USC 925 | Fall 2014

THE VOICE OF THE STUDENT BODY OF THE HERMAN OSTROW SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY OF USC | FALL 2014

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letter from the editors Editorial Board

Editor in Chief Stephanie Ting ‘16 Contributing Editors Samantha Keith De Leon ‘16 Tiffany Lee ‘16

Associated Student Body (ASB) President Nehi Ogbevoen ‘15 Interim Vice President of Internal Affairs Stephanie Ting ‘16 Vice President of Financial Affairs Michelle Zin ‘15 Secretary Nikkie Tomblin ‘15

DDS Class of 2015 President Moiz Horani Vice President EvaLina Josefsson Secretary Nitichai Wong Treasurer Sienna Palmer

DDS Class of 2016 President Omar Kholaki Vice President Robert Hanna Secretary Colby McKinney Treasurer Sarah Borghei

DDS Class of 2017 President Mishaun Sahebi Vice President Christine Lemon Secretary Janet Myung

Yearbook Suzanne Wen ASPID First Delegate Khaled Daoud ASPID Second Delegate Aditya Desai

Yearbook Kalvin Nguyen ASPID First Delegate Vivek Singh ASPID Second Delegate Thanuja Kularatne

Treasurer Christina Duong Yearbook N/A

DDS Class of 2018 President Karen Sierra Vice President Alexander Phillips Secretary Ambika Parti

DH Class of 2015 President Jennifer Stone Vice President Julie Kopstein Secretary Charlotte Hilberman

DH Class of 2016 President Sydney Dawson Vice President Madison Kaplan Zusman Secretary Sandra Chie

Treasurer Tyler Sanders Yearbook Rachna Shenoy

Treasurer Kativa Strickland Yearbook N/A

Treasurer May Manswer Yearbook Kaynaz Razipour

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t seems as if this school year began with a running start, no pun intended (p. 17). Already, the first trimester has flown by, and by now I am sure that the DDS Class of 2018, Hygiene Class of 2016, and ASPID Class of 2016 have already acclimated to everyday student life. We welcome these classes to Ostrow School of Dentistry, and we were very happy to see their excited faces at the White Coat Ceremony (p. 4), full of ambition and promise. If there is one advice to follow, it is to make use of every available opportunity presented at this school, whether it be school clubs, organized dentistry, or mixers and events thrown by the fraternities. In order to keep a healthy lifestyle, the hard work must be balanced with good times. Enjoy everything that you put yourself through, and give what you enjoy your best efforts. We truly hope you enjoy your next few years here at USC! As for the remaining student body, there have already been many changes in and around the school. Whether it be physical changes, such as renovation of bathrooms on the second floor or the waiting room on the first floor, or changes on the how the clinic itself runs, we all go through them together. Along with these is the upcoming Accreditation visit scheduled on April 7-9. (p. 6). In addition, there are the many changes that occur at this stage in our lives.

We congratulate every student newlywed and newly engaged. We welcome the newborn children this year and we wish those on the way good health. We also celebrate the life of some of our own who have passed, including Dr. Sonia Kaur Nijjar Everest and Dr. Paul C. Denny, among others. Through all these changes, we as a student body support each other, helping each other get through the tough times while celebrating the good times.

The 925 is a magazine dedicated to connecting the student body at Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry*. Therefore, in this issue, we put the spotlight on a niche of students that work hard both day and night, at school and at home. We are featuring dental students who are parents (p. 12), some of whom have shared with us what it’s like to have, essentially, two full time jobs. Additionally, the 925 is about recognizing those that have made student life a better experience. So we want to thank Sylvestre Cruz Guzman (p. 18), one the most supportive staff members at our school who help us get through the everyday grind. Lastly, we take a moment to hear about the dental student experience in Sri Lanka with one of our own ASPID students (p. 19). We truly hope you enjoy this issue, and we welcome any comments or submissions for the next issue at the925magazine@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Samantha Keith De Leon Editor *All submissions are written by dental students and all topics are welcomed, whether it be a recent humanitarian event, a research paper, an opinion article about dental legislature or products, or a personal story. Chosen articles are based on content and relevance.

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INSIDE 4

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NEWS: Class of 2018 White Coat Ceremony

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NEWS: Accreditation Coming to USC in April 2015!

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Community Service Dental Humanitarian Outreach Program

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Clubs & Organizations Pediatric Dentistry Study Club

Persian Dental Student Association (PDSA)

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Organized Dentistry (ADEA)

16 17 18

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Organized Dentistry (ASDA)

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Organized Dentistry CDA Launches Fight to Protect MICRA

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Organized Dentistry What is GSG?

Academy of General Dentistry FellowTrack Program (AGD)

Clubs & Organizations SPEA

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Clubs & Organizations Korean Dental Student Association (KDSA) Indian Dental Student Association (IDSA)

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FEATURE: Dental Student Parents

Community Service Dental Care for Children - Haiti Feature USC Hiking and Jogging Scholarship

Feature From Ceylon to America

Feature In the Spotlight: Sylvestre Cruz Guzman

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white coat ceremony

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By Paulina Nguyen, DDS ‘18

s I looked at the faces around me lined up to enter Bovard Auditorium for the White Coat Ceremony, I was still in shock that this day had finally come. Despite rushing chaotically out of SIM lab minutes before and attempting to look puttogether for our families during this special day, each and every person was just as excited as I was to partake in an event that would mark the beginning of our dental professional careers. Applying to dental school was one of the most challenging and stressful ordeals I have been through, as many of my classmates can understand.

For me, personally, it was a long journey that made me doubt whether I would actually reach my goal of becoming a dentist. However, after an overwhelming week of orientation, I had the privilege of meeting the diverse members of our class and hearing about their own personal journey. I realized then that we all had one thing in common: our perseverance, passion and determination to become dentists. This day was a culmination of the hard work that has led us to arrive at Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Additionally, it was a day dedicated to the recognition of the support from our friends and families, all of whom helped make this dream possible. As I listened to the words of Dean Sadan, Dr. Navazesh, and our ASB President Nehi, I was filled with excitement and nervousness for what lies ahead of me. I would like to thank my family first and foremost for their unwavering faith and confidence in me. Without their support, I would not have been able to call myself a part of the DDS Class of 2018.

Mariana Pereira & Sarah Sanadiki, DDS ‘18

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Curtis Tsai DDS ‘18 and family.

