The Rebel Root Vol. 3 Summer 2020

MAY 2020, VOLUME NO. 3

THE REBEL ROOT The Official Newsletter of UNLV ASDA

Some UNLV ASDA Members at this year's ASDA District 10 Conference held here in Las Vegas.

IN THIS ISSUE 1 From the Editors 2 Presidential Address 3 Spring Events Recap 4 The First-Generation Experience 5 All About DLOSCE 6 ConGRADulations 2020!

7 Senior Q&A 9 Food for Thought 10 Quarantine Study Tips

11 Building a Home Gym 13 Creative in Quarantine 14 2020-2021 ASDA Leadership 17 Upcoming Events + Contact

Photo: Haley Whalen

FROM THE EDITORS Hello Rebels!

As your newly minted newsletter editors, we are proud to present the third volume of The Rebel Root. We would like to take a moment to thank our predecessors, Carly Saxe and Jacob Habashy, for spearheading the first two volumes of The Rebel Root and we know we have big shoes to fill. We recognize that being able to share stories with our community is a privilege and we hope that you are as excited to read these newsletters as we are excited to create them.

In this newsletter, we will be introducing the new leaders of ASDA, showcasing some student work in our "Creative in Quarantine" segment, featuring student interviews and articles, bidding farewell to UNLV SDM's Class of 2020, and more. If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter in the future, please feel free to reach out to us. Thank you for reading!

Editor-in-Chief: Tasha Nghiem (DS2) Editor: Gabbie Quizon (DS1)

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PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS Greetings UNLV! I am excited to be your ASDA Chapter President for the 2020-2021 year! I believe we have an excellent group of students on your board and in the committees this year to help guide this chapter through these tumultuous times. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous going into this new school year, especially after all the incoming changes that COVID-19 has and will assuredly bring. However, I find myself thinking how regardless of the global pandemic, I’m sure we’d all be plenty nervous about any other thing as the new school year begins.

Yes, we will be facing new challenges. Yes, change brings about a certain “unknown” element into our lives. We all know dental school is tough, and we always knew it would be, but we can find solace in our friends and we can find support in our school’s staff and faculty. It may feel like the world is pulling us in so many directions, but take a breath, take a pause, and remind yourself that everyone in our chapter, and everyone at the school, wants us to succeed. We will get through this together and when it’s all over, it’s what we’ve done together that we will forever remember.

As tough as this all may seem, I am thankful to call everyone at UNLV my family and friends and I am thankful to be spending these 4 years with you all. I hope we can make this year, and the years to come, better together.

Sincerely,

Robert Bingaman 2020-2021 UNLV ASDA Chapter President

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SPRING EVENTS RECAP ASDA District 10 Annual Conference January 3-4, 2020 | Las Vegas, NV

The D10 Annual Conference is just one of many events ASDA members look forward to every year. During the D10 Annual Conference, leaders from the D10 schools gather to take part in a weekend of workshops and networking. This year, the conference was hosted here in Las Vegas at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino. "Even though I've lived here all my life, the D10 conference allowed me to experience parts of Vegas I hadn't yet experienced like going to the Stratosphere," said Lexus Lu (DS2). At this conference, our very own Charles Buchanan (DS3) was elected to serve as the next District 10 Trustee and Julie Phan (DS2) was elected to serve as one of the ASDA District 10 Wellness chairs. Congratulations, Charles and Julie! Additionally, Charles Buchanan (DS3) and Tasha Nghiem (DS2) were also on the planning committee for the conference, serving as programming chair and creative content chair, respectively.

ASDA ANNUAL SESSION March 4-7, 2020 | St. Louis, MO

Six of our ASDA members attended ASDA's Annual Session in St. Louis, MO. ASDA Annual Session is affectionately called "the best week ever" by past attendees. During Annual Session, association policy is voted on and attendees are able to hear from inspirational speakers both inside and outside of the realm of dentistry. Annual Session also hosts the coveted Gold Crown Awards Ceremony where chapters are recognized for their hard work and accomplishments. Carly Saxe, a DS3 who attended this year's annual session, said her favorite part of the event was the "Luck of the Irish" themed President's Gala where Craig McKenzie, the former ASDA National President, was celebrated. "My favorite part of Annual Session was the seeing the parliamentary process in action and the President's Gala!" echoed Rob Bingaman, DS2.

