2023 Spring Newsletter

OFF THE CUSP

Roseman University College of Dental Medicine

Hopping Into Spring

Just as Punxsutawney Phil predicted, this winter seems to be an extra long one! Although Spring is on its way, Utah ski and snowboard lovers are just in luck. The Utah mountains have received the most snow they have had in years! This Winter may feel like it will last forever, but Spring and sunny weather will surely arrive soon. As we get ready to send our D4s off into the working world, follow along in this newsletter to read articles about dentistry, spring activities, some new recipe ideas, and more!

IN THIS ISSUE

DIGITAL DENTISTRY

BENEFITS OF OWNING YOUR OWN PRACTICE REACHING YOUR FITNESS GOALS AS A STUDENT LOCAL DOG PARKS

RICE AND SALMON RECIPE

FINAL MESSAGE TO CLASS OF 2023

HOW ASDA MAKES A DIFFERENCE

ORGANIZED DENTISTRY

DENTAL OFFICE CULTURE

LIFE, LEADERSHIP, & DENTISTRY

RUNNING

Marisa Estipona Jemima Varughese

Diana Zhen Jody Chiang Advocacy Chair

Allyson Hollenbeck Parnian Vosoughi

Brooklyn Janes Palack Mahajan

Philip Conte Samantha Melnitsky

Kade Janes

Cameron Carter Lavinya Yap

Kavina Patel Ben Raymond Kyle Koch

Sameem Norooz

Isabella Augustine Sara Qualls

Nisha Mody

Maanik Agarwal Alexa Wright

Blake Valerius

Mason Mullaney

ASDA NATIONAL LEADERS

OFF THE CUSP

Roseman University College of Dental Medicine

ASDA DISTRICT LEADERS

OfftheCuspisapremiermagazineoftheRoseman UniversityCollegeofDentalMedicinewhichhighlightstopics relatedtoourdentalprofessionandrepresentsourstudent's experienceintopicsofadvocacy,wellness,community, diversity,andstudentlife.

asdaroseman@gmail com vendors.ruasda@student.roseman.edu @rosemanasda

https://www.ruasda.com/

Roseman ASDA

ASDA Weekly Digest

Off the Cusp

Theviewsandopinionsofauthorsandcommenters expressedhereindonotstateorreflectthoseofRoseman University,itsFaculty,Staff,AdministrationorBoardof Trustees.ThissiteisindependentlyrunbyRosemanASDAand itscontentshouldnotbetakenasapositionorendorsement bytheUniversity.

Heather Trinh Gia

Julie Kang

Priscilla Marin

Council on Professional Issues: Council Associate Council on Communications: Council Chair Shalini Namathirtham Scott Caine

EDITOR'S NOTE

smelnitsky406@student.roseman.edu

Time flies when you're having fun! I can't believe the school year is coming to an end, with the D4s about to have their hooding ceremony and go out into the real world and start their dental careers. With this being my final newsletter being published, I have been so grateful to have had the opportunity to be ASDA's Editor-in-chief. The wonderful editing team has worked hard to put together these articles into newsletters and share them with the Roseman community!

EDITING TEAM

Ingrid Feder, 2025

Alexis Kim, 2026

DENTISTRY: A DIGITAL ODYSSEY

Written by: Jarrod Naler

The ASDA District 10 & 11 regional conference offered numerous opportunities to dive deeper into the wonderful world of dentistry Dr Steven Gold gave an astonishing presentation on the present and future breakthroughs within digital dentistry. Dr. Gold’s 28 years of experience as a general dentist in Santa Monica, California, and his current service as the Coordinator of Digital Dentistry at Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine enabled him to truly break down the incredible advancements within this digital world.