DH ‘16 (L to R): Roberto Marroquin, Robin Hipolito, Jorge Oseguera, Mariesa Abad, Patricia Anne Reyes, Denise Triey, Ralph Paez

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Ambassadors Mathias Fallis & Lily Du, DDS ‘17

ASPID ‘16 (L to R): Rajesh Pasupuleti, Waseem Mohiuddin, Jaspreet Singh Ghuman, Yagnik Patel, Vijay Godi, and Vishal Kulkarni

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Members of the DDS Class of 2018 at their White Coat Ceremony.

Members of the DDS Class of 2018 at their White Coat Ceremony

clubs & organizations

Dental Humanitarian Outreach Program (DHOP)

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By Amy Demirchyan, DDS ‘17

DHOP is entirely student run and operated under the guidance of incredible faculty and advisors. I was introduced to DHOP during my first few weeks as an excited, but very timid, Freshman DDS student. The enthusiasm and dedication of the organization leaders was apparent right from the start. As one of five freshmen accepted to participate in the 2013 Jamaica trip, I knew this experience would be that of a lifetime, and it certainly was. Being a member of the 2013 Treasure Beach, Jamaica DHOP trip gave me the unique opportunity to peak into what the rest of my life in public health service is going to be like. It confirmed my interest and dedication to my dental career. Those 8 days helped me build relationships with my future colleagues and observe and participate in patient interaction. Watching my upperclassmen treat patients taught me immeasurable responsibility and respect for the entire dental process. We are happy to announce that plans and fundraising are currently underway for our December 2014 trip. We could not do this without the support of the Trojan family, network, and global reach. Fight On!

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Community Service | Page 5

he University of Southern California Dental Humanitarian Outreach Program (DHOP) fosters a passion to educate impoverished populations in oral hygiene and caries prevention, so that they can carry that message to a younger generation. Our objective is for local and international humanitarian groups, USC dental-students, faculty and alumni to come together with the common interest of providing the highest quality of periodontal treatment, operative dentistry, and oral surgery to those that need it most. Every year, we attempt to extend our reach. In 2009 and 2010, we organized efforts in Copan, Honduras. In 2011, our brigade served over 600 people in the deprived suburbs of Cartagena, Columbia. In December of 2012, approximately 40 dental students, 6 dentists, and several RDHs and RDAs embarked to Nairobi, Kenya. In December 2013, DHOP traveled to Treasure Beach, Jamaica to operate a 4-day Restorative and Oral Surgery clinic that served almost 400 men, women, and children. Throughout all of our travels, volunteers experienced new challenges, extreme personal and professional growth, and truly learned the definition of dedicated public service.

a visit from CODA

Accreditation 101

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC will be undergoing accreditation from April 7 - 9, 2015. Who is CODA? What will the accreditation process be like?

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By Samantha Keith De Leon, DDS ‘16

et ready! Accreditation is coming this school year, and we are excited to show the nation how awesome Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry REALLY is. Site visitors from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) will be visiting our campus to review 8 of our programs. These programs include the DDS and Dental Hygiene programs, as well as the Graduate programs of Endodontics, Orofacial Pain, Orthodontics, Pedodontics, Periodontics, and Prosthodontics.

CODA visitors will walk the entire facility and will visit the clinics, sim lab, and even PBL sessions.

Students are also invited to join site visitors for a student luncheon. This way, our visitors can get a better idea about the life of a dental student through student interaction. Our guests will have only three days to get a feel for how the entire school runs, therefore all classes will continue as scheduled so that they can experience a typical day at the school. As long as everyone continues to do their best to create a positive and hardworking learning environment while providing remarkable care to our patients, our visitors will see that we go above-and- beyond meeting the Accreditation Standards. Visits only happen once every 7 years for these programs, so let’s show them how our Trojan family gets things done! FIGHT ON!!!

the inside scoop on CODA &

accreditation

By Samantha Keith De Leon, DDS ‘16

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“Think of it like therapy.”

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hat was the exact analogy that Dr. Tom provided when asked about the accreditation process. “It’s simple. You evaluate your own performance, listing what you have accomplished as a school, as well as recognizing what goals you have not met just yet.

You realize the changes for improvement, and you evaluate the next steps to get you to a new set of goals.” CODA, in this case, would be the therapist, and USC is undergoing the selfevaluation process. Once the school sends in a report of their self-evaluation, site visitors come in to make sure the report is accurate. They send observations and findings to a committee who gathers twice a year (once in winter and once in the summer) in Chicago to decide accuracy of the self-evaluation. If not, they send “recommendations” for improvement, and the school is given a set time to make changes, after which they are re-evaluated again.

So how does one get involved with CODA? “Having been nominated into the accreditation process by his mentor and residency director Dr. Steve Ganzberg, CODA went through my CV and selected me.” Dr. Tom started with as a site visitor, but later on became a part of the PostDoctoral Review Committee as the Dental Anesthesiology Representative. This meant that twice a year for a four-year term, he would travel to Chicago to review the reports sent in by site visitors and to determine if the school is accreditation worthy depending on whether they meet the set standards. There is a number of CODA standards of care to be met, all of which are centered on one question. Are you, as an institution, providing the education needed to graduate competent dentists capable of delivering the standard of care to the community? In essence, CODA is concerned primarily about the safety of the public, and wants to assure that

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What is the benefit of accreditation?

Continuous quality improvement of dental and dental-related education programs.

When is Accreditation?

Site visits will continue from April 7, 2015 to April 9, 2015.

How many programs are being reviewed?

8 programs total, including DDS, Dental Hygiene, Grad Endo, Grad Orofacial Pain, Grad Ortho, Grad Pedo, Grad Perio, and Grad Pros.

What is CODA? CODA is the only organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit dental-related programs.

What is the purpose of the site visit?

To gain in-depth information concerning all administrative and educational aspects of the program and to assess the program’s compliance with the Accreditation Standards.

What can students do to help?

• Be amazing!

• Continue concentrating on providing the best patient care possible.

• Be welcoming and informative hosts for our guests, and help them get to their destinations if lost. There are 8 different programs, and they are spread throughout our building.

What is the accreditation process like for students?

There will be about 20-30 visitors roaming the halls, all wearing a badge.

Do not feel awkward if they loom over you in sim lab, watch you during clinic, or ask questions during PBL. Most visitors come from other institutions like our own and are used to how a dental school works. They are just curious about the Trojan way, and who knows, they may see something they like and bring it back to their own institution!

How can I learn more about CODA and accreditation?

To learn more about CODA and the accreditation process, visit www.ada.org/en/coda.

Please submit any questions you have regarding accreditation to The 925 and watch our for answers to your questions in the next issue!

Contact 925 Magazine at:

the925magazine@gmail.com

institutions and graduating dental professionals are not doing harm to the patients.

the same state, because the proximity makes an acquaintance highly likely. Thus, site visiting allows for a LOT of travelling to other states.