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the first-gen experience: First-generation college student and DS2 at UNLV SDM, Eric Ochoa Jr., shares his story.

Interview by May Ma

My name is Eric Ochoa Jr. and I am from the small West Texas City of El Paso. #ElPasoStrong! I spent the first 8 years of my life in El Paso, TX and later moved to Virginia, Colorado, and then Reno, NV. When I graduated high school, I made the decision to move from home and attend college with my fiancée at UNLV and we have been in Las Vegas ever since.

What does it mean to you to be a first-generation college student, pursing higher education and a doctorate degree?

I grew up in a very close-knit family, as the oldest of three. Understandably, moving away from them was absolutely the hardest decision I had ever made in my life. It later turned out to be the best decision as well. I am in the position that I am in today because of hard work, but most importantly, my family. They continue to push me to be a better person and achieve my goals.

To me, being a first-generation college student who is now seeking a doctorate degree means more than just being the first in my family to do so. It also means becoming a role model for my younger siblings in order to provide them with guidance as they achieve their own goals. This is the guidance that I did not have when I began college. My mother was always proud of me for even attending college and I promised her that I would finish. So to me, it also means to be accountable and show that I made the right decision, especially when I could have stayed home to help out around the house.

What struggles have you had that you think are unique to first-generation students and how have you overcome these struggles?

One of the hardest things for me when I first began college was becoming a responsible individual.

When I arrived, I had no idea who to talk to about which major I should be in if I wanted to go to dental school. I did not know that being in remedial classes would inevitably make my road to dental school that much longer.

I certainly did not know that it was possible to stand at the financial aid office for hours on end to realize I didn’t have the proper documents and may be dropped from my classes. I also definitely didn’t realize how much effort it would take to study for courses such as organic chemistry.

Another big struggle that I had during my college career was self-doubt. Thinking of switching majors and not knowing if I would even be competitive enough to make it into dental school or if I was even cut out for it. Was this a complete waste? What made that situation even more stressful was the thought of being a disappointment to my mother and fiancée who believed so highly in me, and my siblings who looked up to me. Luckily, I was able to speak to them about my feelings about potentially giving up and it totally fueled me to push forward and I haven’t looked back since!

What advice do you have for other first-generation students who aspire to be the first ones in their family to attend college and perhaps, pursue higher education and doctorate degrees?

The advice I would give for any first-generation student is to seek as much help and resources as you can. You are about to enter a world that you have no familiarity with, but I promise that there are people who can help guide you in the right direction. I would also strongly suggest finding a support team whether it be friends, family or anybody that can hold you accountable and push you to achieve your academic goals. This is what helped me the most.

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DLOSCE

An Alternative to the Live Patient Clinical Licensure Examination

By Nicole Romero (DS2) Vendor Relations & Legislative Liaison

For licensure in the United States, DMD/DDS candidates must complete educational, written, and clinical examination requirements. There has been a push from the ADA to eliminate live patients from the clinical exam, and to instead implement the newly designed Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE). This new examination consists of simulated stations in which candidates use their clinical skills to solve dental related problems. This new exam has been in development since March 2017, with the test makers consisting of ADA Board of Trustee members, general dentists, and members of the council on dental education and licensure. The points of justification for the DLOSCE on the benefits of manikin versus live patient assessments include the following:

"...a DLOSCE can protect the public health more effectively than existing clinical licensure solutions."

Public Health: “The ADA feels that a DLOSCE can protect the public health more effectively than existing clinical licensure solutions.” (1) All 53 licensure jurisdictions in the US require live patient examinations. Moving toward an ideal exam will address the issues of ethics surrounding the use of live patients for assessments.

Portability: “The ADA also supports OSCE development to help support licensure portability for practicing dentists.” (1) The goal is to develop a licensure examination that is accepted and transferable between all states. Obstacles to a nationally accepted licensure examination are state politics.