In his presentation, he first showcased present-day developments that have truly transformed the patient’s dental experience. The current advancements, including digital scanners, CAD (ComputerAided Design)/CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing), indirect restoration manufacturing, and milling machines, have definitely revolutionized the field of

dentistry. All of these advancements have minimized the shrinkage and distortion that used to come from the old-school method and procedures. Furthermore, the advanced computerized systems that we use now enable clinicians to tweak existing saved files rather than starting over from scratch Indirect restorations offer numerous benefits including longevity, more control, and more material options Additionally, indirect composite restorations are fully polymerized within the lab Altogether, these current digital improvements help facilitate patient satisfaction and have helped to provide restorations that are more similar to the patient’s previous anatomy

Even though these advancements have all revolutionized the dental field, Dr. Gold believes there is still room for improvement He pointed out one improvement in his presentation: the milling process Milling is a procedure where a computer-designed object is carved out of a big block of material. Although this process can produce a highquality, beautiful restoration, it can waste a lot of material. Because of this, Dr Gold believes that the future of dentistry lies within 3D-printing restorations and other dental appliances.

With 3D printing, a clinician would waste far fewer materials as the process builds

up the object with your material rather than carving it out of a block. Furthermore, 3D printing could be utilized in numerous more ways than milling machines. A dentist could utilize these printers to produce accurate orthodontic models, restorations, dentures, retainers, crowns, bridges, and even surgical guides Overall, the current and future advancements within digital dentistry can definitely increase patient satisfaction and help give patients a more biocompatible, long-lasting restoration. Technological expansions unquestionably can pave the way for a brighter future within the marvelous field of dentistry

Dr. Steven Gold, DDS

BENEFITS OF OWNING YOUR OWN PRACTICE

Written by: Justin Nguyen

Charles Loretto, a CWA (Cain Waters & Associates) and NDP partner, gave a presentation at the 2023 ASDA West Regional Meeting regarding the methods and benefits of obtaining your own dental practice One of the most important pieces of information from Mr Loretto’s presentation was the “Financial Planning Road Map”

Here are some keys to consider:

Current age and future retirement date

Current liquid investments (0)

Inflation rate (2 5%)

Target investment rate of return (6%-8%)

Saving Tax Deferred

Estimated Lifestyle at Retirement Date

Safe withdrawal rate over 30-year period

Through the presented roadmap, current dentists with the intention of owning a practice in the future can have an idea of what are some factors that can have a huge impact on financial freedom.

As Loretto stated, “Taxes are [our] evil” Current as well as future dentists are estimated to pay around 40% in taxes with 32-35% being Federal taxes and 5-8% being State taxes Even with high tax percentages, banks still love health care professionals and are willing to loan us the money for a practice

The 6 critical steps for financial freedom after obtaining a dental practice are highlighted in this picture from Mr Loretto’s presentation

The best time to start looking into owning a dental practice is when the conditions are favorable At the end of the day, even though owning a dental practice can provide an increase in income as well as more control in your own work-life balance, it is up to the dentist’s own discretion to own or to continue being an associate If you are considering owning a dental practice, companies like Cain Waters or NDP would be a wonderful resource for advising as well as consultations.

Written by: Cam Carter

Dental school can be exhausting. From being physically demanding on our backs, necks, shoulders, and everything in between, to being mentally and emotionally draining as we interact with patients, colleagues and faculty throughout the day It’s no wonder most dental students tend to struggle with prioritizing their own health and fitness goals during this season of life However, with the right mindset and discipline, and these 5 steps, it is possible to not only maintain what you came into dental school with, but possibly even graduate dental school a healthier, happier person

Know your “why”. You are investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into your mind and body, training them to work together to perform as a dentist. You should also invest hundreds of thousands of hours into this as well. What if I told you investing one more hour into your body each day could extend your dental career by 10+ years, and even your life? My guess is most people would say that is a worthwhile investment! Sadly, most people also lack the perspective to see this is exactly what prioritizing your health and fitness is. If you have the right mindset, it is easy to stay dedicated to putting in the extra effort to be healthy and fit.

Create realistic benchmark goals. Going into your fitness journey with unrealistic expectations is a sure-fire way to become demotivated fast Every goal you set should be something that you could absolutely see being possible given your current schedule.