“Despite having served a great 4 years on the Review Committee, I am ready to become a site visitor again.” Site visiting is an amazing experience because a group of dental professionals from different fields come together to give insight on the institution’s process. Some of these professionals come from other institutions as well, so they love seeing different ways of reaching the same goals. The best part is that one can take these different techniques and implement them into their own institution. Off course, site visitors are not allowed to evaluate a school that they might have a bias towards. This includes sites within

Coming from such a narrow field of dentistry, Dr. Tom was pulled into the Accreditation process based on the need for other Anesthesiologists.

However, he has greatly enjoyed being a part of CODA, and highly recommends involvement, seeing how it is such an eye-opening learning experience. Not only are you given the opportunity to learn about techniques on improving future dental education, but you also gain insight and advice about your own performance, while networking and creating relationships with other professionals in the dental field across the United States.

Pediatric Dentistry Study Club

clubs & organizations

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for the athletes. This is a place where the students can shine and really emphasize preventative care. The World Games of Summer Olympics are being held next year at the USC campus, and the study club hopes to be able to contribute during this exciting time.

Besides formal lunch meetings, the study clubs also provides volunteer opportunities. This was the first year here the pediatric study club was represented in Special Olympics Regional Summer Games, at USC with special smiles. The volunteer where able to provide dental screenings, OHI, mouth guards and fluoride varnish

In August 2014, the pediatric study club, together with the pediatric selective team, organized a full clinic at the Ronald McDonald House in Los Angeles. We arrived early in the morning and within an hour we had a mobile clinic set up. The patient pool was the residents at the house, and their families. With a donation from the Dental Public Health & Pediatric Dentistry we were able to give each patient an OHI bag containing toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and fluoride rinse.

Thanks to the effort of the students, and faculty volunteering their time we were able to treat over 50 patients. In the future the Study Club is looking into continuing monthly lunch seminars, and a strong community outreach program.

By EvaLina Josefsson, DDS ‘15

he Pediatric Study Club is dedicated to provide the student body of Ostrow School of Dentistry with monthly meetings where current and fundamental topics in pediatric dentistry are covered. During these meetings faculty from different specialties devote their time to provide exceptional lectures to all students that are interest in attending. These meeting are announced via email, and is open to the entire student body. During the past year topics that have been discussed are behavioral modification techniques, oral surgery, emergencies, and dental anomalies all in the light of pediatric dentistry.

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potluck to celebrate Diwali. Diwali, or the festival of lights, is a fiveday Hindu festival and is one of the most important holidays in our calendar. For the next semester we will be having an educational lecture series by our esteemed faculty advisor Dr. Santosh. We also have many fun filled events planned for next semester so be sure to check your emails. We would encourage any dental student to come out and join in the fun! On behalf of IDSA, we would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holidays and best wishes for the upcoming new year.

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Namaste Trojans, e are very pleased to welcome the DDS class of 2018 and the ASPID class of 2016. The purpose of the Indian Dental Student Association (IDSA) is very simply to spread Indian culture, build camaraderie and provide any means of support we can to our members. This year we had our first meeting and welcomed the new students to our club. In addition, the upperclassmen have been mentoring the first years providing them with valuable knowledge and tutelage. We will also have a

By Anuj Patel, DDS ‘15

Clubs & Orgs

Indian Dental Student Association (IDSA)

tips & tricks for applying to ADEA specialty programs I

By Robert Hanna, DDS ‘16

n the new era of pass/fail boards, it is hard to determine what it takes to get into a specialty program. It is even more challenging since our PBL system produces grades that are hard to interpret. Many schools ignore them and view us as a pass/fail institution. Luckily, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has resources that can help applicants determine the best path.

During the last annual session, ADEA gathered program directors from Ohio State Oral Surgery, Case Western Periodontics, UCSF Orthodontics, and the University of Illinois Pediatric Dentistry to speak on the parts of applications they focus on. Below are some of the highlights from that session.

Michelle Zin ADEA Representative, Class of 2015 Vice Chair for the Council of Students, Residents, and Fellows

For those interested in oral surgery, the Comprehensive Basic Sciences Examination (CBSE), developed by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), is the alpha and omega of every application. A great NBME score can overcome poor grades but nothing can overcome a poor NBME score. Study early, study hard, and take it as many times as possible. There is no penalty for re-taking the exam. Schools will only see your best score.

For other programs, after an applicant makes the first round of cuts, they thoroughly review all aspects of the application, starting with letters of recommendation (LORs). In the pass/fail era, LORs are more important than ever. Make sure you ask the right person. Program directors want to see letters from people they know, meaning fellow academics. Although clinical faculty can produce great letters, a LOR from a colleague or someone they can call for additional information will always be ideal.

However, ask someone who can write you a glowing LOR over faculty with a higher academic status that does not know you as well.

When it comes to the personal statement, make it honest. Outside of oral surgery, most programs will read your essay. What you write needs to match your experiences. For example, do not write that you are passionate about service or teaching when you never volunteered for outreach programs or taught anything. Try to build an essay as a story of how you came to the specialty, using specifics from your experiences in and out of dental school to demonstrate personal growth.

Robert Hanna ADEA Representative, Class of 2016 Policy Center Liaison for Advocacy and Government Relations

Pegah Shayesteh ADEA Representative, Class of 2017

When choosing extra curricular activities, as always, it is better to be heavily involved in a few activities that reflect your passions than to spend minimal time in many areas. The former comes across as genuine. The latter makes applicants look like someone who just wants a long CV. This might make an applicant look dishonest and hurt their application.

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Research may or may not be important. Oral surgery heavily values academics, so research always helps. For other specialties, it depends on the type of program. In general, competitive programs that award a masters degree care more about research experience because a thesis is required to graduate. Program directors from Ortho and Perio remarked that they had seen students struggle to graduate because they could not complete the research requirements. Every program director was in agreement that students do not have to conduct research in a relevant field, but they do need to get their name on something. It seemed as though research without a poster presentation, publication, or something similar is ignored. Competitive programs will even evaluate the quality of the journal where you published.

Explore the ADEA website for more information on Pass, Match, or applying to specialty programs.

In the next issue of the 925 I will cover some of the other aspects of an application, like externships, interviews, and the character traits different programs look for in successful applicants. If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Nermine Batniji ADEA Representative, Class of 2018

In 2010, ADEA surveyed program directors of specialty programs to determine what attributes they consider most in successful applicants.