Standardization: “Exam content will remain the same regardless of the region of the country where it is administered, and regardless of the curriculum implemented at different dental schools.” (1) Currently, the clinical licensure examination involves treatment of a class 2 and class 3 lesion, as well as a cleaning on one patient. The lesions are not standardized because it is in vivo; therefore, some cases present challenges that may lead to unexpected failure.

The DLOSCE will launch this June 2020, one year earlier than expected due to COVID-19. Currently, none of the regional clinical exam agencies (such as WREB, CDCA, CITA) offer or administer the DLOSCE. For licensure in Nevada specifically, there has not been any indication from the state board that the DLOSCE will be accepted.

Although, considering the public health crisis brought on by COVID-19, perhaps there will be increased pressure on the NV state board to accept simulated exams to observe social distancing.

1. (1) “Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE) FAQ.” JCNDE.org <www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Education%20and%20Careers/Files/DLOSCE_FAQ.pdf?la=en.>

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Congratulations!

TO THE CLASS OF 2020

Fionna Tay celebrated her graduation virtually with friends in Animal Crossing: New Horizons using customized panels and carefully selected items like a podium. Check out that UNLV logo!

Colette Fuglaar celebrated her graduation with friends, family, and even faculty (including Dean Garcia) via Zoom. Her husband, Alex, presented her with her diploma and hooded her.

Graduation looks a little different this year, but congratulations, Class of 2020! We are all so proud of your accomplishments and can't wait to see where life takes you.

Senior Q&A

With Fionna Tay Gov, Julia Truong, and Caitlin Kemper

You've officially graduated as the first class to do so remotely at UNLV SDM! How are you feeling?

Fionna: Honestly, it feels so unreal that everything happened the way it did, but I’m happy to be done and graduated!

Julia: With our May graduation cancelled due to the pandemic, it still doesn't feel real that I have officially completed dental school.

The process of finishing remotely has been challenging, as contingency plans were updated daily. Though I am glad to have administratively finished on time, I am very much looking forward to celebrating in-person with family and friends when we can all safely do so.

Caitlin: I think I share the feelings of most other 2020 graduates, in that we’re happy to have finished school, but it’s definitely not happening the way we dreamed of. Dental school is a grind, and the celebration and graduation ceremony at the end are so important and exciting, so it's been hard to have that taken away.

It’s a bit like a lack of closure, so part of me doesn’t really feel graduated, even though I am. At the end of the day, I’m thankful to have reached the finish line, but I wish that things could be different.

Dr. Fionna Tay Gov

What are your post-graduate plans?

Fionna: I’m planning to move to Houston, Texas, to work.

Julia: I am moving to the San Francisco Bay Area and plan to start an associateship.

Caitlin: I was accepted to a one year AEGD program at UCLA, so my plan is to move to Los Angeles next month!

If you had to restart dental school, what, if anything, would you do differently?

Fionna: I don’t think I would do anything differently. Dental school was definitely hard but I felt like my experience had a good mixture of both good and bad memories.

Julia: I took a handful of years off between undergraduate and dental school. If I had to restart the process, it would have been nice to have discovered my passion for dentistry earlier on in life.

Dr. Julia Truong

Caitlin: Honestly, I wouldn’t change much. I did the best I could have for all four years so I’m happy with the way things went. I just wish I would have been able to learn the study style that worked for me sooner. It definitely would have made first semester easier!

What is something you will miss about dental school?

Fionna: I will miss all my classmates and all the faculty that have been there for me! Dental school was rough and it would’ve been a lot harder without them.

Julia: I will definitely miss the relationships that were fostered with classmates, faculty and staff. Dental school is rough, and the care and support I have received from friends and mentors were encouraging to have kept going through the tough times.

Dr. Caitlin Kemper

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What is something you will miss about dental school? (cont'd) Caitlin: I will miss my classmates and the overall student body camaraderie the most. We had a lot of change and challenges throughout our time in school and so we sometimes felt like we only had each other for support. It will be an adjustment to not see these people every day that became our family over 4 years. I think the student body at UNLV is pretty unique. For the most part, students really have each other’s backs and look out for each other.

What will you definitely NOT miss about dental school?

Fionna: All the exams and classes that we had to take LOL. Julia: Going into sim lab almost every weekend during first and second year to practice is something I will definitely not miss about dental school. It was especially rough being in Vegas and not being able to hang out with friends and family visiting from out of town, because I had pre-clinical responsibilities.