Don’t get caught up in the fitness rabbit hole. What I mean by this is there is an infinite amount of gurus, advice, and info out there on the web all contradicting each other It is very, very easy to become overwhelmed and not make any progress from following every fad diet that comes around. Keep it simple: calories in vs. calories out, lift weights regularly, don’t neglect your cardio, stay hydrated, and get adequate sleep. Find accountability. It’s hard to go at it alone If you can’t find a workout partner who can help you stay accountable, at the very least ask a best friend to help keep you accountable One great way I’ve seen people do this is through the Apple Watch, where you can track both your progress and that of others throughout the day I don’t personally use this, but I’ve heard people say this helps motivate them daily

Create a reward system. After every exam, I almost always grab some kind of comfort food to reward myself for beating another hurdle in dental school. The same principle should be applied to our fitness goals! Stuck to your clean food all week? Definitely eat that pizza Saturday night. Worked out every morning all week? Sleep in on the weekend This is the best way to have balance, not get burnt out on your goals, and stay consistent long-term If you never reward yourself, you will end up miserable and likely giving up entirely eventually.

CLOSEST DOG PARKS TO ROSEMAN

2. West Jordan Off-Leash Dog Park

Written by: Kyle Koch

As it continues to warm up as we head into spring, you may be wondering where are some fun places to take your dog. Here is a quick guide to some local dog parks to explore around the area I provided a short description of each park, and the estimated driving time if you started near school

The West Jordan Off-Leash Dog Park is a large fenced dog park with lots of room for the dogs to run around The park is divided into three areas: two for larger dogs, and one for smaller dogs The two large dog areas feature both grass and gravel, and have a walking path along the perimeter.

Address: 5982 New Bingham Hwy, West Jordan, UT 84081

Distance: 9 2 miles, 19 minutes

Sandy City Dog Park

Sandy City dog park is fairly close, right in Sandy

It has two separate fenced areas that open periodically to ensure there isn’t too much trampled terrain There is also a small walking loop around the park. This dog park is a little bit smaller than some of the others, but conveniently close to school.

Address: 9980 S 300 E, Sandy, UT 84070

Distance: 2.4 miles, 7 minutes

3. Dayland Draper City Dog Park

The Draper City Dog Park is a medium-sized fenced dog park with lots of room for the dogs to run around The park is divided into two areas: one for larger dogs, and one for smaller dogs. The large dog area has a water feature running through the park, as well as several obstacles to try with your dog, and a spray stion to clean off your dog before you leave. This park also has a walking path along the perimeter of the larger section.

Address: 300 E 13400 S, Draper, UT 84020

Distance: 5.8 miles, 10 minutes

1.

If you are wanting to go somewhere a little further from school with lots of space, Tanner Park is a great option. Tanner Park is an open space in South Salt Lake that allows dogs to roam off-leash. This area features a large 2 mile loop and walking trails around the park This park also features a stream that runs through the park with several areas that dogs can play in.

Address: 2870 E 2850 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109

Distance: 17 4 miles, 20 minutes

This is a hiking trail that allows dogs to be offleash. This area features a dirt walking trail and lots open space for your dog to run free The total distance of the loop is 2 7 miles The trail head is 15-20 minutes South of school.

Address: Deer Ridge Dr, Draper, UT 84020

Distance: 11.9 miles, 19 minutes

4 Tanner Park

5 Alien Tower Trail/Deer Ridge Off-Leash Dog Trail

Meet some of Roseman's furry friends!

Bear Owner: Brooklyn Janes Ben Owner: Nicolette Montilla

Kai Owner: Hunter Tan

Finn Owner: Tina Anh Huynh

Maple Owner: Tim Tran

Minnie Owner: Maanik Agarwal

Stella Owner: Mike Lacerda

Snowie Owner: Monica Ocampo

Goldy Owner: Holly Yue

Written by: Parnian Vosoughi

Traditionally Sabzi Polo Baa Mahi is prepared on the Persian New Year, which occurs with the start of Spring You can eat this rice with practically any protein you like, but when I prepare it fresh, I love to pair it with salmon I hope you try this dish out and love it as much as we do at home This dish is just so fragrant and tasty. Here’s my family recipe and let me know how it goes for you if you try it!