Read the results here: http:// www.adea.org/dental_education_ pathways/pass/Applicants/Pages/ ADEAPEFAttributestobeEvaluated.aspx

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is the voice of dental education. Its members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools and many allied and advanced dental education programs,corporations, faculty, and students. The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the health of the public.ADEA’s activities encompass a wide range of research, advocacy, faculty development, meetings, and communications like the esteemed Journal of Dental Education, as well as the dental school admissions services AADSAS, PASS, DHCAS, and CAAPID.

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ASDA district 11 meeting

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By Joshua Schaepe, DDS ‘18

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rom October 25-26, 2014, I had the pleasure of attending my first American Student Dental Association (ASDA) event - the ASDA District 11 meeting. The event was hosted at the brand new University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry building in the heart of downtown San Francisco. We had an unprecedented 28 Ostrow dental students attend the event. The conference was filled with powerful information regarding our amazing dental community. There were presentations, breakout sessions, networking opportunities and a vendor fair.

Ed Davis ASDA Representative, Class of 2015

Stephanie Ting ASDA Representative, Class of 2016 ASDA National Contributing Editor

Dillon Jensen ASDA Representative, Class of 2017

Joshua Schaepe ASDA Representative, Class of 2018

One of the most respected leaders of the dental profession, Arthur A. Dugoni, started the conference with a keynote speech. Dr. Dugoni was the dean of University of Pacific dental school for 28 years.

He has served as president of the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), the American Dental Association Foundation, the American Board of Orthodontics and the California Dental Association (CDA). So it came as no surprise that the speech centered on leadership. Dr. Dugoni mentioned many qualities that a leader should have, but also said a leader must have persistence. It is necessary because there will be failures along the way, but how we persevere and deal with those failures will determine the final outcome.

The conference allowed me to see all of the benefits of organized dentistry first hand. I had the opportunity to meet several past presidents of the CDA and ADA. I was also able to meet Dr. Carol Summerhays, fellow Trojan and ADA President-elect. Support networks, insurance and consultations services are just a few of the benefits of belonging to organizations such as the CDA and ADA. However, one of the most powerful benefits is representation for the dental profession at the local, state and federal levels. Both of these organizations are intimately involved with policy that effects dentistry and they lobby on our behalf to help strengthen our profession. One such policy is the licensure by portfolio to replace the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB) exam in California. Ideas for this process started around 2002 with the law passing in 2010. Implementation continues to unfold and should be ready for dental classes graduating in 2016 or 2017. The CDA and ADA have been instrumental in this process and continue to be a valuable asset as portfolio licensure is implemented.

With over 170 dental students and over 40 pre-dental students in attendance from six schools the District 11 meeting was a great success. For those of you who are not aware, ASDA is made up of 11 districts across the country. District 11 comprises the students from all the schools in California (USC, Western, Loma Linda, UOP, UCSF, and UCLA). It was an amazing opportunity to network with a diverse group of students, faculty, organized dentistry officers and leaders.

An ASDA meeting would not be complete without a social event. The sponsors put together a harbor cruise in San Francisco bay. This allowed all of the students to learn more about each other on a personal level as well as see stunning views of the San Francisco skyline. My fellow Trojans and I enjoyed the catered food as well as the company of the other students. My first ASDA meeting was a memorable one and I am looking forward to many more.

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Organized Dentistry | Page 9

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) is a national student-run organization that protects and advances the rights, interests and welfare of dental students. It introduces students to lifelong involvement in organized dentistry and provides services, information, education, representation and advocacy.

CDA launches fight to protect micra Alexandria Grabowski CDA Representative, Class of 2015 Student Chair to CDA Leadership Development Committee

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By Janice Lee, DDS ‘17

n 1974, the medical malpractice crises in California led to the passing of the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act or MICRA. MICRA’s passage protected health care providers, including dentists, from extreme liability exposure and high premiums by creating a $250,000 cap on non-economic damage awards for pain and suffering, which suppressed lawyer incentive to file countless lawsuits that would cause healthcare costs to skyrocket. In its original state, MICRA ensured fair compensation to injured patients while stabilizing liability costs; however, trial lawyers have filed to change the provisions of MICRA that protect dentists, physicians, and other healthcare providers.

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The California Dental Association (CDA) and the California Allied for Patient Protection having banded together to launch statewide efforts to fight the trial lawyers who are attempting to make changes to MICRA. Trial lawyers have filed to increase the $250,000 cap to $1.1 million dollars, which would increase operating costs for doctors, hospitals, and community clinics, making it difficult for health care providers to take on many patients. Under the guise of protecting the patient by increasing the pain and suffering liability award, trial lawyers expect to see huge payouts in frivolous lawsuits. The new cap would mean increases in California State and local government by hundred million annually because of higher costs for providers and purchasers of healthcare. Lastly, operating costs for doctors and dentist alike would increase with the passing of MICRA, pushing skilled healthcare practitioners out of California.

The initiative to make changes to MICRA has been proposed as law in the next voting cycle as Proposition 46 – Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Cap and Drug Testing of Doctors (2014). The proposition also includes privacy infringements in order to appeal to the public including required drug and alcohol testing of doctors and reporting positive tests to the California Medical Board, suspension of doctors pending positive results, and required healthcare practitioners to consult the state prescription drug history database for prescribing controlled substances. If approved, Prop 46 would be the first law in the United States to require random drug testing of physicians. The CDA has contributed about five million dollars to fund the “Vote No on Prop 46” campaign.

Alexandra Chamberlain CDA Representative, Class of 2016 Vice Chair of CDA Student Delegation

Janice Lee CDA Representative, Class of 2017 TDIC Student Representative

Katarina Calilung CDA Representative, Class of 2018

Fatemeh Arabpour CDA Representative, ASPID Class of 2015

The California Dental Association (CDA) is a community of dentists committed to enhancing the professional lives of our members—25,000 of the best and brightest dentistry has to offer. Together, we champion better oral health care for all Californians.

Yagnik Patel CDA Representative, ASPID Class of 2016

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Michael Chang GSG Representative, Class of 2015

Andis Almasi GSG Representative, Class of 2016

Ali Salehpour GSG Representative, Class of 2017 Director of Social Programming

Ramin Rabii GSG Representative, Class of 2018

what is GSG ?

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By Ali Salehpour, DDS ‘17

raduate Student Government (GSG) is an organization that consists of elected senators from each of the graduate schools at USC. GSG’s mission is to enhance the graduate and professional student experience by serving as the unified face of the student body – it is a collaborate effort that compiles the ideas and needs from each of the different graduate schools and consolidates them into one unified voice. To accomplish its role as the face of the student body, GSG provides an open platform to the graduate student body, builds a community that fosters interdisciplinary changes, and informs students about their rights, resources, and opportunities here at USC. GSG allows graduate students to participate in committees, such as finance, social, and judiciary, as well as provide the opportunity to meet with high-ranking administrators and faculty to discuss issues of joint importance.

