Word of Mouth by JCU Dentistry | 2019

Page 1

word of

MOUTH

JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY DENTAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

2019


Š 2019 Word of Mouth All

rights

reserved.

For

permission

requests,

write

to

the

editor,

addressed "Word of Mouth Permissions", at the address below:

laura.purcell@my.jcu.edu.au

For more information about James Cook University Dental Students Association, please visit our website at www.jcudsa.org.au or send your queries to our group email at info@jcudsa.org.au

Facebook: facebook.com/jcudsa.inc Instagram: instagram.com/jcudsa Youtube: youtube.com/jcudsa

Printed in Cairns, Australia. Front cover photo courtesy of the JCU Communications Team.


MOW

Celebrating 10 years

03


CONTENTS 2019 issue


08

from the editor

10

committee members

13

presidents of past, present and future

14

Q&A with the presidents

18

all things academia

20

big fish

23

home stretch

26

social cues

33

interyear sports carnival

36

de-stressing in dentistry

38

humans of jcudsa

40

unstoppable acts of kindness

41

the Jason Park study abroad bursary

44

adsa report

45

Q&A with Prof. John Abbott

50

freshmen jitters

51

2nd year... a breeze right?

52

first patients

54

halfway party

57

the third mips cup

60

hoodies

62

committee of 2020

65

credits

MOW

CONTENTS

05


In memory of our colleague and friend, Dr. Jason Park.

Who worked hard to chase his dreams. In 2019, Jason was honoured with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery. We miss you and always will.




from the

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 2019's publication of WOM has been made possible because of the collaboration and dedication of JCU Dentistry students. I would like to thank all those who contributed to the magazine this year, for making it an enjoyable process and great issue!

Hello everyone, my name is Laura Purcell and I am

academic and nostalgic moments from the fourth years.

JCUDSA's 2019 publications and media officer and

Oh yeah, we also get some insight into what the 5th

editor-in-chief

am

year placements looked like. Tracy Doan, our mental

following in the footsteps of Julian Oronos who made

health and wellbeing officer managed to successfully

WOM possible for the last 3 years, to an incredibly

plan out many events and launch a social media 'de-

high

an

stress week' campaign. One of the highlights of Tracy's

Cairns

work this year was her take on the 'Human's of New

standard.

abundance

of

for

Word

WOM

of

has

positive

Mouth

gone

(WOM).

on

reception

to

I

receive

from

the

community and fellow universities across the country.

York'

This

photography,

year

WOM

showcases

a

series

of

committee

concept.

Along

a

with

handful

John

of

Xiong's

students,

eye

for

staff

and

members outlining some of their highlights from 2019.

supervisors shared what they do to de-stress. These

There are also some special appearances from staff and

profiles were posted daily during SWOTVAC to help

alumni too.

motivate and encourage students to take some time out of their busy study schedules. Similarly, our charity

The executive committee kicks off WOM, beginning

and community aid officers Joey Wong and Lara Bean

with a Q&A from our very first President Dr Noy

outline

Gliksman, followed by our current President Michael

including Relay for Life, Trivia Night, Rosies, and oh,

Tien.

those bake sales!

Furthermore,

(Academic

we

President)

will

and

hear

from

Elchèrü

Sabrina

Hepburn

Akl

some

of

their

accomplishments

this

year

(Social

President) as they outline their highlights from the

2019's publication of WOM has been made possible

year.

because of the collaboration and dedication of JCU Dentistry

students.

Because

of

these

extraordinary

Especially for JCUDSA's 10 year anniversary, we have

students, putting time aside out of their busy schedules,

been lucky enough to interview Professor John Abbott,

JCUDSA has continued to thrive over the year and

who has been apart of the James Cook University

WOM has been created to recognise and highlight such

Dental School from its foundation. We find out a bit

efforts. Please look to the end of WOM for a list of

about the man himself and what JCU Dentistry means

credits. On behalf of JCUDSA, I would like to thank

to him and how far it has come.

our sponsors and our sponsorship team. Be sure to follow JCUDSA on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and

From 1st year to 5th year, you will get to have a taste

Snapchat, to keep updated on what JCUDSA is doing

of what it has been like over the year for each cohort,

academically, socially and philanthropically. Be sure to

along with a few snapshots. The year kicked off with

contact us on any social media platform if you are

O'week, welcoming the first years which included our

interesed in contributing to 2020's edition of WOM.

'Ice-breaker'

at

Cairns

Student

Lodge,

'Scavenger Hunt' and 'Cairns Ultimate Party Bus'. We

Thank you for taking the time for reading WOM 2019,

hear

we

about

the

highstakes

in

second

year,

the

first

patients and halfway party for the third years, and the

appreciate

the

support

for

JCUDSA

and

JCU

Dentistry students.

WRITTEN BY LAURA PURCELL | JCUDSA PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA OFFICER

MOW

annual

09


2019 committee members JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY DENTAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

MICHAEL TIEN

EMILY TRINH

VAGISHA BAVEJA

President

Vice-President

Secretary

JOHN XIONG

ALIYA PEER

SABRINA AKL

Treasurer

Sponsorship Co-ordinator

Academic President

ELCHÈRÜ HEPBURN

JOHN SWAIN

ANUM KHAN

Social President

IT Officer

Sponsorship Officer

NIRJYOT GILL

LARA BEAN

JOEY WONG

Sponsorship Officer

Charity & Community Aid Officer

Charity & Community Aid Officer

LAURA PURCELL

RENEE AITKEN

ALEXANDRA MORGAN

Publications & Media Officer

5th Year Social Representative

4th Year Social Representative


2019 committee members JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY DENTAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