Ingredients

Rice:

3 cups basmati rice rinsed under cold water until water runs clear (approximately 5 times)

2 large bunches of chopped fresh dill or 1 cup dried dill

1 bunch of chopped fresh cilantro or ⅓ cup dried cilantro

1 bunch of chopped fresh parsley or ⅓ cup dried parsley

1 bunch fresh chives or the green portion from 1 bunch of fresh green onion chopped Salt for boiling water

1 head of garlic with cloves peeled and chopped

Enough olive oil to just cover the bottom of your rice dish, plus 2-3 tbsp melted butter/olive oil to top rice

⅓ tsp of ground saffron mixed into ¼ cup of hot water

Salmon:

3 salmon fillets skin removed (ask your fish guy to do this for you unless you prefer the skin left on)

1/2 tbsp dried dill or a handful of fresh dill sea salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp butter used to top fillets

1 small lemon or half of a large lemon juiced

Instructions

Rice:

Boil water in a large pot and add plenty of salt (just as you would if you were cooking pasta) and 3 cups rinsed rice Put stove on med-high heat Don’t let it over-boil When the rice is just hard in the middle and soft on the outside (al dente rice!), turn off the burner and rinse the rice using a colander and cold water so that the rice stops cooking through. Then mix in all the herbs and garlic right in the colander Add olive oil to the large pot to cover the bottom of it and put on low-med heat Add rice to the pot, poke some holes with the back of a spatula almost to the bottom of the pot to release steam, and cover When steam rises to the lid of the pot

(this is easy to tell with a clear lid, otherwise wait about 5 minutes), remove the lid and drizzle 2-3 tbsp of melted butter/oil along with saffronwater mixture Replace the lid with a large, folded napkin or kitchen towel placed directly and tightly underneath it to catch the steam Put on med-low heat for ~30 min or until the pot sizzles when you splash a couple drops of water on side of it whichever happens last

Salmon:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F Brush oil on the bottom of a baking dish. Add dill, salt, and pepper to the salmon and put on the baking dish Place a small pad of butter on each fillet of salmon. Cook salmon uncovered for 20 min. Squeeze some lemon on top and serve alongside the herbed rice

ANNUAL SESSION INSPIRING LEADERS + FINAL MESSAGE TO CLASS OF 2023

“alternate delegates” and were invited to watch the action on the House floor.

Written by: Marisa Estipona

Recently, Roseman ASDA was represented by 6 delegates at Annual Session in Seattle Usually when people hear “ASDA conference”, they think National Leadership Conference or the District 10 conference, and rightly so. These conferences focus on leadership development, sharing opportunities in the dental field, and how to navigate student debt, business management, and employment contracts However, Annual Session is a little different I like to think of it as a national meeting where we take what we learn from NLC and our district/regional conferences and BE THE LEADERS The annual Session is the official meeting of ASDA’s House of Delegates, the supreme legislative body of the association Together, we meet several times over the weekend to elect ASDA’s new national officers, discuss and debate resolutions, and determine the organization’s initiatives for the upcoming year.

This year, Roseman ASDA sent me and Jody Chiang as first and second delegates respectively, to represent Roseman University CODM in the House of Delegates. Every ASDA chapter in the nation is represented by 2 chapter members who were called to voice in order to enter the floor, each first and second delegate must present their “credentialed delegate” card to verify their identity and collect their voting card. All other attendees were considered

Some of the resolutions up for debate were: 1 2 3 4. 5

Kansas City University CODM establishes an ASDA chapter.

ASDA encourages all dental schools to recycle PPE, including but not limited to masks and gowns

ASDA encourages dental school admin to create, grow, and actively promote mental wellness and support programs for students that includes, but is not limited to 24/7 mental telehealth service

ASDA recognizes the IDEAL pathway to dental licensure is to graduate from a CODA accredited predoctoral dental school, pass NBDE, and completion of a clinical assessment that does not use human subjects, but is reflective of current dental practice Demonstration of both kinesthetic and clinical decision-making competence is necessary and is demonstrated in both the manikin-based assessment AND non-patient OSCE

With the approval of the Board of Trustees and the House of Delegates, redistricting can occur to accommodate future growth as new schools are set to open in the next 5 years.

