuing an Orthodontics residency at Rutgers University this Fall.

Take advantage of all of the opportunities CDM has to offer. There are so many ways to get involved outside of the classroom and it’s worth devoting some of your time to clubs and organizations.

Columbia is a pass/fail school, so while it is important to try your best in your didactic courses, all anyone will see on your transcript is an “S” for satisfactory. Building a strong CV is what will help differentiate your application from others when applying for residency programs or jobs.

This ties in to my next piece of advice: Have fun! Dental school is no walk in the park so make sure you take the time to enjoy what you enjoy. Whether it be going out on the weekends or reading in a cafe - take advantage of NYC and all there is to do here. Lastly, make sure you get your tuition's worth and go to every open bar CDM hosts!

Dr. Arroyo will be pursuing a Periodontics Residency at UCSF this Fall.

Rumi Lazarova

Joshua Lin

Nick Arroyo

Compiled by Samuel Cox

My time at Columbia was defined by a persistent sense of not knowing what I wanted to do next. I thought I wanted one thing when I started and I went in every direction possible. I figured out what I wanted to do in the end but the journey I had to get here turned out to be one of the most fulfilling. So, with that being said, my advice to a budding dentist is to explore every opportunity possible while you’re here. You may want one speciality but shadow the others. What’s great about Columbia is that every speciality is available to us and all of

Build yourself over the next four years. You are given a great opportunity to grow, both professionally and personally, which will create a foundation for how you approach your career. These are the three things that I feel benefited me the most in dental school: Be proactive. In clinic, try to approach each day as an 8-4 job. You may find yourself getting cases, developing your skills, or assisting procedures you wouldn’t have if you were not in clinic. Keep an open mind. Take advantage of all the great post-graduate programs and shadow the residents, even if you might not think you want to go into a specific area. You might surprise yourself! Specialties are intertwined, so seeing the residents’ work might give you an appreciation for what they do and how you may work closely with that field in the future. Remember the big picture (I still remind myself of this each day). Cancellations and meeting requirements are stressful and hectic. Some days will be more frustrating than others, but turning this energy into something positive that can benefit you will help form that foundation I mentioned earlier. We’re all headed where we’re supposed to go and where we dreamed of going, so as someone

the residents and pg faculty are so willing to let you shadow and ask questions. Your exposure to dentistry is so limited in the classroom. You really start to appreciate each speciality when you’re able to see it first hand. Plus, the more you know, the better! We’re all here to be general dentists even though a lot of us will go on to specialize. Take your four years and learn as much as you can!

My other, more practical piece of advice is to begin early. Prosth cases, competencies, etc. — start them as soon as you can! It’ll be daunting, but the best way to learn is diving in head first. This is the best environment to make mistakes and ask questions, besides, the earlier you dive in the more time you’ll have to get better.

And lastly, don’t forget to have fun! These four years go by so quickly and soon enough your beloved classmates will be scattered across the country. The most important aspect of dental school are the relationships you’ll forge. Go out and enjoy the city with your classmates!

Dr. Chan will be pursuing an Endodontics Residency at Tufts University this Fall.

close to me said, “don’t wish the time away”. Enjoy these four years in the city with your friends!

Dr. Gauch will be pursuing a General Practice Residency at VA Boston/Harvard School of Dental Medicine this Fall.

Cordelia Chan

Kathryn Gauch

Tying the Enamel Knot

Written by Sophia Hernandez

Amidst the linoleum hallways of the Vanderbuilt clinic, some may be surprised to learn that there may be more than just enamel dust floating in the air. You may wonder; is it the sweet smell of melted plastic? Is it the frantic energy of someone completing a competency? Maybe. But what I'm talking about is something deep, something evanescent, something rare. Well my friends, it's love.

Since the birth of CDM in the year 1916, generations of dental students have experienced the wrath that is the dental school curriculum together. There is little in this world that is more unifying than the collective suffering, growth, and blossoming that takes place within these dental school walls. As we ride the waves and the troughs as a class, bonds naturally form. They fluctuate from acquaintances, to friends, to foes to friends again, and dare I say- lovers?

It is not unusual to see CDM romances come and go with the tides. It was then I began to wonder; in the 106 years that CDM has been running, there must have been some romances that were able to brave the borderline myth that is Lifelong Commitment. In a fervent curiosity born out of the fact that I’m nosy, I went on a search to find the couples that have stood the test of time all the way into matrimony. To my great surprise I found not one, but TWO couples whose love began in the very hallways we walk through every day. Two couples, two different generations, one wild ride.

Picture this: it's the year 2017, a time when salt bae was peak internet humor and Despacito was everyone's inner monologue. It all started in the chaos of orientation, when a girl from the suburbs of Chicago named Silvia, met a boy named Salaar from Long Island. As the reality of dental school settled in, the two budding acquaintances quickly turned into loyal study buddies. Soon, they spent long nights studying together under the romantic ambient lighting of the Knowledge Center.