MASON WONG

RACHAEL LEWIS

DEXTER GROSS

3rd Year Social Representative

2nd Year Social Representative

1st Year Social Representative

LINDA HUANG

KELSIE STOKES

ROSHNI THEKKEKARA

5th Year Academic Representative

4th Year Academic Representative

3rd Year Academic Representative

GRACE TOLL

MEGAN WYDELL

ASHLEY ONG

2nd Year Academic Representative

1st Year Academic Representative

Placement Representative

PYPER SMITH

CHRYSTAL MARIE

4th Year Clinical Representative

3rd Year Clinical Representative

International Student Representative

NHI TRUONG

KAYLARNI CLOSE

TRACY DOAN

ADSA Liaison Officer

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student Representative

Mental Health & Wellbeing Officer

MOW

AARON LO

11



Q&A with the THEN AND NOW...

the

PRESIDENTS

MOW

TOP ROW: DR. NOY GLIKSMAN (2009-2011), DR. CHRIS FRANCO (2012), DR. CORBIN BARRY (2013), DR. NICOLE STOTT (2014) BOTTOM ROW: DR. JAMES MEURANT (2015), DR. KAEJENN TCHIA (2016-2017), MICHAEL TIEN (2018-2019), MASON WONG (2020)

13



Q&A

WITH THE PRESIDENT WRITTEN BY DR NOY GLIKSMAN | PRESIDENT (2009-2011)

How would you describe the first 10 years JCU dentistry?

and

for

the

most

part

there

were

no

dedicated

facilities.

It

was

important to have JCUDSA representing the students’ perspective as The James Cook University Dental School saw its first students a

these aspects were developed to give them a well rounded and fit to

decade ago with the objective to increase the accessibility to dental

purpose manner. A testament to that is how far these areas have

professionals in regional Queensland. Looking back at it now, it has

progressed, and in a student centric manner.

been an outstanding success. Not only do a large number of the graduates remain to work in the regional areas; but as a regional dental

What was the goal of JCUDSA in its beginning?

clinic owner I now consider James Cook University graduates to be the most proficient and employable of all graduates.

JCUDSA was established to give the coordinated commentary of the student body on the direction the dental program was taking and to be

I

believe

a

big

part

of

this

success

was

the

faculty’s

visionary

conducive to social bonding within the cohort.

admission process. While academic strengths are important, some of a successful

health

professional's

most

valuable

assets

are

their

interpersonal skills, ethics and values. These attributes are near to

What was the biggest highlights of your time as a president of JCUDSA?

impossible to teach and are poorly represented by academic grades in isolation.

In

making

the

effort

to

get

a

holistic

picture

of

their

Hosting the Asia-Pacific Dental Students Association Convention in

candidates, James Cook University have been able select the right

Cairns in 2012. Hosting an international conference with over 300

individuals from pools often overlooked by other institutions; and

attendees only 3 years into a new program is unheard of. It was a

produced vastly better graduates for it.

challenge, but it was also great fun.

Another aspect that separates this program from other institutions and

What was the biggest challenge of your time as a president of

shows how its design was well grounded in an understanding of the

JCUDSA?

industry is the vast exposure to and experience of clinical work. Students are exposed to the clinical aspect of dentistry both early on

I was lucky to have a great and passionate team work with me. The

and

team was dedicated and self-motivated so there was no task too big.

in

large

quantity

of

hours

throughout

the

duration

of

their

schooling. Consequently JCU dental graduates enter the work force more independent and better skilled to service their patients’ needs.

What were the things that because of money &/or time you weren’t able to do as president of JCUDSA?

How would you describe the first 10 years JCUDSA? In the early years Mitchell Rae and I had a vision to launch a JCUDSA While it is a landmark year for the school, this year also marks the tenth

anniversary

of

the

James

Cook

University

Dental

Students

Association. The association was established in the first year of the

camp tradition. Due to extenuating circumstances around the time of the first camp we had to cancel it and dismantle the idea. It’s a shame it never got going.

program in order to help support and cater for the unique needs of the dental student community. The association achieved some great feats within a few short years including representation on the Australian Dental

Students

Association

and

hosting

the

Asia-Pacific

What would be your biggest piece of advice for the future presidents of JCUDSA?

Dental

Students Association convention in Cairns in 2012. As an individual being involved in setting up this association, it has been great to see it grow and evolve with the generations of students coming through.

Why was it important to set up the student association at the same

The committee team is the most vital component to success. A well skilled and motivated committee is a great environment to fulfil your vision.

What does it mean to you to be a graduate of JCU Dentistry?

time that dentistry started? I am proud to be a graduate from JCU Dentistry. I believe the program The first cohort of dental students at JCU were very much like the first child in a family. The responsible adults were full of good intentions,

JCU hosts is one of the best in Australia and continues to produce some of the most work-ready graduates.

but there was little to go on in terms of what works in the upbringing of an outstanding dental student. There were no tried and tested rules,

Interview courtesy of the JCU Communications Team.

MOW

there were no traditions,

15


Q&A

WITH THE PRESIDENT WRITTEN BY MICHAEL TIEN | PRESIDENT (2018-2019)

How would you describe JCU dentistry?

after our late colleague, Dr. Jason Park, and we hope to continue this into the future to keep his legacy alive.

Our school is a large melting pot of people who come from all walks of life each with their own stories to tell. Our incredible diversity is

4. Another highlight was travelling to Brisbane to meet with the dental student association presidents of UQ and Griffith!

celebrated by the camaraderie between staff and students alike.

What has been the biggest challenge of your time as President of How would you describe JCUDSA today?

JCUDSA?

The JCU Dental Student Association Inc. (JCUDSA) is an inspiring

Public speaking never gets easier!

platform for JCU dentistry students to create lifelong friendships, maintain a work-life-study balance, and connect with industry through continuing professional development activities.

What are the things that because money &/or time you haven’t been able to do as President of JCUDSA?

Why is important to have a student association for dentistry students only?

Dental Camp is an idea that has come and gone in past committees. I’ll leave that to the future committee to decide!

