P R O B E P R O B E
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
It’s been a long time since you ’ ve heard from us and UDSS has been up to a lot of work since our last release. The students are almost through their 2nd semester of 2024 and I’m very happy to share with everyone the events that we have held.
ocial reps We’ve had a great turn out and it was even Tonic! It was wonderful to see so many of our students present enjoying a little break from uni.
Then comes our journal club. This year were had multiple speakers from all different fields of dentistry from endodontics, restorative, oral medicine, oral surgery They were able to provide a different view of dentistry for our students compared to what was taught at dental school. A big thank you to our speakers as well as our education reps for successful organisations
And wow what can I say about sports day. The turnout by all cohorts was unexpected, with students participating in different races and sports that we had It’s great to get some fresh air outside of the dusty titanium computer lab. Shout out to our sports rep for doing a spectacular job.
To the BIGGEST event of the year – UDSS ball. This year Pandora shined bright in Optus stadium. Staff, tutors, nurses and students were seen glowing beautifully through the night. Free flow drinks and a huge buffet gave a student’s a well-deserved escape from uni Continue reading to learn more about the ball!
Soup for the soul, Sphinrex and rescue day showed how much our students care for the community. Showing interests in rural dentistry, donating for head and neck cancer and helping out our community patients really demonstrates our students care for dentistry I’m proud to see so many of us put our hands up for these events!
Big changes in the school is happening! Some favourable for the students and some not as favourable. We will be sure to communicate and fight for the student’s best interests on the changes that are coming Make sure to bring up any issues to your year reps or myself and we will make sure your concerns are heard.
I wish everyone a good luck with their exams. You’ve worked hard this whole year and I’m sure y ’all will pass with flying colours. All the best everyone!
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR MEDIA REPS
Welcome to the 3rd edition of probe for 2024! This edition features all the news and updates from the latest UDSS events. Semester 2 included soup for the soul, rural dentistry night, multiple journal clubs, rescue day, sports day, GV black, and of course we can’t forget the amazing UDSS ball!
Thank you to everyone who organised, supported, and participated in the UDSS semester 2 events - we had amazing events this sem which wouldn’t have been possible without you all!
So, with exams just around the corner, take a moment to relax by reading this edition and reminiscing about all the fun we ’ ve had this semester. For DMD 1/2/3 best of luck for the upcoming exams and for DMD 4 we wish you all the best for case portfolio/presentations!
- Stella Mullane and Samantha Toh, Media Reps
MEET THE COMMITTEE
Ashton Foo President Shreyash Nigam Vice President Kavindi
Nikhil Thomas
Thilakarathne Secretary Jewel Ajimon Treasurer
Webmaster Peter Dignam Jim Rae
Media Rep
Samantha Toh
Immediate Past President Catherine Zhou ADSA Rep Sponsorship Rep
Stella Mullane Media Rep Shenelli Croos Dabrera Sports Rep
Peter Nguyen Sports Rep
MEET THE COMMITTEE
Josephine Santoso Alumni Rep
Social Rep
Laurence Vu Education Rep
Social Rep Liam Meinema DMD4 Rep Ranudi De Silva
Kaylee Wong Education Rep
Social Rep
MEET THE COMMITTEE
DMD2 Rep
Monisha Arora
DMD2 Rep
DMD1 Rep
Henry Miao Anchal Kataria
COMMITTEE
DMD1 Rep
Ayham Qawas
2024 UDSS
RURAL DENTISTRY NIGHT
The SPINRPHEX Rural Dentistry night in August saw an impressive turnout, with students from all years attending. Key speakers Dr. Lisa Matsumoto, Dr. Steph Mulcahy, and Dr. William Jin discussed the unique challenges and benefits of rural dentistry, emphasizing how practicing in remote areas helps build a broader skillset, stronger clinical judgment, and effective communication with patients. Students were encouraged to form networks with mentors for support in rural settings and to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle associated with these communities. Hands-on suturing and alginate workshops were also a highlight, leaving students enthusiastic about future rural placements.
Following discussions a number of students stayed for Zambreros and then took part in the suturing and alginate workshops to get some hands on experience tying knots, because they say if you can’t tie knots, tie lots! Feedback from students included
“I had never considered going rural until this!”
“I am definitely putting my name down for rural placements next year”
“I learnt so much from this event, it was so fun getting to suture’
Since the last Probe, we have had two Journal Club speakers: Dr. Michael Chan, who presented on simplifying Class IV composites, and our own Dr. Mostafa Elkholy, who discussed bioceramic sealers in Endodontics
Dr. Chan provided students with numerous tips and tricks for achieving aesthetic Class IV restorations, as well as advice on using a rubber dam He was very responsive to students’ questions, and we received a lot of positive feedback.
Dr. Elkholy structured his presentation around common questions students ask him in the clinic and provided valuable information on using bioceramic sealers He shared various pieces of literature related to the topic and explored different materials available for use in this field. We are very grateful to Dr Elkholy for making time out of his busy schedule to present to us!