Caitlin: TAN SCRUBS! What's your favorite memory of dental school?

Fionna: Seeing my very first patient in clinic. We have been prepared in various situations which led us to the very moment where we can finally work on patients. The very first moment is a very special one because that’s when I knew I chose the right profession for myself.

Julia: My favorite memory has been all the early morning cram sessions my classmates and I would have in the "Ice Box," as we were preparing for final exams. There are not a lot of gathering spaces at SDM, so the Ice Box was special in that way. Even though the room has now been divided into a gym and smaller study space, I'll always have fond memories of sharing food, collectively panicking and quizzing one another in that space.

Caitlin: For me, being able to speak at my class white coat ceremony meant a lot to me. That’s not a memory I will every forget.

Finally, any advice to share with underclassmen?

Fionna: Enjoy the time you have. Make as many memories as possible and try to avoid any negative situations that may impact your experience during dental school. Learn as much as you can from your faculty, peers, and upperclassmen. Most importantly, stay strong throughout the process; it is rough, but you’ll reach the end I promise!

Julia: Even though you may feel exhausted at times in dental school, remember to show your appreciation to those who will voluntarily support you. Enjoy the journey, even when it gets tough, because these 4 years will go by really quickly.

Caitlin: I would tell them to seek out faculty that they really respect and try to gain that mentorship and knowledge from them early on. I would also encourage them to push themselves out of their comfort zone and take on any and every case that they can. Everything in dental school is scary the first time you try it, so why not get over year fears sooner rather than later?

food for thought

An interview with DS1 and popular food blogger, Daniel Dong-Kyu Kim.

So, tell me a little bit about yourself!

Hello! My name is Daniel Dong-Kyu Kim, and I am a first year dental student. I grew up in Vegas for most of my life, but I've also lived in L.A. and Michigan. When I'm not studying, I enjoy spending time with my family, watching and playing sports, binging on Netflix shows, and eating good food!

What’s the story behind your IG handle @dongkyuverymuch?

I was thinking of what handles to go by when starting my food blog and how to incorporate my name in a clever way, and then I had this realization that Dong-Kyu sounded like how someone with a foreign accent would pronounce "thank you." So after that, I just added "very much" to it.

How did you get started in food blogging?

I used to manage a Japanese restaurant, and we would invite food bloggers and influencers to come take pictures of our food. In exchange for a free meal, they would help promote and market our food on their social media channels. I just remember thinking, man, that's such a cool gig to have. I gotta get on their level haha. So I was definitely "influenced" into starting my own food blog.

Do you eat all the food you take pictures of?

I definitely try all the food that I take pictures of. Do I finish it? That depends if the food is good or bad haha.

How do you balance dental school and food blogging?

It's tough because in addition to food blogging, I also do marketing and manage social media accounts for several different restaurants across town. So typically in a day, we are in class from 8-5. After class, I spend time with my family and put our baby to sleep around 8:30. From 9-10, I work on all my accounts for the next day, and then finally begin studying from 10 to usually around 3.

What is the most rewarding part of food blogging?

I would say the most rewarding part of food blogging has been the process of it all and the opportunities that I've been presented with. I never expected it to get to where it is today. Initially, I just wanted to do this to get some free food haha, but it's grown into a platform where I can help other restaurants and businesses as well as share good food with all of you. Restaurants are in such a vulnerable position right now because of Covid-19, and I'm just happy to promote these restaurants and the services they are still providing.

If you had to eat one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Such a tough question haha. I'm gonna say rice and kimchi jjigae (Korean kimchi soup) that's been cooked with pork ribs or pork belly.

What are some of your favorite restaurants in Las Vegas?

Vegas has so many good eats so I'll just list a few off the top of my head: Jessie Rae's BBQ, The Magic Noodle, Grinds 2 da Max, Truffles N Bacon, Bajamar Seafood and Tacos, Sushi Kame, 888 Korean bbq, Monzu, Amano, and Hot n Juicy.

What is your favorite food destination?

Hawaii specifically Oahu, because there's so much diverse food there.