The first 3 resolutions were placed on the consent calendar, meaning that these resolutions did not have much debate on the floor and were expected to get unanimous approval by the House. The last 2 resolutions were not found on the consent calendar and were subject to debate on the House floor During these hearings and debates, there were 3 microphones set up in the room: pro, con, and a priority mic. Any delegate on the House floor can suggest an amendment and begin the debate regarding the resolution The amendment is projected onto large screens where we can visualize the changes to the words being proposed Witnessing the back and forth between the pro and con mics allows us, the delegates, to make an informed decision on whether to vote for or against the resolution

Seeing colleagues across the nation share their perspectives and their concern for the future of dentistry was inspiring and showed me another quality of leadership Leaders recognize their responsibility for their peers and fight for what they believe are important to the future. They believe in the power of change and are eager to make the future of dentistry a little brighter. Although there were only 2 of us representing the Roseman in the voting process, it made it even more important to think about our school and the future of the students as we vote on these resolutions By hearing from the other delegates who joined us at Annual Session, we

were able to make the best judgment as we voted on our future leaders, resolutions, and other business Never did I think I would have the opportunity to take part in these conferences and meetings this year and my success as a student leader is all due to the predecessors that came before me

As we come near to the D4s graduating and writing the new chapter of their lives, Annual Session reminds me of what I hope the D4s accomplish moving forward I hope they continue to find success in all their endeavors and continue being the leaders of their teams, the field, and their communities I hope the graduating class recognizes their importance as healthcare providers and is eager to become a voice for the communities suffering from health disparities. Some of the D4s graduating are friends whom I knew before dental school or the Instagram Influencers who I followed prior to my acceptance at Roseman. Many D4s are people who I have encountered as a dental student and who I enjoyed working with during the short time I was in school with them, whether they be on my clinic team, attending these conferences with me, or guiding me on the path of surprises in student leadership. All the laughs we shared, the meals we devoured, and memories that were made make me anticipate what more is in store for you, Class of 2023 Congratulations and much success to the future ahead of you!

Written by: Steven Park

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) West Regional Conference was a joint meeting between Districts 10 & 11 Roseman is part of District 10 along with six other schools including A.T. Still University, University of Nevada - Las Vegas, Midwestern-Arizona, Oregon Health & Science University, University of Utah, and University of Washington.

The conference began with an empowering speech from Justina Anigbo, ASDA President. To give some background information about Justina, she got involved in ASDA in her D1 year. She jokingly told a story about how she joined ASDA because of a good-looking guy Little did she know, one event would lead to another, and by her D3 year, she was the IUASDA Treasurer and District 7 Trustee By her D4 year, she became the National President of ASDA.

ASDA was founded in 1971. It is currently the largest student-run dental association, with over 22,000 members. 82% of the pre-doctoral market share comes from ASDA Now, the National ASDA has 11 districts with 68 chapters and is working on licensure reform, student debt, diversity and inclusion, wellness, community service, and dentistry and health care.

Before 2020, only ten states accepted nonpatient-based alternative exams to the livepatient clinical exam In 2022, 45 states permanently accepted the manikin exam as an alternative to the live-patient exam, affecting 55 of ASDA’s 68 chapters Six states are temporarily accepting manikin exams and have not yet decided on the future, affecting 13 of ASDA’s 68 chapters It is exciting to see what changes and improvements ASDA members are constantly working on!

LIFE POST-GRADUATE: BE A PART OF ORGANIZED DENTISTRY

Written by: Monica Ocampo

Before attending ASDA West Regional Conference earlier this year in Las Vegas, I had hardly heard the term “organized dentistry” or what “organized dentistry” entailed Dr Howard Kim, a University of Southern California Class of 2014 graduate, gave a presentation on “Organized Dentistry: You and the ADA ” He spoke about the power of “showing up and amazing things happening.” Dr. Kim joined the American Dental Association (ADA) after graduating and came across a networking opportunity with fellow dentists over sushi Not knowing anyone, he showed up to the dinner and met his lifelong mentor. They still keep in touch to this day and it was all because of the ADA

On the following page are key highlights to consider before joining the ADA post-grad. While the ADA is the largest and oldest dental organization in the world, there are several other organized dentistry organizations. Whatever organization you choose will surely present networking opportunities, benefits, and resources. Remember there is strength in numbers the more members–especially in the ADA–the more likely change can occur on a national level, consequently creating a greater impact in protecting our profession and our patients.