Within any community, individuals can achieve a strong sense of belonging if they feel capable of contributing to the social fabric. Our association aims to be the platform for JCU dentistry students to do

What would be your biggest piece of advice for the future Presidents of JCUDSA?

just that. It’s reassuring to know that you’re a part of a tight-knit support network of over 350 dental students – it makes navigating

The association is heading into its teenage years, and it’s amazing to see the rich history carved out by my predecessors. With the turn of the

through the arduous journey of university a little bit easier.

decade around the corner, I would encourage future presidents and their respective committees to remain steadfast with tradition but be

What is the goal of JCUDSA? What do you stand for?

willing to put their own spin on things. Once

a

small,

humble

student

society,

our

association’s

mission

statement had been left unchanged for 8 years. Today, we are now one

On a personal level, what does JCUDSA mean to you?

of the largest university clubs on the Cairns Campus and the mission statement was recently revised to reflect modern times - "JCUDSA is a non-profit student run organisation that supports and represents the

Like many others, it was a personal experience that solidified my decision to pursue a career in dentistry. It is extremely rewarding to be

interests of JCU Dentistry students. We strive to forge a strong

able to help an individual achieve confidence with their smile, and

student culture that is enriched by co-curricular as well as extra-

JCUDSA has allowed me to channel this passion in unique ways that’s

curricular events and initiatives."

beyond the chairside. It’s a microcosm that makes you appreciate the concepts of representation and advocacy, and I believe it’s my stepping stone towards making a positive difference to the Australian dental

I’d like to think that we practice what we preach!

profession in the years to come. What has been the biggest highlights of your time as President of

What means to you being a student of JCU Dentistry?

JCUDSA?

Traditionally,

JCUDSA

was

heavily

focused

on

representing

the

I will keep this short (and I may be biased) – this is the best dental

academic interests of students and breaking up the monotony of study

school

with fun social events. Since 2018, my committee and I recognised

facilities, it is a miracle that we can study this intense degree in tropical

the need to pursue greater things. From the promotion of healthier

paradise.

in

Australia.

Aside

from

the

world-class

academics

and

lifestyles and friendly competition with sports events, to giving back to the community through charity and wellbeing initiatives, we have

How do you see JCUDSA in the next decade?

achieved amazing feats: 1. The Inter-year Sports Carnival has become a staple event on our

JCUDSA would not be here if it weren’t for the unwavering support

calendar with year groups proudly donning their team colours in a

from the university and the student body. It is important that our

show of unity. 2. Our ‘Dental Health Week’ activities received state-wide media coverage and helped us spread oral health awareness to the public

association remains receptive to contemporary social issues and act in the best interests of its members. This is our challenge for the next decade.

(thank you Carlie and Pamela for your help). 3. Our first bursary was introduced to encourage students to pursue overseas dental volunteering trips. My committee and I named this

Interview courtesy of the JCU Communications Team.


17

MOW


ALL THINGS ACADEMIA Academia is a pivotal component of Dentistry, and for many can be an overwhelming experience.

I have had the pleasure of being Academic President for

lunch

JCUDSA

beneficial changes to the curriculum.

in

perseverance

2019. and

It

has

balance

been and

a I

challenging am

grateful

role for

of

and

learns,

loupes

visits

and

supporting

new

and

the

opportunity to engage with staff, company representatives

I had an objective for this year, and that was to increase

and

student

students

from

all

year

levels

to

ensure

an

optimal

academic

experience

from

external

sources.

For

academic experience.

instance, I have had the pleasure of introducing Kavo Kerr

endodontic workshops as part of Clinical Skills Night and the

Academia is a pivotal component of Dentistry, and for many

Trade Show, which have been very well received by students.

can be an overwhelming experience. I understand that my position acts as an academic platform for all year levels, to

Additionally, due to the popularity of these events it has been

coordinate issues and concerns with staff – this has been my

suggested that mini trade shows and a second clinical skills

priority

night be introduced. I believe it is important to receive a

in

ensuring

that

all

students

are

recognised

and

represented fairly.

broad education so that students are exposed to different

techniques, advice and experience beyond the JCU Dentistry

Dentistry at JCU is a five-year degree, which to many family

faculty – after-all there is no single method of treatment when

and friends is interpreted as being too long – after all aren’t

it comes to Dentistry!

we just looking at teeth?

Before starting this degree, I would

have thought the same. It’s not until you are exposed to the

Finally,

enormity of the oral cavity that one fully understands, five

committee, staff and the academic team. I have thoroughly

years

enjoyed this role and I hope I have been able to enrich student

can

happen

too

soon.

For

this

reason,

I

have

endeavoured to take any opportunity in providing students

I

am

thankful

for

support

of

the

learning experience, that extends beyond this year.

with extra academic support, whether it be through increased

WRITTEN BY SABRINA AKL | ACADEMIC PRESIDENT

The Alumni Evening Talk

the

executive


19

MOW


big

FISH

KELSIE STOKES YEAR 4 ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVE

To begin our final year in Cairns, before fifth year placement, the fourth year students were welcomed back from a welldeserved holiday.

It appears that, with each year, the holidays

become shorter and sparser for dental students at JCU. The first semester kicked off to a great start, with an intensive research course and clinical refresher, to prepare us for the year ahead. The well-recognised hallmark of Year 4 is the simultaneous juggling of group research project duties, as well as clinic and study, with the expectation to see a greater number of patients. Our clinical sessions for the year provided invaluable experience, to better our clinical, communication and time management skills. We were always on the lookout for

interesting

and

more

complex

cases,

however

some

students were probably luckier than others.

Our

simulation

clinic

sessions

introduced

us

to

novel

procedures and enhanced our skills, after all, practice makes perfect.

While

our

lectures

explored

the

many

fields

of

dentistry in greater detail.

Though first year felt like a distant memory, many of us stood in disbelief that we were nearing the end of our time in Cairns. And to end this 18-week long semester, we were rewarded a three-week reprieve.The second semester commenced, as we eagerly awaited our fifth year placement allocations, braced ourselves for the research report deadlines and final exams. After completing a two-part, final, written exam, the reality began to set in. With fifth year just around the corner, we would

be

expected

to

be

clinically

and

academically

competent, with sufficient skills and preparation to take on whatever comes our way in final year. We will hold our time in Cairns dear, but now it is time to venture into the unknown. JCUDSA wishes the fourth year students all the best on their placements next year!


