The Probe Spring 2021

Volume 14, Issue 4 Spring 2021

A look into the modern flossify of the VCU School of Dentistry

This Newsletter is brought to you by the American Student Dental Association at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.

vcuasda.com

CONT ENTS 03

DEAN'S MESSAGE

08

Read all about a special fulllength feature written and edited by Eva Miller (D2).

19

Words from our Interim Dean and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Education about a new sim lab.

06

2021 ASDA LEGISLATIVE UPDATES Get the latest scoop on vaccines, Medicaid, student licensure reform.

Jasmine Lee (D3) on oral surgery rotation

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VCU VACCINE CORPS

THE EXPLORER (SRG) What's the science between cheese and caries? What about ACE2 receptors and COVID-19?

BP

MOCK BOARDS A funny photo and some words of advice from a D4.

WELCOME

JAN 2021

The Probe The Probe Newsletter

is of

the VCU

ASDA School

of Dentistry.

The two goals for 2020-21 were

(1)

moments

to and

highlight people

at

VCU SOD and (2) to share encouragements, reflections, and information as we pursue excellence in dentistry for our patients.

Message from the Editor

Wishing you a great close to this school year!

A year ago I set out two goals for us (listed above) and I think

we've

newsletters

of

followed content

through—we've that

we

as

gathered

students

have

four looked

forward to reading—while also making everyone's submissions look good! It's been a pleasure, and thank you for sharing your stories in a busy and crazy year. I hope The Probe will continue to grow as the next Newsletter Editor takes over for the 2021-22 year and that we keep sharing our writing and photos with each other.

We've worked hard. I wish you a great close to the school year, and I hope you have a great summer and 2021 whether you are honing your skills in the sim lab, moving onto patient care as a provider in clinic, applying to residencies and jobs, or finally graduating! Thank you to everyone who contributed to our four publications in 2020-21 and thank you to all our readers.

Jasmine Lee, D2022 The Probe Newsletter Editor

The Probe | Spring 2021

02

PLANS FOR A NEW SIM LAB

DEAN'S MESSAGE DEAN SPATAFORE

For this issue of The Probe, I’ve asked Dr. Archer to share news of our new proposed Sim

Lab.

We

have

plans

for

several

facelifts around the school, this is just one of

the

many

exciting

improvements

we

hope to bring forward over the next few years.

Woolwine Lab, Photo courtesy of Dr. Archer

There is a consensus among dental students that the most used room in the School of Dentistry is the Woolwine Lab. With room for 108 students, the place is a busy hub of student activity both day and night, seven days a week. Regular preclinical D1 and D2 lab courses are scheduled Monday through Friday, but there is also a high demand for practice time during the other times when the lab is open.

RICK ARCHER D.D.S., M.S., SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR CLINICAL EDUCATION 03

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Woolwine Lab opened in 2007 with state of the art A-DEC units and benches. Originally, Columbia manikins and typodonts were used but it became obvious in 2016 that the wear and tear of daily use had taken its toll. In the summer of 2018, Woolwine underwent

WELCOME

OCTOBER 2020

a $2 million renovation project with new

into the new practice sim lab. To cut costs, plumbing will

A-Dec

In

be moved under the floor, which will be elevated. This

2020 all of the audio-visual equipment

eliminates demolition expenses. All units will be portable

was replaced.

A-DEC self-contained units with Frasaco manikins, so they

units

and

Frasaco

manikins.

will match the units used in Woolwine. Our goal is to have However, not all of the upgrades solve

50 units, which would be available for practice during the

the

day,

problem

of

high

demand

on

the

during

the

evening,

and

on

weekends.

The

real

space. On any given weekend in January

beauty of these units is that they are portable and can be

and February the lab is full of not only D1s

moved to a new facility. We realize that a second sim lab

and

for

will be crucial to any new school facility planned for the

dental

future. I really think this lab can be a true asset in helping

simulations have evolved and improved,

our students improve their clinical skills. To help make this

demand for simulation lab space will only

planned space a reality, the Development Office will be

increase.

initiating a fundraising campaign.

What is the answer? The Woolwine lab

I am really excited about seeing this project come to

cannot

fruition.

D2s,

clinical

but

also

board

be

visited

D4s

exams.

expanded.

many

preparing As

Because

schools

I

have

around

the

Southeast as a working board examiner, I have had the opportunity to find out how other schools have solved this problem. I was most impressed by the sim labs at The

Dental

Augusta

College

University

of

Georgia

(DCGAU).

at My

counterpart at DCGAU, Dr. Alan Furness showed me a second lab, which was for practice only (see picture). My immediate thought was that a second practice lab could

be

the

answer

to

our

problems.

Other schools, such as UNC, ECU, and LSU

have

However,

a

second

the

full-size

expense

sim

and

lab.

space

requirement for a new lab is not a viable alternative

while

we

wait

for

a

future

move to a new facility.

Dean

Spatafore

fully

supports

a

new

practice sim lab, and we are working to make it a reality. We have identified a space on the A Level of Lyons. We will take

the

current

computer

lab

adjacent IT work space and convert it

and

Sim lab at The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta, Photo courtesy of Dr. Archer

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04

A MESSAGE FROM THE VCU ASDA PRESIDENT

BY BRETT SIEGEL '23 During

this

year

challenges;

we

however,

faced

many

we

must

remember that we have much to be grateful family,

for.

my

I

am

grateful

amazing

opportunity

for

friends,

the

for

my

and

the

VCU

ASDA

Chapter to make a positive impact on the

upcoming

diligently

to

students

are

year.

make

ASDA

sure

being

will

VCU

work

dental

represented

and

given opportunities that are second to none. I am excited to work with Dean Spatafore,

who

has

been

doing

a

great job leading the school and look forward to assisting her alongside the ASDA

community.