The elected GSG senators at The Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC are Michael Chang (DDS 2015), Andis Almasi (DDS 2016), Ali Salehpour (DDS 2017), and Ramin Rabii (DDS 2018). Each senator is required to attend a monthly GSG Senator Meeting, where pressing issues, financial concerns, and social events are all discussed and voted on. At the dental school, the Senators play a vital role in obtaining GSG funds for all the recognized student groups and organizations on campus. There is a financial committee that is responsible for allocating a certain percentage of total funds to each professional school. The GSG senators aggressively lobby for more funds by presenting all the events the wonderful dental student groups put on each trimester. These funds are directly linked to the level of participation in student clubs and organizations, so the more recognized groups and events, the more money GSG can get for you!

Additionally, GSG makes a conscientious effort to make life at USC more enjoyable and stress-free.

There are bimonthly newsletters letting the graduate student body know about upcoming social and academic events. These include free legal consultations, free cover at the hottest clubs and bars in LA, discounted sporting events such as Dodgers, Kings, and Clippers games, free massages to de-stress during finals week, travel grants to subsidize airline and hotel accommodations for graduate students presenting at conferences both domestically and abroad, and Metro TAP (Transit Access Pass) cards for Metro Bus & Rail, Metro Rapid, and Metro Liner services.

If you want to learn more about GSG, please visit gsg.usc.edu.

clubs & organizations SPEA

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By Tiffany Lee, DDS ‘16

On September 22, 2014, the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association (SPEA), welcomed returning students and the Class

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of 2018 to their first meeting of the academic school year. At this meeting, co-presidents Jeff Davies and Colby McKinney presented on the history of the organization, followed by a case scenario for open discussion. Students were divided into groups and given an ethical scenario in which each group was asked to collaborate and come up with what they felt was a viable option for handling the situation. An important point SPEA strives to make is that ethics is not simply black and white. Instead, there are many ways to handle a situation appropriately; it is about weighing the risks and benefits for all parties to find an optimal solution. By providing open discussion on ethical and professional issues in dentistry, SPEA intends to bring awareness to such dilemmas and hopefully provide a framework for which professional integrity may be built upon.

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Organized Dentistry | Page 11

he Student Professionalism and Ethics Club (SPEC) was founded in 2007 when a group of students at USC met with Dr. Alvin Rosenblum to organize a way to promote ethics and professionalism within the school. They held their first meeting that October of 2007 and soon branched out to help start SPEC chapters at other dental schools. With the expansion of SPEC chapters nationwide came recognition by the American Student Dental Association (ASDA), American College of Dentists (ACD), and the American Society of Dental Ethics (ASDE). By May 2010, ten students from all over the country met at USC to devise a plan for taking SPEC to the next level and transforming it into a national organization. At an ACD convention in October 2011, the by-laws were ratified and it was then that SPEC became known as SPEA.

feature: dental student parents Sae Chan Lee, Mary Chen-Huang, and Phil Acevedo are full-time dental students at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. They are also full-time parents. In this feature, they detail the stresses and joys of their dual roles as dental student parents by giving us a glimpse into their (exceedingly cute) family lives.

sae chan lee, DDS ‘16

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y wife and I have one-year-old son, Han, and we are expecting a daughter this coming November. I know, having two babies in dental school, we must be CRAZY! We met each other in my hometown Hwa-cheon Gangwon Province Korea. In 2008, I had an opportunity to teach English in my hometown through an independent study-abroad program offered by my undergraduate college.

Sae Chan Lee, DDS ‘16, and his family.

Sae Chan Lee is currently a third year dental student at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. He worked as a consultant/ coordinator for Korean International students in northern Indiana. He completed his undergrduated studies with a biochemistry major and music minor from Goshen College, a liberal arts college in Indiana. He enjoys singing classical music.

The hardest part about being a parent and student?

From trying to avoid getting sick after taking care of your child with flu to dealing with increased financial needs, there are various challenges to being a student-parent.

Among these various elements, I believe the most challenging part for us is the time management. Balancing between full-time schoolwork and being home with your children, sometimes it becomes even difficult to find time/place to do your ‘learningneeds’.

The best part?

I would say seeing my son growing healthy is the best part. Spending time and playing with an active toddler does require additional energy, and this is not easy when you come home after long hours in the SIM-lab or in clinic. However, being with Han allows me to take a time off from schoolwork and this could play as a way of balancing between the two worlds. Perhaps a second-best part was having a live model with the eruption sequence and primary dentition. This was a big help for pediatric dentistry course and NBDE board preparations.

How do you balance the stresses of studying and raising a family?

Two to three times a week, I try to have a time of my own and balance stresses through physical exercise. On those brief but an essential moments, I am able to organize my thoughts and focus on needs of my own.

Advice for other student parents?

Especially for 1st and 2nd year dental student parents at Ostrow, know that you are part of a supportive community and that there are many other 3rd and 4th year student parents who have gone before you. So, whether it is a specific school related advice (ways to manage school and home, preclinical class resources, NBDE part 1 preparation plans, or etc.) or personal questions, simply ASK and FIGHT ON!

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Sae Chan’s wife, Soon Ha, is raising Han and busy with preparations for the birth of their daughter. She has a M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Korea and wishes to continue with her studies later. Soon-ha enjoys learning and teaching Korean cuisines.

Sae Chan’s son, Han, was born on February 26, 2013, during midterm exam week of first year spring trimester.

Classmates graciously gave him the nickname, ‘COMBOT Baby’. He loves everything about the water, whether it is drinking or swimming in it.

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phil acevedo, DDS ‘15

Kayden, age 7

Kale, age 3

Phil Acevedo (DDS ‘15), his wife Valerie, and their two sons Kayden and Kale.

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aising a family while being a dental student is a unique challenge. In many ways you feel like you’re living a double life. By day you’re a student going to classes, seeing patients, studying for exams and planning for the long list of requirements. By night you’re rushing to prepare meals, shuttle to sports, relax, play, be a dad, do housework, and get ready for the next day. It’s easy to constantly feel rushed and overwhelmed. It is definitely a juggling act that requires sacrifice and prioritization.

My wife, Valerie, and I have three boys, Kayden (7), Kale (3) and Kingston (born just this September!), three dogs, and two bunnies.

My family is my biggest motivation and my number one priority.

My favorite part of each day is coming home to see my boys and hear them tell me all about their days. My time with them is like plugging in to recharge my battery and it is what keeps me going.