Waikiki has all the touristy and commercial spots and really good Japanese food. Then, you go up to the North Shore where you can find garlic shrimp trucks, good burgers, and acai bowls. Poke is also one of my favorite things to eat so Hawaii would be the appropriate choice.

Do you have any food photography tips for budding food bloggers that might be reading or people looking to spruce up their IG feeds?

I was never good at this when I first started nor did I have an eye for this kind of thing. But to master any kind of craft, I was persistent and consistent with the posting, and eventually, taking and editing food photos became second nature. I would say start off by taking a photo of something you like to eat and try editing it. For example, I like to do closeup shots and make the photos pop, so when I edit them, I add a lot of structure and saturation to it.

Eventually, the more and more you do it, you will find your own niche and style.

Thank you guys for listening and huge thanks to Tasha and ASDA for the feature! Follow me on IG and TikTok @dongkyuverymuch and please reach out if you have any other questions! Stay safe!

@dongkyuverymuch @dongkyuverymuch 9

ZOOM COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY survival tips by tasha nghiem When I first got my UNLV SDM acceptance letter, I definitely did not imagine dental school being anything like it has been for these last couple of months.

Quarantine has changed the way we live and the way we learn. During the tail-end of spring semester, I struggled to adapt to online learning and I know I’m not alone when I say that those last weeks felt like one long weekend peppered with panicked episodes of exam studying. After those finals and with the new semester looming over my head, I knew I couldn’t just stick to my new norm of spending more than half my day in front of my TV. So today, I present to you a few tips and tricks to hopefully help you ease into our virtual semester.

tip #1: stick to a schedule Whip out that planner, open up Google Calendar, and write down those to-do lists. Not going to class means not having that same structure we’re so used to. Sticking to a schedule also includes waking up around the same time every day because we probably shouldn’t keep going to bed at 3 in the morning (Haha who even does that? Definitely not me.)

tip #2: stay active Gyms are still closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay active! You could try and buy some extremely overpriced gym equipment online, or you could check out our Instagram for at-home workouts you can do that don’t require any equipment! #shamelessplug

tip #3: separate your studies For me, actually studying is the final boss fight and before I can face the final boss, I must first defeat the mini-bosses: the temptation to turn on Netflix, the alluring prospect of taking a nap, and the need to make chocolate chip cookies right at this very moment. Being forced to study at home poses a unique challenge for many of us due to all the distractions around us. One way to combat this is to set up your own study space where you can get your work done in one relatively isolated area.

tip #4: socialize A big part of school we all miss is seeing our friends every day. Doing so now in large groups is not encouraged, but there are many ways to connect with each other from a distance. Zoom parties, group online games (online Catan is indeed a thing), and the very cool Netflix Party Google Chrome extension are just a few ways you can still “get together” and hang out.

tip #5: maintain handskills We’ve all been joking about how we don’t know how to drill teeth anymore. Okay, maybe we aren’t joking. It’s been so long.

Though nothing will ever replace the feeling of actually drilling teeth, there are many ways we can still maintain our dexterity.

Drawing, writing, and playing instruments are probably the methods that come to mind, but many other activities in our lives require fine motor skills such as repairing a leaky faucet and even playing video games.

A virtual semester is going to be challenging for all of us in many different ways. My heart goes out to those who are truly struggling with this new normal and I sincerely hope this helps!

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5 Steps to Building Your

HOME GYM

By Lexus Lu

Who is Lexus?

I’m a second year student at UNLV School of Dental Medicine and I built a home gym in the Fall semester of 2019 instead of studying for midterms. You’ve probably read that last sentence and thought to yourself, "ain’t nobody got time for that", but let me tell you how building a cheap home gym could be achieved within two weeks of time.

Step 1: Find Your motivation The first step to creating your home gym is finding what motivates you to get off the couch. For me, my first step was writing out a bucket list of things I wanted to do in life and one of those is to compete in a powerlifting meet. Ask yourself, what is your fitness goal? It could be as simple as “I want to do 10 pull ups” or “I want to be able to run a mile in less than 8 minutes.” Write that goal down and post it on your wall as a reminder and a motivator.