MANAGING A TEAM & MAINTAINING CULTURE

Maintaining: Goals & How to Structure Them

Tracking progress is a central component of the Roseman education model At Roseman, we strive for the “Independent” rating. What should your team members strive for?

Written by: Blake Valerius

At your first gig as a real dentist, odds are you’ll recognize most of the instruments and equipment in the building as you ’ re walking in You’ve used a lot of that stuff already; you know how it works - and what to do when it doesn’t

But who cares about that? Because the far more expensive, valuable, helpful, and risky tools in your new clinic are the kind you have never received training on or been responsible for: the people

Roseman students may understand better than most the importance of a competent patient care team Front desk, dispensary, sanitization, hygiene, D1s--I mean dental assistants, and more are all critical in the EFFICIENT execution of dental services, and efficiency is directly related to production.

Whether you ’ re the main boss of a practice or a DSO provider, maintaining, managing, and motivating a dental care team is your responsibility as a dentist Here is some advice from a guy who once hired, managed, and developed professionals for a living

Set goals that are challenging yet achievable, with the path from the beginning to the end requiring true improvement from the employee Ensure the goals are tied to something definite, like a number or an accomplishment. Use your HR tool, i e Bamboo or Paycom, to log and track the goals across a defined timeline. Mix it up Having two professional goals and one personal goal on 6-month timelines is a common industry standard Track the goals and periodically check-in with your team members about them.

For Example: A new dental assistant might have a goal of getting the time it takes for a set of diagnostic-quality bitewings from 6 minutes to 3 minutes after 6 months, recorded by tracking the digital timestamp of the first bitewing to the timestamp of the fourth bitewing.

Who needs to have goals?

Everyone From the front of the clinic to the back, every single person receiving a W-2 should be tracking performance goals aligned with the functions of their position That includes you too, doctor.

Do goals need rewards?

Yes and no Usually, performance goals are standards; they’re part of regular job expectations like showing up on time While they don’t need to have their own bonuses or rewards, they should factor into conversations around raises and promotions

Managing: The Tough Conversations

How do you determine sub-par performance? How do you identify if a team member has a problem with sub-par performance? How do you rectify the behavior - or move towards termination? Each of these are articles on their own, but here is a good outline of how to be prepared for the tough side of people management.

Have at least one team member that’s experienced, certified, and designated as HR to provide advice and bear witness to performance issues.

Alert your HR member once you start seeing a trend of sub-par performance. Clearly record instances of the sub-par performance in as much detail as possible Meet with the team member to discuss your concerns AND introduce a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).

Carry out the Performance Improvement Plan, and at the end of the plan make a decision on the team member’s removal from probation or termination

Performance Improvement Plans are industrystandard go-tos for managing concerning performance They involve detailing the issue and clear, trackable ways the employee can fix the issue PIPs are typically centered around a 30-day period where if the goals of the plan are achieved the employee is redeemed, else they are terminated

Recording and Obtaining Acknowledgement of performance issues are an iron-clad way to avoid wrongful termination lawsuits Asking the team member to simply acknowledge via email “I agree to the PIP you ’ ve detailed” makes a paper trail that holds up stronger in court than recalling hearsay of an in-person conversation.

Motivating: Encourage Your Team Members to Advance Their Careers

If a team member sees you as an instrumental supporter that is encouraging and helping them to advance in their career, they will move heaven and earth for you

The promise of prizes, bonuses, and raises all fall short as motivators to this

Of course, the tradeoff is that you will experience higher turnover: assistants leaving to go to hygiene school, hygienists leaving for dental school, etc But if your teammates genuinely feel like they’re working towards something greater, they will give you their all, everyday

Ask them. What do you want to try exploring next?

Support them. How can I help you in the steps to get there?

Encourage them Hey, how is coming along?

I can’t wait to hear about it

Would you rather have everyone ’ s 100% daily with more hiring, or see the same people for years that are doing just enough not to get in trouble? 1. 2. 3 4

Align their goals Point out how performing amazingly in their current position will help them get and excel in their next one

As a dentist, you will be a team leader whether you ’ re the ‘actual’ boss or not It is up to you to define and maintain the culture of the team you ’ re leading!