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Without the support of the rest of our family this wouldn’t be possible. My three-hour commute each day is a small sacrifice to know that my boys are taken care of by family members who live close-by.

This lifestyle can definitely make you feel like you’re being pulled in all different directions. It’s easy to think about school when you’re with the family, or feel rushed to hurry home when at school. To make it work you definitely have to prioritize your time.

Set aside the time that you have to absolutely focus on school.

Then, make time for the things that are most important. Finally, take time for yourself. For me, it’s a couple hours on the weekend getting outside for a hike or mountain bike ride. Most importantly, devote yourself to each task. Focus on what you’re doing and live in the moment.

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Kale knows that his daddy fixes teeth. He takes great pride in brushing his own teeth and then showing off how clean they are when he’s finished. He once proclaimed that, “sugar bugs are

Valerie works full-time as a dental hygienist. Being able Kingston, born in September to talk to someone who knows the lingo and understands what it’s like dealing with patients and school is the best therapy. I remember when she was in hygiene school and it reminds me of how hard we’ve worked to get to this point.

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I grew up with both parents working full time while going to school to get their degrees. So this hectic lifestyle is somewhat normal for me. Like my parents, I’ve tried to use my life as a student as an example to my boys that anything worth having takes hard work. When Kayden struggles with homework or an activity it’s easy to remind him that even daddy has to dig deep to overcome obstacles. Kayden has picked up on the cues of when I’m preparing for exams and eagerly asks me how my tests went as soon as I get home. Knowing that he sincerely cares about how I’m doing motivates me to push myself through the most tiresome times.

tricking my brain… they make me want to eat more sugar so they can make homes in my teeth.” A three-year-old’s sense of humor is the best remedy for a long day.

mary chen-huang, DDS ‘16

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e are currently a family of 3, soon to be 4. Our son, named Noah, is 2 years old. He loves to read books, especially about dinosaurs, elephants, owls, and anything with wheels. Surprisingly, he enjoys getting his teeth cleaned with toothbrush and floss every day.

I feel as if I am going through dental school with my kids. One has gone through my dental school interviews while the second one took the NBDE part 1 with me. The hardest part about raising a family while being a student is not being able to be at two places at once. While I am in school, I am worried or thinking about my son, especially when he gets sick. While I am at home, I am worried and thinking about catching up with school work. I face new challenges everyday but I feel there is no time to be stressed out. I just keep moving forward. My “mommy” hat is usually off when everyone is asleep, so 1am-5am is my quiet studying time.

Advice to Trojans parents/dental student: You will have many moments when it just feels impossible to do everything. Pause for a moment. When see your kids’ smile and hear their laughter, it means you are doing something right. Keep working hard, it will pay off in the end.

Mary Chen-Huang, DDS ‘16, and her son Noah (2)

John Reynolds (DDS ‘17) with his daughter Ellie Reynolds (22 mos) Jaewoo Kim (DDS ‘16), his wife Yeonjae Song, and their twins Ellyn and Irene (3)

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Preston Beck (DDS ‘17) and family.

Brad Rowan (DDS ‘16), his wife Melissa, and their kids Hayley (6) and Cole (4)

Hoang-Anh Tran (DDS ‘16), her husband Long Ly, and daughter Elle Seven Ly (1).

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Tyler Hales (DDS ‘16) and his wife Audra with their newborn daughter Scarlett Marie.

clubs & organizations Academy of General Dentistry FellowTrack Program

By Sienna Palmer, DDS ‘15

control over the final product. These advancements have peaked student interest in implantology. Recognizing this, AGD presented lectures and workshops that were open to those interested in this field. This past year we were fortunate to have Dr. Kam Nouri, a prosthodontic faculty at USC, present about the entire process of an implant case in his office using Galileos CT scan and SiCat implant placement. Dr. Nouri presented several interesting patient cases and explained the advantages of different implant systems.

Additionally, senior AGD members were selected to participate in a hands on implant workshop organized by our faculty advisor Dr Cheryl Goldasich. The workshop, presented by Burbank dental lab, was extremely useful for students who have a background in implants from school but have never placed one. Everyone is welcome to attend these events. Watch out for our emails throughout the year to see what else we have to offer!

“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” -William Shakespeare

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n life and in dentistry there is an overwhelming amount to learn and a good dentist seeks additional knowledge to improve himself and his practice. The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Fellowtrack Student Program encourages students to expand their knowledge of general dentistry through lunch and learns, CE courses, and hands on workshops. AGD Fellowtrack supplements the learning in the classroom and on the clinic floor by gaining feedback from students to guide the focus of our speakers and courses.

Advanced technology in dental implants has enabled general dentists to place and restore implants, giving dentists more

Korean Dental Student Association (KDSA)

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By Simon Cheong, DDS ‘17

culture. Any current student in the dental or hygiene program at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry may join this organization.

he Korean-American Dental Student Association (KDSA) was originally established in 1990 to help Korean dental students assimilate into the school and provide dental education to the non-English speaking Korean community.

Since its founding, KDSA has become one of the largest student organizations at USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry.

In conjunction with our parent organization Korean American Dental Association (KADA), KDSA offers its student members various professional events to network and learn from USCaffiliated alumni and other Los Angeles Dental Society (LADS) dentists. This past March 2014, KDSA members attended a Continuing Education course offered by KADA for a day of exciting seminars. We were fortunate to hear and learn from amazing USC faculty, including our very own Drs. Avishai Sadan, Sillas Duarte, Jin-Ho Phark and Pascal Magne. Besides promoting academic and clinical excellence amongst colleagues at school, KDSA strives to connect its members to KDSA-affiliated faculty and continually expand the horizons for its students.

Our organization strives to promote the academic pursuit of its members by offering academic help and tutoring between students. KDSA strives to continue the tradition of fostering outreach for oral healthcare through free clinical and consultation events. In addition, it helps foster camaraderie between KoreanAmerican dental students as well as various other ethnic groups.

We provide social outlets and opportunities for dental students to reach out and meet others with a common interest in Korean

Persian Dental Student Association (PDSA)

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By Mitra Behzadi, DDS ‘16

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over the world. Our members have formed very close friendships and connections by participating in many social events including lecture series, sponsored lunches, hiking activities, and annual ski trips. Our club unites us from day one of dental school and after attending the first meeting you will feel that you have made friends for life. This year, we had a record number of new members join our club. We are proud to be the largest ethnic club at the dental school.