MOW

Class of 2020

21


Photo courtesy of JCU

Class of 2019


home

STRETCH ASHLEY ONG 5TH YEAR PLACEMENT REPRESENTATIVE After 4 years in Cairns, 5th year students are on the home stretch to graduation. As part of the course, students are placed across regional and remote Australia for 2 clinical rotations. It is a time that all of the students find incredibly worthwhile - it could be called a ‘professionally transformative’ experience. Many

of

the

students

also

do

elective

international

placements

including

Cambodia, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Fiji and the Soloman Islands. Interlaced with some of my own experience is a summary of the final year of BDS - with some generic-but-hopefully-useful advice.

During 5th Year, technical skills improve greatly with the increased exposure to dental procedures that off-campus placement provides. Be kind to yourself and others, proactively seeking solutions rather than dwelling on the problems. It is not always realistic to maintain an ‘onwards and upwards’ pattern to developing clinical skills. There were days that I was doing great and then one appointment comes along and I’m back to square one. At these points in time it has always helped to identify what I was doing wrong, but then elaborate on what I would do right next time. During this last year, reflective practice becomes an integral component

of

learning.

Not

only

does

the

university

encourage

this

by

mandating weekly assignments, but with the added independence in 5th year clinical rotations also motivates the soon-to-be-dentist to critique themselves and not solely rely on their supervisor’s feedback.

In the midst of developing clinical skills, the capstone year also focuses on providing skills for students to transition into the workforce smoothly. Students travel before and after placements to attend back to base in Cairns. Classes include skills for resume/cover letter writing, taking interviews, reading contracts and trying to understand taxation laws.

However, the highlight of back to bases was always reuniting with friends and trading stories about placement.

In addition to the case reports, reflective assignments and studying for exams, 5th year opens opportunities to integrate with the communities we service. During my placements in Townsville and Barcaldine, there were opportunities to attend local events such as rodeos and town festivals. Learn to make the most from any situation and lead with a positive attitude to turn complications into opportunities. Initially, I was hesitant about being placed in a remote area, however it ended up being an irreplaceable experience. Exploring and creating adventures not only eliminated the socially isolating challenges of being in a remote placement but also made my clinical work more rewarding. I would definitely recommend future students to consider stepping out of their comfort zone and electing to go to a remote placement.

Finally, I would like to congratulate my peers in the Class of 2019 for graduating this year! It has been a long year of waiting for the iPad, unexpected surgicals, 430 ROP presentations, exam/OSCE/VIVA preparation, late night case reports and portfolios. Though challenging, this degree has also given us unforgettable memories and lifelong friends. I am certain that crossing this finishing line only

MOW

marks the start of future success for all of us.

23



JCUDSA geofilter

JCUDSA has a snapchat geofilter! Swipe to the right until you find it. Try it out with location setting and wifi enabled.

MOW

AVAILABLE IN THE D1 AND D3 BUILDINGS

25


SOCIAL cues

ELCHÈRÜ HEPBURN | SOCIAL PRESIDENT

Dentistry, as we all know, can be quite stressful with many

nights

and

weekends

devoted

to

studying,

preparing for exams and assignments. It has become essential as a student to also make sure we are taking the time to de-stress, relax, enjoy life and socialise.

JCUDSA recognises the hard work students put into their studies which is why the social team plays such a crucial role in giving students events to allow for an escape (and excuse to procrastinate without feeling too bad).

JCUDSA’s

Dentistry

International

Hotel

Ball

was

a

in

2019

huge

held

success

at

Pullman

with

record

breaking numbers and the debut of dentistry’s number one YouTube hit “Pull it Out! ("Be Alright") Parody” by JCUDSA. I had such a great time organising the highly anticipated evening with Alexandra Morgan and it was so rewarding seeing the night come together with everyone, including staff, getting down and having a ‘boogie’ on the dancefloor.

This year was truly a memorable year with a fantastic social team, all of who I am so proud to have spent the year working with, organising and holding events for the student body. I’d like to thank all the representatives in the social team; Dexter Gross, Rachael Lewis, Mason Wong and Alexandra Morgan, for all of their hard work and dedication in organising events for everyone to enjoy.

We

hope

everyone

had

a

fantastic

year

and

wish

everyone a great holiday before coming back in 2020 with the new social team to do it all over again!

Photo by Toby Stanley


Check out our

MOW

music video parody!

27


Icebreaker Ice breaker

Party bus

The year commenced with Rachael Lewis doing such a fabulous job organising O Week. O Week is a great way to start off the academic year especially for the first-year students, helping them integrate into university life, connect with and meet other first year students as well as students across all cohorts.

Some of the highlights of the week included a delightful meet and greet barbecue by the beach, the annual inter year icebreaker and a scavenger hunt in the city. Not to forget, the highly anticipated (and biggest one yet!) annual party bus to finish off the week.

Scavenger Hunt


SCAVENGER HUNT

CAIRNS ULTIMATE PARTY BUS Another hugely successful social event that took place in semester one was the TOMS Mixer where JCUDSA and JCUMSA joined forces to give students in both Dentistry and Medicine the opportunity to mingle! In addition to our collaboration with medicine, this year’s MIPS Cup was held for the first time in Cairns and the . amous victory trophy returning to its homeland after a well-deserved win from dentistry.

CAIRNS ULTIMATE PARTY BUS

Another hugely successful social event that took place in semester one was the TOMS Mixer where JCUDSA and JCUMSA joined forces to give students in both dentistry and medicine the opportunity to mingle! In addition to our collaboration with medicine, this year’s MIPS Cup was held for the first time in Cairns and the trophy returned to its homeland after a well-deserved win from dentistry.

Thank you to our platinum sponsors, the Townsville Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, for their ongoing support!

MOW

TOMS Mixer

29


Halloween Night


The

semester

wrapped

up

with

another

Halloween

party

at

AJ

Hackett organised by Rachael Lewis and Dexter Gross. Alexandra Morgan has been working away in organising a final social event for the fourth years to celebrate the end of their time here in Cairns before everyone heads off on placements in fifth year. Finally, the social calendar will end with the Graduation Cocktail Party as the 5th years celebrate finishing their entire degree and get ready to enter the real world as working dentists.