LIFE, LEADERSHIP, AND DENTISTRY

Written by: Ingrid Feder

Hearing Dr Linda Edgar share her life story–along with some pearls of wisdom–was a highlight for me during this year ’ s West Regional Meeting. Like myself, Dr. Edgar was a non-traditional dental school applicant, which is perhaps why her story particularly resonated with me Coming from a background in teaching, she started dental school at the University of Washington at the age of 37 She is also an accomplished athlete and worldclass runner having completed two Ironman triathlons. Dr. Edgar was recently elected as the ADA’s 160th President and is the 5th woman to ever hold the position

Her life, before and after dental school, was not without its share of challenges and difficulties Prior to dental school, she experienced significant personal loss and injuries. Life as a student (with a one-hour commute) was not any easier She had to navigate the rigors of school while also balancing her home life as a wife and mother. Later in her career, despite her experience and accomplishments, she faced negativity and criticism from others based on her sex Yet, whenever asked if she was “strong enough” to take on a new leadership role, she would counter with, “how many triathlons have you done?”

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from her personal story is that our tragedies do not have to define nor limit us; indeed, “tragedy can turn into triumph ” Dr Edgar shared that although she was an “ average athlete” and “not the best in class,” she was the hardest worker and that hard work is what defined her journey to success She never allowed the perceptions others had of her or who she should be hold her back from pursuing her calling in leadership.

We have all experienced moments of selfdoubt or have felt inadequate Similar to Dr Edgar, my dental journey has been full of baby steps When I first decided to go back to school at 30 in order to complete my prerequisites, there was always doubt in the back of my mind I felt like the odds were stacked against me in every possible way. I knew I was an average applicant in many ways, at least on paper But, like Dr Edgar, I put in the work and kept going Consistent work and dedication will always pay off in the end.

For every new goal and dream, life will undoubtedly present us with new hurdles as well. And some of us will take longer to reach those goals than others. Nevertheless, each of us is on a unique journey and we should never lose sight of the fact that “ many baby steps make 1 giant footprint.” Dr. Edgar also reminded us, “It’s ok to not be ok. Some days are just harder than others ” We will all face problems and sometimes things just won’t turn out the way we want them to. According to Dr. Edgar, the key to navigating through tough times is to “find someone you can call after a bad day,” someone that will listen and not judge.

Dr Edgar drew on her 20 years of experience to write a book titled “Climb Every Mountain” in which she shares the inspirational quotes, poems, and stories that helped her be a better leader One of the most important leadership lessons that she shared was to “remember to lift others as you climb ” Her philosophy as a leader is to move talk to action and she is committed to advocating for dentists’ rights in her new role as the President of the ADA

Throughout her career, Dr. Edgar has always remained true to herself, which is what makes her a truly inspiring individual She was able to break through barriers and continues to create a positive impact in the lives of others as a leader who is filled with warmth, strength, and humor By remaining authentic to ourselves, we too can rise and make a difference as future leaders in the dental community.

Written by: Mason Mullaney

Ever wonder how a person could just keep running for 26 2 miles? Me too Back in October of 2022 I was having a conversation with an LLC about how he does it His name is Paul Morrison, a fresh D1 with lots of running experience. Paul has done many marathons and has spent an immense amount of time learning howtoperfecttheMarathontrainingprogram

WheretoStart

Paul comes from a legendary family tree of runners. His grandpa, Webster Morrison, was a very successful track coach in Michigan who left a legacy in the state Webster led the high school team he coached to 25 consecutive track championships As you can imagine, Paul got started in the world of running at a very young age Paul states “it gave me a leg up in all sports because my endurance was epic”. Later on as Paul got older running shifted more into a way to destress. Unlike Paul most of us don't come from a legendary running family, so how do we start our own running journeys? Paul suggests “start off by taking it slow, figuring out your short and long term goals, and most importantly have fun while doing it ” Whether you want to just destress after a long day in the clinic or if you want to start training for a local race,runningcanbeenjoyableforeveryone

Benefits

Although running may seem boring or time consuming, it also has many benefits According to WebMD, the risk of cardiovascular disease is significantly lowered if you run for at least 10 minutes a day. As dental students, we sit a good portion of the day and can't help it Therefore, it is extremely important to get up, stand up, and exercise! Since we are all scholarly students, let's dive into the research Studies done by David Linden Ph D , a neuroscience professor at Johns Hopkins found that running can elevate your mood, improves your focus, and it also improves your memory. All of these benefits can assist us dental students mentallyandphysicallywhileindentalschool!