Clubs & Orgs

he Persian Dental Association (PDSA) of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC is a student organization whose objective is to promote an understanding of Persian culture, sponsor Persian social activities, and to help foster friendship among different cultural groups by providing a source of unity and support. Our club is very active and offers a variety of academic help sessions and study tools for our members. PDSA reaches out to everyone, not just the Persian community, and we are very proud to have members with all types of backgrounds and from all

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L es

By Omar Bajwa, DDS ‘15

s any dentist or dental student will tell you, a smiling and happy patient is one of life’s greatest joys. Smiles were everywhere over Labor Day Weekend while a group of doctors, volunteers, and students traveled to Les Cayes, Haiti.

Dr. Charles Tozzer, an Irvine based dentist, and his non-profit organization Dental Care For Children accompanied by volunteer dentists from Texas, Tennessee, and Canada traveled to Haiti to provide dental care to the children living at ESPWA orphanage.

The Dental Care For Children Team, which included two alumni USC dental students, Dr. Mona Heravi and Dr. Dina Mismar as well as current fourth year dental student, Omar Bajwa, was able to provide dental services to over 250 children and adults in just two short clinic days.

Even the children who did not have a need for fillings or sealants received fluoride treatments and oral hygiene instructions with their own toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. The collective effort does not stop there. It takes about twice the time to clean up and pack away a clinic then it does to set it up, and after two very tiring, long, hot days our team was just as motivated and committed to getting the job done. It is difficult to put into words the true nature of the experience when working with children who may have otherwise never see a dentist in their lifetime.

Some may be familiar with the work of DCFC at the local Southern California Smiles Clinic that take place year round. The continuous success of these preventative care clinics can be largely attributed to the ongoing support and active participation of dental students from USC Ostrow School of Dentistry. Many students are returning volunteers during these clinics as well as the weekend -organized trips to Ensenada, Mexico. Dental Care for Children (DCFC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to provide free dental care to children and adults locally and abroad, who do not have access to or can not receive adequate dental healthcare.

DCFC has been in existence since 1991 and has been in strong connection with the Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC since 2002; offering students an opportunity to build clinical experience, under the supervision and guidance of licensed doctors and professors, while contributing to the community at large. Since its inception, DCFC has established mobile dental clinics servicing underdeveloped populations in Southern California and Mexico, in addition their clinics in Southern Haiti. If are you interested in volunteering for a local or international clinic, prospective students must fill out an application from USC’s DCFC Student Liaison. Students are accepted based on skill-level, student recommendations, and philanthropic passion.

Starting our travels with the red eye flight to Miami, our Los Angeles and Irvine group set out for what we all hoped would be another successful clinic. Once in Miami, we were met with our other doctors and volunteers. Together, we boarded a plane to Port-au- Prince Haiti. It would be easy to say our journey stopped there, but instead it continued for another 6 hours on a bus ride through the country until we finally arrived to our final destination.

Upon arrival at 10 o’clock at night, the team worked in exhaustion as we unpacked bags for the following day, cleaned the clinic site, set up individual chair units, sorted tackle boxes to refill materials and necessary equipment, and organized instruments.

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The next two days were filled with both tears and happiness as each child at the orphanage walked in and sat in a chair. Rachel Vinciguerra who has been living and working at the orphanage recalled her favorite and heartfelt moment when a little girl, who has been dealing with severe medical trauma most of her life, reluctantly let Dr. Mona Heravi treat her after several failed attempts.

When talking to Rachel, she expressed how she never imagined the efficiency of the clinic stating, “It’s like an outdoor hospital, I can’t believe how it’s so organized!” But as any volunteer will tell you and in the words of Dr. Tozzer, “Haiti is our hardest clinic. We do the most work with the least resources.” It is no surprise that hard work is what it takes to treat over 250 patients in just two days with such a small group of working doctors and volunteers.

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usc hiking & jogging scholarship

The 4th Annual USC Hiking and Jogging Scholarship took place at Black Star Canyon on September 20, 2014. This event was started four years ago by Andrew Vo DDS ‘15 and Dr. Eggleston DDS ‘70, Pros ‘72, who shared a mutual passion for the active lifestyle.

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few years ago, UCI student Andrew Vo was shadowing Dr. Eggleston at his office while contemplating a career in dentistry. Among Andrew’s assortment of part time jobs, he was a spinning instructor and physical trainer for 24 Hour Fitness. Dr. Eggleston thought the set up was perfect: Andrew could get some free exercise training while giving advice on dentistry – so they went hiking. Competitive in nature, Dr. Eggleston knew that although Andrew would be able to annihilate him in pole vaulting, cycling, and lifting in the gym, he could at least hold his own in hiking. After a year or so of hiking together, Andrew started dental school and invited some dental students to join them.

the degenerative diseases of aging. Dr. Eggleston is an avid hiker because it avoids the knee damage of jogging, the run over danger in road cycling, the broken bones of mountain biking and skiing, and the tennis elbow of tennis. Maintaining a rigorous hiking regimen requires an achievable goal for inspiration. Dr. Eggleston gets up at 5:30 on Saturdays morning for a ten-mile speed hike.

His goal is to maintain the ability to hike with young and bustling 20-something-year-old dental students. Certainly nothing like a goal of ending world hunger or preventing birth defects, but it is a personal goal of his. Dr. Eggleston strongly believes hiking and outdoor activities leads to an improvement of personal health and well-being, which can assist in achieving more altruistic goals.

In 2011, Dr. Eggleston challenged the group of dental students to a hike up Black Star Canyon, just east of Irvine Lake in Orange County.

In a moment of hypoxia on the trail, Dr. Eggleston told them he would make a scholarship donation to anyone who could beat him to the top. They set a date for the challenge planting the seed for the Hiking/Jogging Scholarship annual event. Three years passed, along with a steep learning curve, and this year, Dr. Eggleston and a board of directors are set for the best year ever, hoping to have more than 300 students participate, along with faculty, friends, dental student children, and alumni.

Because dentistry is a sedentary profession, he hopes the Hiking/ Jogging Scholarship event inspires dental students to consider a lifetime of vigorous exercise and all the ensuing benefits.

Dr. Eggleston is inspired by current dental students and is encouraged by the next generation of dental professionals. He is motivated by their dedication and genuinely hopes that the event will encourage camaraderie, competition, and plant a desire to help each other as well as their patients.