MOW

.

31



INTERYEAR sports carnival The second annual Interyear Sports Carnival took place this year at Smithfield State High School (minus the rain) with the second years, The Blue

MOW

Curing Lights won overall! It was a tight call with the fourth years, The White Spot Lesions, coming a close second only a few points behind.

33



The Blue Curing Lights - Year 2

MOW

Winners of The Second Interyear Sports Carnival

35


de-stressing

IN DENTISTRY

TRACY DOAN | MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OFFICER Stress and anxiety. These words are often demonstrated in the exam

and supervisors with helpful study tips and allowing them to share these

halls of JCU as students scurry around for their seat, biting their nails

habits and ideas with the rest of the dentistry cohort.

and pulling their hair whilst trying to memorise the citric acid cycle or the dimensions of crown preparations. It’s a scene many of us can relate

With the prevalence of social media in our daily lives, this series proved

to and hope to pass through successfully, only to have to endure the

to be successful in reaching a large number of students and undoubtedly

next gruelling round of exams.

gave them some much needed motivation for the upcoming exams. During

R

U

OK?

Day

and

Mental

Health

Week,

students

were

A recent cross sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia showed that

encouraged to voice their opinions on the issues surrounding mental

dental

health

students

report

higher

levels

of

anxiety,

depression

and

and

suicide.

Students

were

provided

with

delicious

goods

interpersonal sensitivity than the general population and similarly-aged

courtesy

students in other fields of study. To combat this growing statistic,

messages gave students a reason to smile and encouraged opening up

mental health was prioritised this year to ensure that all students felt

the conversation on mental health. We also managed to raise $300 from

supported throughout the year, particularly during the exam season.

our bake sale for Headspace. During Mental Health Week, we were

of

MIPS

and

ADSA.

A

large

board

covered

in

positive

fortunate to have Dr. Jean Wu offer her time and expertise in posture

When I took on the role of Community and Wellbeing officer for 2019,

and core strengthening. She delivered a lecture as well as intimate

I had a vision to reduce the high levels of student stress that permeates

pilates classes catered towards small groups. Not only was the program

throughout our dental degree (and peaks during exam time). I felt

enlightening and refreshing, it was also much needed for students

strongly about the importance of the topic of mental health and strived

experiencing physical strain from seeing patients in the clinic.

to

create

a

supportive

environment

where

students

could

feel

comfortable to talk about the their own mental health and de-stress

Whilst undertaking this role, I never expected to learn more about

during exam periods.

myself.

As

exams

came

around,

I

turned

my

personal

stress

into

motivation to help students relax. This allowed me to take my mind off

This year was jammed-packed with various de-stressing activities open

the upcoming exams that were looming ahead of me. Helping others in

to all students with the goal of stress relief and relaxation. SWOTVAC

this way assisted me in learning to balance my studies with other

support

commitments.

week

comprised

of

JCUDSA’s

collaboration

to

external

organisations to deliver what all students love: furry friends and food. This

year,

generously

we give

were their

fortunate time

to

enough

to

introduce

have

RSPCA

students

to

volunteers

their

adorable

puppies. Additionally, Red Frogs served up some delicious pancakes for students to enjoy, RHINO served up some hot snags and we happily fed pizzas to a crowd of eager students as they de-stressed over board

This

year

was

a

year

of

collaboration

with

various

external

organisations to provide the greatest level of support to all students. It is hoped that these partnerships continue into the coming years as they provide us with the opportunity to help out fellow students during hard times.

games. Exam study care-packs were also handed out consisting of much needed tooth shaped stress balls.

It is fundamental that during the course of this demanding degree, we do not lose sight of the importance of prioritising our mental

The large turnouts to these activities and the huge smiles that subsequently followed, truly demonstrated to ability for the student association to reach and provide mental health support to the wider dental student population. Another highlight was the first ‘Humans of JCUDSA’ social media series that involved garnering students

health. Preparation and balance are key in the journey to success. Buddha once said that life is a balance between what we can control and what we cannot. It’s all a balancing act, and JCUDSA will always be there to guide you through your exams! (Shout out to John Xiong who took this amazing photo of me!)


RSPCA

Yoga with Dr Jean Wu

MOW

"Buddha once said that life is a balance between what we can control and what we cannot."

37


JCUDSA fo snamuh

Caroline Ho 1st Year Dentistry

Cassidy Redden 4th Year Dentistry

Lauryn Attard 2nd Year Dentistry

Stephan Fischer Dental Technician


“In Cairns, we don’t really get many options to destress when we feel overwhelmed. But I’d normally go chasing waterfalls or hikes. It’s also important to have

someone

to

talk

to.

Surround

yourself

with

friends that understand what’s going on in your life! We all gotta admit, it’s hard to carry all the burden by ourselves, we all need friends. After a hard day of clinic, I would have a really nice hot shower, then head straight to gym to sweat myself out and finish my day with binging on fried food such as KFC. Time management is probably the most important thing, especially when you’re studying dentistry. I like to set goals, such as if I wanna go party on Sunday, then I have to get a certain amount of work done before then. Look at your social life events as rewards for studying.”

TROY CHENG 4TH YEAR DENTISTRY

“I try to be honest with myself and what I can achieve, I set goals around study that are actually achievable, because otherwise it can be easy to beat myself up. I think it is important to acknowledge that social life and sleep are also important, they keep us sane, and help motivate us during the hard study times. I try to make sure that I have my set aside break times, so I can process what I have learnt, and also so I don’t burn out. I find it satisfying to tick off what I have achieved throughout the day, so I feel like I am achieving my goals. During exams, I also try to exercise, sleep well and eat well, I find it helps me to stay motivated, and I feel well enough to study as hard as I need to."