UpsandDowns

When it comes to running for a better time or competing against other people, determination and accountability are key. Every single year Webster Morrison would make his runners sign a contract stating, “The group of boys who finally let the string of championships be broken will be known as those who have perpetrated it As the team that lost it The matterisentirelyinyourhands.”Eventhoughmostof us will never sign a contract like this, a running partner is always great for accountability and companionship “Many days you will not want to run but by just putting on the shoes and walking out the dooryou'regladyoudid”saysPaul

TheFinishLine

Salt Lake City is hosting a running festival on April 22, 2023 and it will be a blast for anyone who would like to participate in the full marathon, half marathon, or 5K Start small and work your way up to your ultimate goal To finish, I will end with an inspirational quote from Denzel Washington that says, “On the road to achieving your dreams you must apply discipline, but more importantly consistency Without discipline you’ll never get started, but without consistency you’llneverfinish ”

Written by: Isabella Augustine

At the West Regional Conference in Las Vegas, NV, I attended a workshop about The State of the Dental Profession. The discussion about the gender income gap in dentistry really stuck with me The ADA Health Policy Institute published a study in 2017 that examined the factors associated with gender differences in earnings for 3 professional occupations: dentists, physicians and lawyers The study controlled for a number of professional characteristics including choice of specialty, entrepreneurial or salaried practice, working hours, productivity, and experience. There was an unexplained gap in earnings between male and female dentists, with the overall unexplained earnings difference hovering around 62%-66% from 1990-2010

(1)Donotunderestimateyourworth.

Women have a tendency to underestimate their worth which keeps them earning beneath their potential Quantify your accomplishments and provideconcreteexamplesofyourskillsinthefield

(2)Beassertiveandstopapologizing.

Iamdefinitelyguiltyofthis Iamalwaysapologizing when I did nothing wrong No more “I’m sorry to botheryou ” or“Ifeelbadforasking ” Thereisno reasontofeelbadformakingarequesttonegotiate salaryandbenefits!

(3)Knowyourtargetsalaryandbottomline. Keep your target salary 10-15% higher than your absolutebottomlinesalaryasthiswillgiveyouroom fornegotiation.

(4)Donotforgetaboutbenefits.

Compensationforyourtimeandeffortscanapplyto morethanjustyoursalary.BenefitspackagesorPTO shouldalsobenegotiated.

(5)Taketimetodecideifyouneedto.

Ifyoudonotreceivetheofferthatyouhopedfor,do notbeafraidtotaketimetodecide.Youworkedhard togettowhereyouare.Donotsettle!

IfyouareinterestedinthestudyconductedbyHPI, thepublicationcanbeviewedhere:

https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(17)300119/pdf

One explanation for gender pay differences is that female dentists are less likely to negotiate their salaries compared to their male counterparts A 2020 report from a staffing firm, Randstad USA, surveyed 1200 employed US adults Randstad reported that 60% of women have never negotiated their pay Discussing salary can be uncomfortable. Here are a few tips for negotiating your salary, ladies!

For more tips and tricks, check out Secrets of SixFigureWomenbyBarbaraStanny.Ihighlyrecommend this book Stanny interviewed high-earning women andcompiledtheircommoncharacteristics

WINTER 2022 EVENTS!

Orange Theory

Fitness Class

Bowling Night

Regional Conference

Week of Service

Annual Session

Lobby Day

"WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR D1 SELF?"

- ANSWERED BY OUR GRADUATING D4S

"Anything that comes easy is never worth it."

- Gavin Kallabat

"Just worry about yourself, don't listen to the negativity of others. Not passing an exam is not the end of the world. In the end, you're going to achieve your goals."

- Taylor Hoffman

"Never turn down a patient just because you're nervous! The experience will be worth it."

- Peter Dang

"These 4 years will fly by,, soak up as much as you can. "

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."- Will

- Justin Lorenzo

- Alex Tyre

Rodgers