Step 2: Researching Home Gyms Each home gym should be unique to what you’re trying to achieve with your fitness goal. Luckily for us in this age, we have the power of Youtube to teach us all about different types of ways to workout. GarageGymReviews is one of my favorite Youtube channels because they discuss many different types of home gym setups and where to buy equipment. Use this channel as a reference as to how your gym is going to look and what will be in it.

Step 3: Let’s Talk About Equipment Thankfully, my dad had a lot of equipment from his home gym from the 90’s, but I still had to purchase some upgrades. This is my list for the bare necessities of a home gym geared towards bodybuilding and powerlifting. Home gyms are meant to be personalized but these equipment are at the core and any other equipment is for personal preference: Gym bench ($50) Power rack with pull up bar ($100) Barbell ($45) Weight plates ($1/pound) Dumbbells ($1/pound) Resistance bands ($10-$50 dependent on strength) Pulley weight system ($40-50) 6x4 Floor Mats ($45 each)

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Step 4: How to Save Money Now if you’re a broke dental student like me, Amazon is not going to be your friend for buying gym equipment. I bought my used equipment on various buy/sell platforms and they will give you the best bang for your buck. Utilize these platforms by checking them every morning for the piece of equipment you want because most of the time, they get sold within a day or two. Some of my recommendations: OfferUp: I found most of my equipment on this application and was able to haggle for good prices.

Facebook Marketplace: A solid platform that allows you to also easily find equipment from neighboring cities/towns.

Craigslist: There is a possibility of finding free or super cheap things with Craigslist LetGo: Similar application to OfferUp, I’ve sold some things on it before.

Amazon: I only utilized Amazon for the pulley weight system since I couldn’t find it for sale on above platforms.

Step 5: The Last Step This step list is just a general template for you to get motivated to start your fitness journey. The last step is for you to stay motivated and use your home gym to its fullest. My motivation to continue powerlifting is through perfecting my technique and crushing weight goals. Motivation can also come from an outside source like from working out with friends or watching fitness influencers. For me, I enjoy using my free time watching Youtube videos from Alan Thrall, Calgary Barbell, and Athleanx. Find your own motivation that keeps you going, here are some channel suggestions.

Powerlifting: Calgary Barbell, Alan Thrall, Jeff Nippard Yoga: Yoga with Adriene, Boho Beautiful, Breathe and Flow Pilates: Blogilates Full body workouts: Chloe Ting Bodybuilding: Athleanx, Chris Bumstead Olympic Weightlifting: All Things Gym, Weightlifting House Running: The Run Experience, Global Triathlon Network

"Motivation starts with you, so get off that couch and take the first step towards a healthier and stronger version of yourself!" - Lexus

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creative in quarantine

We asked our UNLV ASDA members to submit pictures showing ways they've been creative throughout quarantine. Here are the submissions for this issue!

Pre-quarantine SELF-pORTRAIT Kevin Foote (DS2)

Matcha crinkle cookies

Cloutfish Culture

Kriztine Mae Uy (DS3)

Carolina Esteves (DS2)

Wizard bishop Carolina Esteves (DS2)

UNTITLED Painting Lexus Lu (DS2)

INDIRECT VISION Coloring Louisa Heske (DS1)

MANDIBULAR ANAGLYPH Illustration Carolina Esteves (DS2)

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The new faces of unlv asda

CE XOEMC UMTIITVTE ECEO MC MH IATITRESE Robert Bingaman ('22) Chapter President

Rob is a DS2 from Pennsylvania who misses the Appalachian Mountains, but is loving his time here in Vegas for sure! He's an avid video gamer, loves sports, and enjoys exploring on his motorcycle with the wife. Also, he's completely crazy for his chihuahua, Cinnamon. He's curious about nearly everything, and loves to learn about anything. He appreciates a great conversation, so don't be shy to say, "Hi!"

Bowen Ressler ('23)

BRIAN LEE ('22)

Chapter Vice President

Secretary

Bowen is a DS1 from Honolulu, Hawaii.

When he's not sleeping or studying for the exam, he can be found splashing around in the water, playing video games, or binge watching Netflix.

Bowen found glassblowing in college and loves the artistic similarities it has with dentistry. He hopes to have the time to get back in the studio soon.