LESLEY NIGH 3RD YEAR DENTISTRY

“I found university just as stressful as anyone else. Back

then

I

didn’t

have

as

good

of

a

coping

mechanism as I do now, it just comes to experience. For me in SWOTVAC, I used to get out and do stuff like go fishing, motor bike riding and catching up with mates, otherwise I got cabin fever and went stir crazy.

Procrastination

is

a

killer.

If

you’re

procrastinating, you’re wasting your time. If you’re not fully committed to studying, you might as well be doing something else with your time. It all comes down

to

passion,

when

times

are

hard

you

will

naturally find the motivation to keep going. If you’re in love with what you’re doing and have passion, even in the times of struggle, you won’t find it that difficult, because you’re working towards something

DR CALEB PETRE JCU DENTAL SUPERVISOR AND ALUMNUS

MOW

meaningful.”

39


unstoppable

ACTS OF KINDNESS This year, we introduced a new bursary remembering Dr. Jason Park to support dentistry students to study abroad and gain valuable experience through overseas volunteering programs. We believe that there is more to dentistry than academia and

morning tea attracted more people and funds towards our new

the standard social mixers. As charity officers, we hoped to

bursary fundraiser. We also continued our annual donation of

draw focus to new charity organisations through improved

oral hygiene kits to the local homeless charity - Rosies.

fundraising activities. This year, we introduced a new bursary remembering Dr. Jason Park to support dentistry students to

Returning from the long semester break, we formed a dentistry

study abroad and gain valuable experience through overseas

team to represent at the Relay for Life event raising funds for

volunteering programs.

the Cancer Council Cairns. With the overwhelming support and

We

dived

into

student

Chelsea

writing

organisation. Despite the exhaustion and morning fatigue, the

complimentary and positive notes to their fellow peers as an

overnight event was a roaring success. To tie up the semester,

act of kindness.

our final gig of 2019 was Trivia Night. Although there were

incoming

students

to

chance

engage

in

for the

Valentine’s

dentistry

and raised sufficient funds towards the renowned community

a

a

year

new

gave

with

1st

Hirschmann, we were able to orchestrate the event smoothly

which

2019

from

day

installation

O-week

commitment

existing novelty

and of

many hiccups along the way, we took a new route in location As tradition, we held our first bake sale raising funds towards

and hosted our first Trivia Night at the McAllister Brewing

the new bursary. Thanks to the countless bakers who gave up

Company which offered an intimate and enjoyable evening

their

an

space. After months of preparation, we were proud to pull off

overwhelming success in funds to kick-start the Jason Park

one of the main events of the year. Overall, we had positive

Bursary. Not long after, we held Australia’s Biggest Morning

feedback and encouragement from all students and staff.

tea

Bachie

with

an

nights

to

Instagram

help

bake

worthy

goodies,

twist.

there

Inspired

was

from

social

media, we arranged our morning tea into a giant platter that

Being charity officers this year has been very rewarding and

enabled a more intimate and unique experience for students

we hope the next representatives will continue some of the

and staff to enjoy. Our quirky twist to the traditional biggest

traditions that embodies this role.

WRITTEN BY JOEY WONG & LARA BEAN | CHARITY AND COMMUNITY AID OFFICERS

Relay for Life

Rosies


It was with a heavy heart that we shared the news of the passing of our beloved friend and colleague, Dr. Jason Park earlier this year. He was an amazing nurse and we could only imagine the great dentist he would have become.Â

In honour of our fellow colleague and friend, we are pleased to introduce the "Jason Park Study Abroad Bursary". Through the support of his family and friends, the bursary recognises the invaluable experience of overseas dental volunteering and provides financial support to JCU Dentistry students wishing to pursue these programs.

We proudly guarantee an annual funding contribution with further fundraising activities to supplement and we welcome donations from benefactors. Follow

MOW

our website for more information at www.jcudsa.org.au/store.html

41


The Inaugural JCU Team to Nepal, supported by The J


MOW

Jason Park Study Abroad Bursary

43


ADSA BLOOD DRIVE winners The Australian Dental Students' Association (ADSA) is the national student body that represents and connects dental and oral health/hygiene students across Australia. ADSA brings everyone together through social events, volunteering opportunities along with educational resources for students such as the ‘ADSA Talks’, which invites key speakers to talk about highly anticipated topics relevant to us students.

ADSA Cup is also

held annually to promote friendly competition between universities… I mean, don’t we all want our university to be number 1? As an ADSA university representative, my role was to promote ADSA and organise events at JCU to help foster the relationship between ADSA and JCUDSA.

Being a 5th year student on placement it was a bit difficult to organise events on campus, however with the help of JCUDSA, everything ran smoothly. Our first event of the year was the ADSA Red Cross Tertiary Blood Drive Challenge and it was my mission to have JCU take 1st place. I liaised with fellow JCUDSA members to help endorse the blood drive back in Cairns and organise prizes. I also asked each year level’s social representative to encourage students to donate for this amazing cause and amongst my year level, nominated one student from each placement site to promote the event at their clinic. This turned out to be a major success, with JCU coming in at 1st place with over 40 donations! It was very rewarding knowing how many lives we all saved.

Each year, ADSA Convention is held at a different university, bringing students across Australia to one location. This is an excellent opportunity to make new friends, attend social events and academic workshops/lectures. Aside from meeting new friends and reconnecting with old friends, the highlight of the week for me was visiting the Barossa Valley and attending suturing and dental trauma workshops.

As an ADSA representative, I was also involved in organising R U OK? Day. With sponsorship from ADSA and MIPS, we were able to provide a subway lunch and cupcakes for students. Students also wrote words of encouragement and support to fellow peers on a Mental Health Support Message board, we all know how difficult dentistry can get!

Throughout the year, I also posted updates on ADSA social media accounts of the

events happening at JCU to show other dental schools what us students get up to in FNQ. I really enjoyed my time this year working with ADSA and JCUDSA and would like to thank the team and fellow dental students for their efforts and contributions!