“We just started spending a lot of time together that way. It wasn't like, oh, I need to figure out what I want. I actually really enjoyed studying with him, even our study breaks were fun,”

One study break at a time, the bond between Silvia and Salaar grew from acquaintances to study buddies to best friends. Like the beginning of any good relationship, it was obvious to everyone in the class except these two that they were destined to be together. Flash forward to halloweekend; the pinnacle of New York City nightlife. All of the important questions were swirling inside everyone's head. Going out or staying in? Apartment party or bar crawl? Sexy cat or Pitbull? Through the chaos of halloween plans, Salaar had a clear vision of his perfect halloweekend; one spent with Silvia.

“He had these tickets to a Halloween party, and he came to me and said, ‘I‘ll give you a ticket if you want, but I don't really want to go. Maybe we can just go to dinner instead?’”

And just like that, his shot was shot. As the nonexistent studio audience bit their nails in suspense, Silvia contemplated the next move, for this was no ordinary study break.

“That was was probably one of the first times where I realized this is not a study break,” Silvia explains, “in my head I was like, ‘okay, I like him,’” It was then that she reached into the deep darkness of the friendzone, and pulled Salaar to freedom. Their relationship grew at first under wraps, and to nobody's surprise, they were soon publicly dating. Together they braced the rest of BHD, unlocked the wonders of preclinic, and embarked on their clinical years. But truthfully, we are no stranger to the CDM flames that come and go. How, you may be wondering, did they move from “until dental school do us part”, to “until death do us part?” Well, they adopted a dog together. Their life long trajectory of love was solidified by an adorable Yorkie named Tortellini.

“I think when we got Tortellini… that was probably when we were like, ‘okay, this is like serious,’”

One Christmas evening, surrounded by both of their families, Salaar received the best gift either of them could have imagined; Silvia's agreement to have her hand in marriage. They had their wedding during dental school, their love celebrated by friends and family. It was a full circle moment, as it was their dental school peers that watched Silvia and Salaar go from acquaintances, to study buddies, to friends, to besties, to finally husband and wife. Who knew that a love born in the lonely study rooms of the Hammer, could become one that was everlasting. They are now both pioneering their journey as Orthodontics residents; a budding power couple if I’ve ever seen one. We all hope that one day we will find a love as steady as Salaar and Silvia’s. Keep your eyes peeled, your ears sharp, and your heart open; you never know what connections are lurking around the corners of CDM waiting for you.

Wait. What’s that sound? The walls of PH7 are whispering something. They are saying….there is but another iconic love story founded on CDM’s campus. A love as rosy as the pink on an H&E stain, and as complex as the development of the chondrocranium. Yes, that's right–it's the story of our very own, Dr. Letty Moss-Salentijn and Dr. Melvin Moss. It all started at the State University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, in the very first lecture of Dr. Salentijn’s dental school education. As she was inundated with new information on her first day, her professor began mentioning names of researchers. As she was scribbling down these names in her fresh notebook, little did she know she was going to write down the name of her future husband. Flash forward to her clinical years when she began her journey in histology. Off to Finland she went for an internship in an oral histology lab led by one of the field's up and coming leaders, Professor Koski. One day, Professor Koski announced that his former teacher was visiting from New York to visit his lab; the one, the only, the pioneer of the Functional Matrix Theory, Dr. Moss.

“I was listening to his teachings, and it was all very interesting. He convinced me about the functional matrix right there. He was serious, he was already a professor. I was quite honored by his presence,” recalls Dr. Salentijn.

The trio spent all day leaning over animal slides and discussing the Functional Matrix theory, before Dr. Moss returned to America. As reality found Dr. Salentijn once again, she returned to the Netherlands to finish her dental degree. She spent her days working in the clinic and dental histology lab, as she believed she was destined to do. But a mischievous fiend called fate had another idea. A note written on Columbia University letterhead arrived at her desk, asking her if she would be interested in becoming a postdoc. Who wrote this note you may be wondering? The note came from Dr. Moss himself. Although she was hesitant about the transition, Dr. Salentijn knew that this was a one of a kind offer and started to make arrangements to move to the big apple to join the world-renown CU Department of Anatomy. Unfortunately, Dr. Salentijn’s mother fell very ill, and Dr. Salentijn rejected the offer to guide her mother through her last months of life. Although fate swung and missed, it was not quite finished yet. After her mother passed, Dr. Salentijn received yet another note from Dr. Moss, who recently had been appointed head of the new Oral Biology Division. This made it possible for him to offer for an assistant professorship to a junior colleague; an offer she couldn't refuse. “At a ripe old age of 25, I came across the world and I said, ‘Hello, here I am,’” Just like that, she packed her bags and moved to New York City. It was there where she would start her career teaching oral histology and working with Dr. Moss in his laboratory.