From organising speakers and venues, to organising pizzas and gifts, we have had an amazing time serving as your Education Reps this year. We are truly thankful to all the speakers this year (Dr Helen Grady, Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen, Dr Michael Chan and Dr Mostafa Elkholy) and hope students learnt something new at the Journal Clubs we organised. We are also excited to pass the role on to Theresa and James and are confident it is in good hands next year!
- Kaylee Wong and Laurence Vu, Education Reps
The 2024 UDSS Ball, PANDORA, was a resounding success, bringing together students and faculty for an unforgettable evening of celebration and camaraderie. Held at Optus Stadium on Saturday 21st September, the event featured a stunning array of entertainment, including great music and an astounding video from both our tutors and DMD4s that captured the hilarious, yet heartwarming memories of our time at OHCWA. The enchanting atmosphere, adorned with elegant decorations inspired by the mythical theme, created a memorable backdrop for an evening filled with laughter and joy. Congratulations to our award winners of the night; Dr David Foskett for the General Tutor of the Year, Dr Yasmina Andreani for the Specialist Tutor of the Year, and Ms Kanako Bird for DCA of the Year!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all attendees for their enthusiastic participation, which truly made the night remarkable. A special thank you goes to our generous sponsors, whose support was instrumental in bringing this event to life. Your contributions not only enhanced the experience but also demonstrated a strong commitment to our dental community. We look forward to more events that celebrate our achievements and strengthen our bonds as future dental professionals.
-
Sinya Zheng and Jade Tan, Senior Social Reps
R
E S C U E
D A Y R E S C U E D A Y
On August 30th a Dental Rescue Day (DRD) was held in the ground floor OHCWA clinic. OHCWA DRDS, which are held annually, came about due to the desperate need for care among the socially underprivileged and vulnerable members in our society These clients often find it difficult to navigate the health care system and are unable to even pay gap payments needed at government clinics.
The OHCWA clinic is an ideal venue, as it is large enough to provide care to many patients at once. Andrea Patterson, a representative of the ADA Dental Health Foundation sources patients from homeless refuges. Many hours of behind the scenes work are needed to source not only these patients, but also volunteers and coordinate the smooth flow of appointments
This year 40 referred patients were seen by volunteers, which included 21 dentists, 3 OHT’s, 8 DCAs, 14 UWA DMD students and 3 TAFE DCA students. As an added bonus, many of these patients were referred on for continued care by DMD students DRDs could not go ahead without the generosity of the dental community, which seems to know no bounds. A big heartfelt thank you to all involved.
- Dr Tracey Gold, Clinical Tutor and Event Coordinator
GV BLACK GV BLACK GV BLACK
After the roaring success of Prime and Bond, expectations were high for this year’s GV Black Cocktail Night and it certainly did not disappoint!
With an impressive turnout of around 140 attendees, the event exceeded even our expectations. It was a fantastic sight to see students from all years, especially those in the upper cohorts, coming together for a glamorous evening of celebration and connection.
It was heartwarming to see our Dentistry community, from DMD 1 to 4, come together to celebrate as one big UDSS family!
With everyone dressed to impress, lively music, delicious cocktails and carefree conversation, the energy at Market Ground was electric For many, it was a much needed chance to take a well-deserved break from the demands of dental school and enjoy a night of pure enjoyment.
Thank you all for making it a night to remember and we look forward to seeing everyone again at next year’s GV Black!
- Amir Aminy and Raghav Ravikumar, Junior Social Reps
Congratulations to the winners:
- Dodgeball: DMD4
- Soccer: DMD4
- Men's Sprints: DMD1
- Women's Sprints: DMD2
- Egg and spoon race: DMD4
- Three-legged race: DMD2
Our inter-cohort sports carnival took place on Sunday, 29th September, under beautiful weather that graced Claremont Lawn providing a serene backdrop. The turnout was fantastic (especially the dogs), with the DMD1s showing particularly impressive participation!
A big thank you to Jim for bringing the BBQ, Red Bull for the unlimited cans, Shrey & Sam for capturing the memories, the Execs for coming early to help out, Liam for cutting the batons, David for boiling the eggs, and everyone for their sportsmanship and competitive spirit. We're already looking forward to seeing how next year's carnival unfolds!
- Peter Nguyen and Shenelli Croos Debrera, Sports Reps
‘Soup for the Soul’ was held on the 25th of July, a heartwarming event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for head and neck cancer. The inviting aroma of miso soup, creamy pumpkin soup, and comforting instant noodles filled the air, drawing a crowd during lunchtime.
The hot delicious soup provided warmth for students in the cold weather. The event successfully raised money for charity, highlighting the power of collective action in the fight against cancer. It was a beautiful reminder of how simple pleasures, like a warm bowl of soup, can be so nourishing.
Catherine Zhou, ADSA Representative