WRITTEN BY NHI TRUONG | ADSA LIAISON OFFICER

ADSA Convention 2019 with Catherine, Fay and Nhi


Q&A

WITH PROF. JOHN ABBOTT

MOW

PROFESSOR OF PROSTHODONTICS AND OPERATIVE DENTISTRY JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY

45


know so many students and helping them along the way is very

Where and when were you born?

important to me. I was born in Adelaide on 16th September 1950. I have said it many times that my wish is to hand the baton of my dental knowledge on to future generations of dental students. It is the

When did you move to Cairns?

profound interest and desire for more knowledge by some students I moved to Cairns in the year of Cyclone Yasi, 2011 and started at

that makes it one of the best things about working here.

JCU in April of that year. Do you have any proud moments during your career here at JCU?

Seeing the first cohort of students graduate and having the group

What is your story throughout JCU?

photo on the front cover of the ADA News Bulletin was definitely a I was appointed as the Professor of Clinical Dentistry and Director of

high point. Also, the tradition of farewelling 4th year students in JCU

JCU Dental to basically oversee the development of both the Cairns

Dental by the staff providing arches of hands over the students as they

and Townsville JCU Dental clinics. Before JCU Dental it was called

walk into the clinic for the final time is a very emotional event for

the Tropical Centre for Oral Health.

When I arrived in Cairns the

everyone; as it represents the culmination of hard work and moment

JCU Dental building was still in the design stages and the Townsville

of time in their careers. It is a farewell to friendships that the students

JCU Dental was at the early planning stages. So, there were many

have made with staff as they continue their journey.

meetings with various stakeholders to get it off the ground. My tenure as director was for a period of 5 years and in that time, I had a close

Have there been other happiest moments in your career?

association with the dental students in their clinical years. Being a clinical

There are so many moments to remember in a career spanning almost

requirements. During my time at JCU I have been involved with

50 years (including 5 years as a dental student). I really don’t know

teaching of both removeable and fixed prosthodontics.

where

Prosthodontist

really

helped

in

giving

an

input

into

the

to

start.

manufacturer Which current year level is your favourite?

in

At

one

Australia

stage and

being

the

only

manufacturing

dental

titanium

implant

plates

and

screws for oral and maxillofacial surgery taught me so much about government regulations and need for approvals. Being involved with

I would like to say all the years have their merits, but it is in the

Cranio-Facial dental rehabilitation was very grounding for me, as I

clinical years that I have most student contact. It is interesting and

encountered many dentally complex and psychologically traumatised

rewarding to see students clinically mature from 3rd year into the final

patients.

semester of 4th year.

Significant represent

What is one of the best things about working here?

career

moments

Australia

as

the

include

being

dental

expert

appointed at

ISO

by

peers

to

(International

Organisation for Standards) on a range of dental committees and also being appointed to Standards Australia. The appointment as subeditor

There are many things I can think of, but the location of JCU campus

to the Australian Dental Journal is also a highlight.

is fantastic and unlike any other campus in Australia. Everyday when I drive to JCU I feel like I'm on holidays. To me the greenery and the tropical climate make Cairns very laid back and relaxed. Getting to

There are also many personal happy moments in my life.


47

MOW


Mitsu the Shiba Inu

What do you do in your spare time?

thinking on my desk and generally it is open to the page that says “Attitude can shape your life.”

I am very close to my two sons and spent much time with them. I also have two dogs and a cat. So, walking the dogs is exercise for me. I like

What is one piece of advice you would give to students?

to prepare meals, in fact this year I decided to prepare one Italian dish nightly in order to increase my repertoire of cooking skill. It was a

I suppose we have all heard that life is a journey, but I think it is not

culinary adventure to parts unknown.

the destination that is important, it is the journey itself. I am a great believer that we are called to the adventure but so many people refuse to see the possibilities. When you are on this adventure, it must be

Is there a quote you would like to say?

your own, and then you will find doors opening where they would not open for anybody else.

When it come to dentistry, I think students have heard me say and demonstrate by video that ‘History repeats itself- if you do not change

"It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of

an element in what you are doing.” If you have ever felt the need to

life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure."

visit me in my room you may have seen that I have a book of positive

- Joseph Campbell 1904-1987



freshmen

JITTERS

MEGAN WYDELL 1ST YEAR ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVE

“You have been offered a place to study a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at JCU in 2019.” And just like that the much-anticipated wait was over and our 5-year journey to becoming a dentist had begun. First, was orientation week that consisted of a bunch of JCUDSA

organised

activities

including

amazing

race,

a

beach

BBQ, an inter-year mixer and everyone’s personal favourite the party bus. The party bus filled us with the erroneous expectation that dentistry was going to be a party filled social experience. Then fast forward thirteen weeks to SWOTVAC and late-night study, sugar free Red Bull and repeatedly drawing the citric acid cycle became our reality. The only thing that gave us some hope was the presence of year 2 and 3 students in the library which suggested that it was indeed possible to pass. Many of us came in as high achieving school leavers but our mantra soon became ‘Ps get degrees’.

The 2019 cohort was a diverse bunch of individuals, from nurses to biomed students to parents, school leavers and our international students who are diverse group within themselves.

With such a

wide range of backgrounds came a wide range of struggles and challenges but also meant that we had a plethora of expertise and experience to draw on. Homegroup gave us the opportunity to form lasting bonds with a variety of our peers and third- and fourth-year students.

Fortunately,

the

homegroup

assessment

activities

provided us an avenue to get to know each other, form friendships have fun rather than an opportunity to boost our grades as most assessment items were only worth 5%. On the first day we were mostly nervous and maybe even intimidated when introduced to our

lectures

and

other

academic

staff,

however,

after

building

relationships with these impressive individuals, we have come to really appreciate their unique quirks. For example, Dr Sfera’s sass, Dr Jennings’ unexpected back muscle questions on exams, Dr Ang’s

dad

jokes,

Prof

Liddell’s

passion

for

chirality

and

our

personal favourite Prof Nimmo’s pronunciation of Homeostasis.