Dr. Eggleston is a proud advocate of hiking and believes it is an excellent cardiovascular exercise and a great way to slow down

Clubs & Orgs

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Jake Tazik, DDS ‘16, wins the Hiking & Jogging Scholarship jackpot by recording the fastest time to the 8K finish line.

in the spotlight: sylvestre cruz guzman

By Samantha Keith De Leon, DDS ‘16

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here have been countless times, and I am sure many can also attest to this, when in the middle of a grueling, nerveracking exam, your sim lab unit breaks down and you are cursing (in your head… or out loud…) at your poor Dexter for being such an annoying fake-patient. And just when it seems like all hope is lost, enter Sylvestre, always smiling and asking “What’s the problem mi amigo?” To which you quickly explain that you are going to fail this test (not exactly the problem he was referring to) and that the unit has failed you and is now broken.

Usually, he will offer up some kind words along the lines of “Keep looking up. Don’t say that” during which he has already thought of a solution to your situation. In minutes, you are back at it, racing the clock, while Sylvestre runs off, racing to the next unfortunate happenstance that befalls another dental student.

ortho wires, having learned it just from watching the students in sim lab at work. After the audio shop, he worked with a machining company for four years, where he learned to manipulate metals.

Now, he knows which metal would be the best replacement for broken parts. He finally got into dental equipment with Patterson eight years ago, and he worked for Patterson for four years. His first “test” was when someone had him observe the setting up of a pano machine, and then he was told to set up another one by himself. Just by watching the first set up, he was able to have the pano machine ready in a short amount of time. He came to USC one day because the school needed help during WREBS, and the rest is history. He has been at USC for four years, and is undoubtedly a wonderful addition to our staff. So next time you are working in the labs, think of Sylvestre and thank him for his hard work, simply by removing the wax before using the model trimmer and keeping the machines off when not in use. He has helped us so much; it is time we return the favor.

It is not his quick response time that makes Sylvestre stand out to me, but rather his strive to do good, not just for the students, but for the faculty, staff, and the school itself. His positivity is refreshing and also impressive considering he is constantly dealing with things that have gone wrong. His innovation is apparent in his creative solutions that require simple everyday items lying around in the school. Lastly, his hard work and his concern for the students can be seen every time he is plunges into a task to make sure the student can return to getting the most out of their education as soon as possible. Despite being radioed to fix multiple things at once, Sylvestre somehow manages to have time to stop and listen to the students’ problems or to share stories with the faculty. He even teaches the students his secret on how to fix certain problems.

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To learn more about Sylvestre’s life at the school, I took an hour of my day to shadow him around. His typical day begins with a routine check on every floor, making note of the list of repairs.

He does a quick sweep through first and second floor, but most of his time is spent in the SimLab and WetLab on the third floor.

And I can see why. On the day I shadowed him around, there were students running on the hallways, 2 motors were left on in the wet lab and ran the risk of overheating, and multiple students were using the steamer outside the sink, despite his sign written in capital letters over the machine. He takes it all in with a smile and a shake of the head, throwing reminders out here and there.

“No running in the halls!” “Please use that in the sink.” If anything is broken, he always tries to fix it on the spot. When he is unable to, he takes it to his workbench in the basement next to the chart room. There he fiddles with broken equipment, trying his best to save it and thus save the school from having to buy a brand new one. Sometimes he will keep parts of a broken piece of equipment that the company no longer makes, so that he can reuse it to fix the current equipment as they break down.

So how did he get so good at fixing problems? Experience, and a thirst for continuing education and knowledge. His starting point was working at a car audio shop when he was still in college. For three years, he gained experience with wiring, fixing radios, beepers, alarms, and switch boards. He became good at soldering and uses this knowledge to fix electronic issues, say with handpieces. Rumor has it that he is very talented at bending

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from ceylon to america

Kaluthara Ganithage Thanuja Gangani Kularatne reminisces about life as a dental student in her native Sri Lanka.

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By Thanuja Kularatne, ASPID DDS ‘16

t was a harsh winter, an image of dead trees and cold white snow. My life mirrored what was outside the window, painted in black and white, as if all the colors were drained out of it. It was depressing, overwhelming, and lonely. Crossing seven seas to realize my dreams never seemed this tough. At least, it never occurred to me that it would feel like this. Here I was in New York after leaving behind the beautiful, colorful, historical, tropical island I grew up in, Sri Lanka, altogether with my home, family, career, relatives, pets and friends. It was heartbreaking.

On the day I moved to New York, I was my way to the airport on Kandy Road, Sri Lanka, entangled with my memories of taking that road every Monday to school after spending the weekend at home. The commute to the dental school was a four hour ride by bus, so I stayed at the college during the week. It was the only dental school in Sri Lanka and gaining acceptance was a once in a life time achievement. Students from all around the country stayed in the free hostels provided by the government.

Coming from a culture in which parents took the lead, the newfound freedom was a haven to most students. The University of Peradeniya was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and the college years were nothing but fond memories of hard work, fun, and a serene environment surrounded by a range of mountains and colorful blooms.

Healthcare in Sri Lanka is free, as is the education. Therefore we as students, while enjoying free education, were able to provide free care to our patients. There were long lines of patients in the morning waiting to be treated. Clinical exposure was everything a student could hope for. However, with free healthcare were some shortcomings. Sometimes, there were not enough materials and certain treatments were limited to a few cases. Orthodontic patients had to be on a waitlist. Coming from such a system to a capitalistic system, good and bad aspects of each system are noteworthy and interesting. Free does not always warranty the best. It is not a promise for the optimum. But the paid services do not always meet the optimum either, in the cases when a patient is unable to pay. Skyrocketing healthcare costs can take away the patients’ right for healthcare and subsequently, a healthy life.

Thus, providing free care to all without the optimum treatment, or having optimum care available but not for all, are two different extremes of the spectrum. Regardless of the system, human effort and values remain of utmost importance. Irrefutable, experiencing different systems, worlds, cultures and worldviews, working with people has never been more interesting and rewarding.

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In Sri Lanka the notion of a ‘doctor’ was regarded with high respect. It was very rewarding to see the gratitude of patients after treatments. During the last two school years, the girls had to be dressed in traditional ‘sarees’ every day, since it was the professional attire of doctors and dentists. Cooking and packing lunch, draping sarees, almost running one mile to the school from the hostel and roaming hastily from one lecture to the clinic, and then to the lectures and back again to the clinics, operating theater, or wards was our normal routine.

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Student life was as hard as could be imagined. Punctuality, respect to the faculty, integrity and hard work were strictly observed. The medium of instruction was English, so students were supposed to communicate in English with the faculty. Having studied in our language ‘Sinhala’ until high school, a sudden adaptation to a new language was a definite adjustment. There were no lectures online, no smart phones, no personal computers, no laptops or no email communications. Lectures had to be written by hand and the students frantically jotted down the lectures. A computer

room was available in the college which we only used a few times for our community projects or presentations.

Thank you

for your generous support!