Brian is a DS2 from Los Angeles area, with an INFP MBTI personality. He can usually be found on a phone or listening to kpop, singing and playing instruments, but giving up within minutes. Otherwise he's cooking or playing games. Don't bother interacting with him early in the morning because he's most likely sleeping. Or in class, sleeping. Or on autopilot.

Tommy Le ('23)

Charles buchanan ('21)

Treasurer

Immediate Past President

Tommy is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and considers himself an extroverted introvert. Outside of his studies, he enjoys hitting the gym, binge watching shows, going on long drives, and spending time with his family and friends. If he could choose a second career, he’d focus on fitness and personal training.

Charles is a D3 born and raised here in Las Vegas, NV. He has been heavily involved in many dental student organizations and is very excited to continue working with ASDA as District 10 Trustee. In his free time, Charles enjoys going to the gym and checking out the latest movies in theaters.

ADVISOR: Dr. Ronald Laux Dr. Laux, a visiting assistant professor, joined UNLV SDM during spring 2013 as a part-time instructor after a 30-year career in private dental practice in Elmira, New York. From 2006-2012, he served as a part-time faculty at Eastman Institute for Oral Health's AEGD program. He was promoted to fulltime faculty during summer 2015 and is a co-course/course director in two operative dentistry courses and a guest lecturer in several other courses, including the DDS program. Dr. Laux supervises patient care within the school’s clinics, serves as a mentor to numerous dental students, and volunteers for the student-run Sgt. Ferrin Veterans Clinic. Dr. Laux earned his bachelor’s degree from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, in 1978 and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Marquette University in 1983.

Dr. Laux received the school’s “Best Overall Clinical Faculty” award in 2017, and is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), the Nevada Dental Association (NDA), the Southern Nevada Dental Society (SNDS), where he is a delegate and chairman of the Mentorship Program, the American College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. His hobbies include reading, fishing, traveling, gardening and college football and basketball, especially Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin.

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COMMITTEE CHAIRS CHAZ Clawson ('22)

Lexus Lu ('22)

Activities

Activities

Chaz is a DS2 from Las Vegas. He and his wife have 2 kids (1.5 years and 2 months). His favorite shows are Narcos and Breaking Bad. His favorite things to do are play golf and go out to eat. If you’re in Vegas and want asada, go to Los Tacos...if you want pastor, go to Tacos El Gordo.

Lexus is the coolest car at UNLV SDM and is currently a DS2. Some of his favorite moments at SDM are sim lab sessions with friends and tutoring for ASDA. When not wearing scrubs, Lexus enjoys powerlifting, reading lots of manga, exploring new hobbies, and petting other people's dogs. If you ever want to be Lexus’ friend, invite him to eat at Curry Zen.

LESLEY CHEN ('23)

DANYALLE CHUN ('23)

Community Outreach

Community Outreach

Lesley is a DS1 from Taiwan. When she's not studying, she can be found listening to podcasts, buried in books, or catching up on tv dramas. While spending more time at home, she's been reminiscing travelling and planning on future travels once quarantine is over.

Danyalle is a DS1 from O'ahu, Hawaii that loves her 'ohana and "The Rock". When not being a dental student, she enjoys cooking, baking, and home improvement projects with her 7 kids and 3 grandchildren. If Danyalle couldn't be a dentist, she'd be a karaoke bar owner with the most ono (delicious) food in town.

JULIE PHAN ('22)

Natalya Jones ('22)

Health & Wellness

Health & Wellness

Julie is a second year dental student. She loves all things cute and is a strong advocate for personal health and well-being. Her new hobbies include playing soccer, tennis, and boxing and she enjoys spending her free time with the people she loves. She enjoys helping people and believes genuine kindness goes a long way.

Natalya is a DS2 from good ol’ Truckee, CA who loves making people laugh and helping others.

When not being a dental student, she can usually be found playing with her dog Bean, hiking, working out, out doing something fun on the water and in the sun, or hanging with friends and family.

If Natalya couldn’t be a dentist, she’d want to be a vet and save as many abused, homeless fur babies as possible!

Tatiana Alhwayek ('22)

Patrina Allen ('23)

Health & Wellness

Lunch & Learn

Tatiana is a DS2 who was born and raised in Las Vegas. She attended undergrad at UNLV. In her free time, Tatiana likes to do puzzles, draw, shop, and watch TV.