As Dr. Moss and Dr. Salentijn have made a significant mark in orofacial anatomy and oral histology, it only makes sense that they began their love story as

intellectual soulmates. They spent endless amounts of time in the laboratory working through the problems facing oral histology. They divided up the project in ways that complimented each other's strengths; Dr. Salentijn was the microscopic anatomist, and Dr. Moss was the course anatomist. Dr. Salentijn dealt with cartilage and Dr. Moss dealt with bone. Micro anatomist and course anatomist; bone and cartilage; Yin and Yang.

“It was like we were writing the paper while we were talking,” Dr. Salentijn describes, “It was that kind of connection. That was why we were successful working together,”

They found themselves spending 12 hour days together in the laboratory; although it was an oral histology lab, chemistry was building as well. Early on in their professional relationship she noticed the ease of their communication, something that would draw her to choose Dr. Moss as her husband.

“There were no real dates. He just at some point said that he enjoyed talking with me. He enjoyed being with me, that kind of just became something. After a while we said, ‘Hey, you know, this is, this works fine’. Well, I like you. He liked me. Everything went cool.” recalls Dr. Salentijn.

After two years of spending time with each other, Dr. Salentijn was ready to be married to her soulmate Dr. Moss. The only thing standing in their way was an age gap.

“There was a little difference in age. I didn't mind too much, but he did mind a lot. He felt that it was inappropriate for him to ask me to give up my youth. In the end we decided it was perfectly alright.”

As the old adage goes, love knows no age; the couple married anyway and the risk was well worth it. Their age difference ended up strengthening their love, as Dr. Moss had already made it in the world of histology- he was able to spend the rest of his career helping Dr. Salentijn achieve her own professional dreams. Hand and hand they shaped the world of oral histology together. They had a strict 10pm notalking about- work rule, and in those late hours they bonded through not only oral histology, but also their passions for reading, and the opera.

“It was a deep love because we were very much the same kind of people that enjoyed being together. He was very protective of me and I adored him. We were just so fond of each other. ”

We can only hope to one day find the micro anatomist to our course anatomist; the bone to our cartilage; the Yin to our Yang. An everlasting love born within the walls of Columbia Dental Medicine seems like a far fetched dream. One burning question remains- What is it that made the love that these two Columbia couples have so successful? Well lucky for us, they were gracious enough to share their wisdom.

From Silvia and Salaar, we saw a love that flowed so naturally from friendship to much more. For those that find themselves lingering in the friend zone, Silvia’s advice, put simply yet elegantly:

“Shoot your shot. But also be understanding if it doesn't work out, some people might not be in the right headspace.” And once you do get together, “Put each other first”.

As we have seen with Salaar and Silvia’s love story, sometimes the bravest thing you can do is take a leap of faith for love, despite the obstacles that come with navigating a budding romance amidst dental school social politics. Salaar and Silvia inspire us to open our hearts a little more, to take that risk, as we never know what is waiting for us on the other side.

So let's say you've shot your shot and landed a potential partner- now what? Well, now we can turn to the love story of Dr. Salentijn and Dr. Moss: a love story born out of an unwavering intellectual bond, seamless communication, and a little bit of luck. For those of you preparing for your future lifelong partner, Dr. Salentjin’s greatest advice is “that you have to have a total, total- I cannot stress it enoughtotal love for the other person.” Dr. Salentijn goes on to explain, “You have to look beyond the outer appearance to see the beauty of the person inside.”

Countless hours in the laboratory made it possible to look past the wall of trivial differences, to build a bond not between people, but between souls. As demonstrated by Dr. Moss and Dr. Salentijn, communication seems to be a pillar of a successful relationship. When asked about how they dealt with conflict, Dr. Salentijn explained “ There was never a fight in our lives; we were never yelling at each other. If there were disagreements that we continued to disagree about, we just said, ‘okay, there will be a disagreement on this point, and we'll just leave it alone.’” Dr. Salentijns biggest advice when it comes to disagreements, is “The one thing that we never did is go to sleep fighting.” Dr. Salentijn explains, “We were both so committed that we never would let [things] come between us.”

Their unparalleled commitment to each other and open communication allowed them to talk through disagreements rather than let them turn into big fights. The lessons learned from Dr. Moss and Dr. Salentijn can be carried to all types of connection, platonic or romantic, allowing us to be better partners and even better friends. This article would not be complete without a final round of clichés: To be human is to seek love; whether that is a love for yourself, a love for your friends, a deeper romantic love with someone you are with. Luckily for us, as demonstrated by these couples, the Columbia Dental Medicine experience is ripe with opportunity to foster these connections. As so beautifully showcased in the story of Silvia and Salaar, Dr. Moss and Dr. Salentijn, sometimes the truest love is in places that you least seek it. When that love is found, and it is rare and beautiful- hold onto it and foster it. So, as you wander through the rows of dental chairs in VC7, know that maybe there is more than just enamel dust floating in the air. Maybe, just maybe, there is love.