Being the second year of the new integrated dentistry course, we benefitted from a more clinically relevant delivery of content and assessment. In addition to this, we had the opportunity to spend more time, than in previous years, in the simulation clinic, despite this, some of us still burn our plastic teeth and over contour our amalgam fillings. Under the influence of the academic staff and further progressed dentistry students, we have grown our passion for dentistry. What would we say to future 1st year dentistry students? With a balanced lifestyle, determination, consistent hardwork,

coffee,

good

time

management

and

some

reliable

study

buddies, you too can pass first year dentistry. (P.S don’t forget about mindfulness too!)


2nd year...

A BREEZE RIGHT? GRACE TOLL 2ND YEAR ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVE

Second year dentistry - what a marathon. My name is Grace Toll and I am JCUDSA’s Second Year Academic Representative for 2019. This year has brought many struggles and triumphs to my cohort, and as a result I think we will all have a well-earnt Christmas

break.

From

taking

blood

pressure

readings

with

Professor Nimmo in first semester to assisting the 4th years in the JCU Dental clinic throughout the second semester, this year has been one for the books in terms of experience and, as they called it, “throwing us in the deep end.”

The role of academic representative this year has proven to be thoroughly fulfilling. It has brought me closer to my peers and created

numerous

relationships

for

me

amongst

staff

and

academics within JCU Dentistry. This position has required me to stand up for myself and cohort, and to meet setbacks head on – both academically and personally. 2019 started with a flood of emotions. In February, we were to start an intensive statistics block, but this was quickly cut short due to the Townsville floods -

what

were

the

chances

of

that?

After

overcoming

that

unpredictable delay, we put the stats behind us and headed off to school visits throughout Cairns; by far one of the biggest and most rewarding highlights of our dental journey so far.

To

be

able

to

witness

school

kids

faces

alive

with

joy

and

excitement once a week for five weeks really does have a lasting positive effect on you. During these visits, students created and put lesson plans into practice, teaching prep through to grade 2’s the importance of oral health, and that visiting a dentist really ISN’T as scary as it seems in the movies. Fast forward to the end of the first semester to the dreaded Class II SIM competency exam. Many tears and tense words flowed during these sessions, but despite this we all survived and entered “the semester from hell,” as dubbed by older years. This current semester is and has been very full, challenging, if not chaotic, neck

anatomy,

physiology, anaesthetic,

prosthodontics,

pharmacology, and

breeze right?

of

course,

including head and

periodontics,

radiology, depression

endodontics,

embryology,

and

anxiety

local

topics.

A

Nonetheless, the cohort has dealt with the twists

and turns of this treacherous four or so months and is excited to enter

the

clinic

in

February

next

year

to

implement

all

our

MOW

knowledge in practice. Wish us luck!

51



first

PATIENTS PYPER SMITH 3RD YEAR CLINICAL REPRESENTATIVE Our first clinical year has flown by at the speed of curing light. Although the time has passed quickly, it feels like a lifetime ago that we were nervously practicing LA on our peers and treating our first patients. The transformation, both personally and professionally, between the cohort that began third year to the one at its completion is boundless. Our first taste of clinical practice has ignited a passion for our future profession and a deep empathy for those we have the privilege to treat.

We have grown so much over the past twelve months and look forward to further development in our final years. On behalf of the third year cohort, I would like to extend a massive thank you to all the staff at JCU Dentistry.

The support from both the academic and clinical departments have been integral to our success. Our appreciation for your thoughtful dedication

MOW

is unmeasurable.

53


HALFWAY party

MASON WONG 3RD YEAR SOCIAL REPRESENTATIVE

As another year comes to an end, we are reminded of how quickly time has flown by. You could say that this year has been full for the third years as we commenced our first year of clinical practice, all whilst balancing studying and leisure.

Well... it could be said cramming for exams definitely was on the heavier side of the scale. Thankfully, our cohort never fails to find time for a break and to recharge.

Third year is a very special time as we are midway through the degree. A function named 'Halfway Ball' was hosted at 'The Chambers

restaurant

and

bar'

this

year

milestone.

Honestly,

we

will

find

any

Nevertheless,

it

was

a

delightful

night

to

celebrate

excuse full

of

to

this

party.

delicious

cocktails, good music and awkward dance moves. What more could you ask for as a 50% dentist?

A

bunch

of

other

successful

social

events

took

place

throughout the year; this included the annual Dental Ball, the inter-year and MIPS sport carnivals and the Halloween party., All of these events organised by JCUDSA, gave the third year multiple opportunities to de-stress and have fun throughout our busy schedule.


55

MOW



MIPS CUP

MOW

the third

57


With the 3rd MIPS Cup approaching, anticipation was high for the dentistry students to come out on top after losing to medicine in 2018. On a warm August day, the 2019 MIPS Cup took place at the JCU Cairns Campus, giving dentistry students the upper hand with home support. The sporting grounds were filled with both cohorts, all proudly donning clothes of their degree, excited for a day of healthy competition and socialising.

There was something for everyone with a choice of Basketball, Netball, Soccer and Touch Football. The day was a massive success, not only because of our victory, but because of the free pancake breakfast and snag lunch.Â

Congratulations to everyone who was a part of this years event, in particular our very own Vice President, Emily Trinh, who took many hours out of her busy 4th year schedule to make MIPS Cup a reality and raging success.


59

MOW


JCUDSA hoodies

Top quality high street cred clothing.

AVAILABLE FOR ORDER IN 2020


61

MOW


best wishes to the

COMMITTEE OF 2020


63

MOW



WORD OF MOUTH committee

LAURA PURCELL

EDITOR IN CHIEF

4th year dentistry student

HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

4th year dentistry student

MICHAEL TIEN

EDITOR

4th year dentistry student

SABRINA AKL

EDITOR

4th year dentistry student

TRACY DOAN

EDITOR

4th year dentistry student

KELSIE STOKES

EDITOR

4th year dentistry student

JOHN XIONG

The word of mouth committee would like to thank everyone involved in making this issue of WOM possible: writers, photographers, guests, sponsors, editors and also the JCUDSA

MOW

committee of 2019!

65


Celebrating 10 years


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.