Patrina is a DS1 from Virginia. After spending some time as a dental hygienist, she decided to return to school to become a dentist.

Outside of dental school, she is a closet foodie on the trails of becoming a Yelp Elite. She also enjoys hiking, dancing, slinging weights, and hanging with friends.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Diana Luc ('23)

Louisa Heske ('23)

Lunch & Learn

Pre-Dental & Membership

Diana is a DS1 student who might have a slight bubble tea addiction.

She enjoys watching sunsets and loves the ocean. When she's not being swamped with dental school work, she loves to play games with her friends, watch movies, and try new cooking recipes. She is always open to any recommendation of food to try or movies to watch.

Louisa is a DS1 originally from Germany who is a graduate of UNLV. Aside from dental school, she teaches violin (now through FaceTime). In the last few months stuck at home, she has greatly increased her cooking skills, workouts on YouTube, hiking, and getting more than 6 hours of sleep.

In the future she hopes to work with kids in the local community as well as in other countries.

Dennez avendano ('22)

Ogechi Amadi ('23)

Pre-Dental & Membership

Vendor Fair

Most days you’ll catch Dennez listening to music, most likely BadBunny! When he's not studying, Dennez is stuck in a book, running, watching a movie, or walking the dog. A$AP = Always Strive and Prosper

Ogechi is a DS1 from Las Vegas who studied undergrad at UNR. When she isn’t at school and/or studying you can catch her watching 90 Day Fiancé, making tea, crying, or trying to perfect her tennis skills. When she graduates, she wants to move to New York. If Ogechi wasn’t pursuing dentistry, she would be an FBI agent.

May Ma ('22)

Nicole Romero ('22)

Vendor Fair

Vendor Relations & Legislative Liaison

May is a DS2 from the Bay Area. She likes to sleep, play tennis/ badminton, take naps, read, hang out with family/friends, travel, and try new foods. She holds 3 passports: British, Hong Kong, and USA. She doesn't like temperatures above 79F and would like to one day get tickets to Wimbledon while Serena Williams and Roger Federer are still playing.

Nicole is a DS2. Her roles in ASDA are as Vendor Relations chair and Legislative Liaison. She is looking forward to returning to clinic.

Gabbie quizon ('23)

Tasha Nghiem ('22)

Visual & Social Media

Visual & Social Media

Gabbie is a DS1, born and raised in Las Vegas. When earth is not closed due to a global pandemic, she loves to visit national parks.

She also enjoys drinking coffee and playing musical instruments. If she couldn’t be a dentist, she would pursue a career in music.

Tasha is a DS2 from Colorado. Her MBTI personality is ENFJ and when she's not being a dental student, she can be found playing Animal Crossing, hanging with her dogs and boyfriend, drawing, cooking, listening to k-pop, or watching anime all night. If she couldn't be a dentist, she would love to pursue a career in graphic design.

ONGOING AND UPCOMING EVENTS ASDA Outreach Project: Sending Seniors Smiles May 11, 2020 - June 1, 2020 We are asking you to write letters, cards, postcards, or submit artwork with positive messages for seniors in our community!

This is a class competition between the Class of 2023, 2022, and 2021. The class with the most cards submitted by the deadline will win a float party for "Keeping the Seniors aFLOAT during COVID-19."

Send digital cards to mail4asda.unlvsdm.outreach@gmail.com.

If you would like to make a physical card, there is a dropbox in the Building A Cafeteria. Cards will be delivered along with dental hygiene products from Colgate to senior homes #ColgateCares.

ADA Insurance Dinner & Learn May 28, 2020 | 5-6 PM PST Learn how to activate your free ADA insurance and receive a $15 GrubHub gift card for attending. If you've already activated your insurance, you can still get the gift card. Sign up here.

Zoom Crown Prep & Indirect Vision Tutorial Date and Details TBA

Have an idea for our next newsletter? We'd love to hear it!

Please reach out to: Tasha (nghieb1@unlv.nevada.edu) or Gabbie (quizonv@unlv.nevada.edu).Â

don't miss out on our latest updates!

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