Thank

you

for

allowing me to serve as your president this upcoming year. I hope to make you all proud and I am looking forward to a great year!

Go rams!

Brett Siegel ASDA VCU Chapter President 2021-22

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Dental Providers and Dental Students as COVID-19 Vaccinators

By Matilda Sullivan '22, VCU ASDA Legislative Liason

2020 was an unprecedented year

struck

by

international which

an

pandemic

required

adaptability

and community collaboration in a way that this country has not

seen

before.

It

also

Virginia Bill SB1445 passed the state house, senate and was signed by the governor into law

on

2/15/21

which

permits

dental

providers and dental students in Virginia to vaccinate

the

general

COVID-19

vaccine

public

(Pfizer,

with

the

Moderna,

or

Johnson & Johnson).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human

encouraged government and

Services

dental

declaration under the Public Readiness and

school

reexamine and meet

current

dental the

leadership

policies

legislation

needs

to

of

to

dental

is

Emergency

dental

students,

they

(ADANews).

we

transitioned into 2021 with a hope

for

continued

healing

activism,

we

have

to

To

announcement

date,

Act

to

authorize

vaccinate

patients

for

at

least

in

the

28

Federal

states

Register

already

enlist

dentists to administer the COVID-19 vaccines during

and

emergency

COVID-19 nationwide, according to a March 11

As

Preparedness

an

additional providers, including dentists and

providers and the population serve.

amending

the

COVID-19

public

health

emergency. The federal declaration allows

witnessed

three

historical

licensed dentists throughout the country to

legislation

and

licensure

vaccinate

changes:

the

public

against

COVID-19,

regardless of state laws that prevent dentists from doing so (ADANews).

The Probe | Spring 2021

06

ASDA

JULY 2020

Adult Dental Medicaid Benefit in Virginia The

Medicaid

Adult

Dental

Benefit-HB5005 has passed and will take effect beginning July 1, 2021.

The

services

incredibly

are

comprehensive,

including restorative care, perio therapy, root canals and even dentures mirror

and the

are

intended

dental

to

services

provided by the existing Smiles for Children dental benefit.

Virginia Dental Student Licensure Reform Virginia has extended mannikin-based licensure exams for the classes of 2021.

There is a push to permanently adopt non-live, mannikin based patient boards. A Virginia Exam committee made this recommendation to the Virginia Board of Dentistry on March 13, 2021. National ASDA has outlined its platform in support of non-live patient boards and its recommendations can be found on the ASDA website.

For the past year, I have served VCU ASDA as the Legislative Liaison. It has been an honor and privilege to work with the Virginia Dental Association and ASDA leaders across the country to advocate for dental students. I have learned through ASDA how crucial it is to engage with a support system of other dental providers, especially as witnessed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important as dental students to be aware of ongoing changes in legislation that will impact our careers as we move into public or private practice upon the completion of our formal dental training.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE

Sofie Fazel and Lynna Liao

are our 2020-21 ASDA community service co-chairs.

This

semester,

School

VCU

supply

Dental

drive

for

students

MLK

donated

middle

towards

school,

our

ASDA’s

neighbors!

Sometimes all a student needs to get them going again are some new school supplies. Many of us remember at that age different colored

markers

Written by Sofie Fazel and Lynna Liao

motivated making

a

at

and

school.

difference

notebooks A

big in

would

thank

our

you

get to

community,

us

those and

engaged who

The Probe | Spring 2021

donated,

cultivating

relationship with our neighboring school is very special.

17

and

a

GALLERY

JAN 2021

Many

VCU

students

also

together

put

handmade

dog/cat dog

dental

blankets

toys

for

and

Henrico

Animal Shelter. They have been

delivered

currently by

the

being cats

and

are

enjoyed

and

dogs

there!

Next

up

is

collaboration ASDA

between

Social

(Jessica

a

chair

Ferreira)

and

ASDA

community

co-

chairs

(Lynna

Sofie 18th,

Fazel). there

outdoor

Liao On

will

April

be

cleanup

&

an

with

“Keep Virginia Cozy” at Belle

Isle.

A

fun-filled

day out in the sun with outdoor games, picnic brunch, prizes

and for

gift

card

those

who

collect the most trash!

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Presenting

THE EXPLORER The Student Research Group's first newsletter publication

Our goal in the Student Research Group is to increase interest in research, hence the start of our newsletter The Explorer. The Explorer is a more entertaining (and memorable) way to read and apply key articles. Enjoy!

Contributors: Maria Jividen, Bryce Bulloch, Negar Ghochaghi, and Bahar Boroumand Rad

Contact SRG contact at jividenm@mymail.vcu.edu

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The Probe's Back Page Featuring Fahad Alqahatani '22 Have you ever wondered about the grading for boards?

Well volunteering at mock boards is good strategy to learn about it. I woke up at 7 am in the morning and walked down to school for the mock boards morning meeting. While it sounds exhausting to wake up early, lunch and coffee will be provided. Yay!

In the meeting you learn about the various roles of CITA members who will hold boards exam. Also, you will get the chance to preform some of these roles. I had the chance

to

ask

faculty

criteria

and

to

observe

members the

about

grading

the

process.

grading I

highly

recommend volunteering for mock boards to help your classmates

and

to

learn

from

this

experience

about

boards.

Mock boards prep check be like:

Be on the lookout for a message from the new Editor of The Probe to send in submissions for the 2021-22

Fahad Alqahatani (D4) volunteering at mock boards

school year!

"Don't give up.

Great things take time!"