ASDA Newsletter Volume VI, Issue II by ASDA at WesternU

ASDA NEWSLETTER VOLUME VI ISSUE II

Bonding Together

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

TO OUR BELOVED FAMILY & FRIENDS, Hello everyone, as a current D2 at WesternU College of Dental Medicine and ASDA Newsletter Editor for the 21’-22’ term, I decided to have this issue follow the theme of “Bonding Together”. As this is the second newsletter I have the honor of editing, I felt this theme would provide meaning for our readers and writers through a dental lens in both our academic and personal lives. We are taught how to bond with one another at a very young age through gestures such as a smile, a wave or a hug. Then we learn how to verbally bond with one another through language with a simple hello, hola, shalom or ciao. As we age and develop more personal skills, we start bonding through playing games with each other, socializing at events or in academic settings. Currently as a student, I bond with my peers while in sim asking for constructive feedback on my preps, in support as we assist one another mounting our casts on our articulators or through zoom rooms answering questions and engaging in conversation. I also bond with patients at the TDC or the Village asking for their medical history, making sure they are comfortable and engaging in conversation with them learning who they are as an individual. We as dental professionals learn about the importance of bonding adhesive to complete procedures such as a Class I restoration, placement of veneers or a unique CADCAM onlay design. Without applying the bonding material in these procedures, there would be no adhesion between the dentin of our patient's tooth and composite or resin cement to complete the desired outcome of a beautiful smile for our patient. Similar to the necessity of using a bonding agent during clinical applications, I also believe bonding with others is how me and my fellow colleagues will succeed with a bright future in dentistry and in our personal lives. At this year's ASDA Annual Session, WesternU College of Dental Medicine was recognized and nominated as a top ten finalist for the PFM Gold Crown Award. This achievement recognized ASDA at WesternU for their ability to bond together as a team and commitment to their local chapter. I have learned that “bonding together” could be seen through many different perspectives. I hope that you enjoy reading this latest edition of On the Cusp, and ponder about what “Bonding Together” means to you.

Sincerely,

CORI FINE

Cori Fine

Newsletter Editor

Marina Elkess

Newsletter Designer

CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITORS LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT INTRODUCTION TO FIRST YEAR STUDENTS INTRODUCING DR. OYAMA ASDA ADVOCACY TEAM/PODCAST DISTRICT 11 CONFERENCE THE SUMMIT CONFERENCE 12TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT RECAP DR. STEVENSON, YOUR FAVORITE HYGIENIST REFUSES TO BE VACCINATED DEAN FRIEDRICHSEN FAREWELL SPONSORS

#EXPANDINGOURROOTS

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear WesternU Family, This year has been a transformational year for ASDA at WesternU College of Dental Medicine. The academic and personal challenges that came with being in a pandemic have had a profound impact on our students. The uncertain progress of Covid-19 and constant adjustments of the curriculum and extracurricular activities led to inevitable stress for the students, faculty, and staff at WesternU. Our goal this year for the WesternU ASDA board was to relieve the stress that came with these challenges by offering support and providing safe events that our community can look forward to. As the President, my ultimate focus was to remind our members of our goals when we first started in our positions and how far we have come along.

ASDA provided opportunities for our students to grow as leaders and explore their interests outside of dentistry. We spent time discovering ways to lift the spirits of our members by feeding their mind, body and soul. We valued mental and physical health and wellness by hosting virtual yoga nights and sharing healthy recipes & affirmations with each other on our social media. We engaged with our local community by hosting our 12th annual golf tournament fundraiser, elementary school dental screenings, community food distribution days, and pre-dental webinars. We developed as professionals through our annual business series, lunch & learn events, and attending national conferences (The Summit in Chicago, IL and Annual Session in Louisville, KY). We expanded our advocacy efforts by launching a Spotify podcast “Uncovery” which educates students about acts and bills that affect dentistry, students, and public health. In the first newsletter of this academic year, we decided to “expand our roots”. After planting our seeds, giving each other enough water and sunlight, we were able to build our garden together and watch it flourish throughout the year. If there is anything I have learned from being a student leader in the middle of the pandemic, it is to take each day one step at a time. Everyday we have good moments and bad moments that we cannot always control. Just like a garden, we cannot control the environment we are planted in. But we can control what moments we choose to focus on and work with the resources we are given. Starting off every morning focusing on our personal accomplishments and blessings can set the tone for the rest of our day. Bad days do not define us and everyday is a new opportunity to create the lives we desire. It is uplifting to look back and reflect on how much we grew this year as individuals and as an organization. We did not just grow where we were planted - we bloomed!

Kylee Homecillo

KYLEE HOMECILLO

ASDA AT WESTERNU PRESIDENT 2021-22 DMD 2023 CANDIDATE

PFM Crown Finalists

" TOP 10 ASADA CHAPTER IN THE NATION" Our ASDA chapter at WesternU was ranked as one of the Top 10 ASDA Chapters in the Nation! Our board worked so hard this year and this was recognized through the National PFM Awards at the ASDA Annual Session Conference in Kentucky on February 19th! This year was so challenging juggling in-person and virtual events, and being flexible Please follow this link for our video + paper application! https://www.asdanet.org/index/programsevents/asda-awards/pfm-crown-awards Kylee Homecillo, President Nuha Marooki, Vice President Vineza Saraza-Reduta, Treasurer Michelle Dinh, Secretary

despite all the unpredictable changes that came our way. Thank you to every person on our amazing board who watered our garden with love and effort, the flowers we grew have came a long way. Additionally, thank you to our advisors and sponsors who have have given us guidance and unconditional support throughout this year. We hope to see our garden reach new heights as we transition into the new term!

D1 Introductions: Jarrad Lee Hello beautiful people of CDM! My name is Jarrad Lee and I am currently a D1 student. I am originally from Santa Rosa, CA and moved down to SoCal to attend school at UCLA, where I obtained my BA in Sociology in 2013. After working five years as a DA/RDA, I made the decision to attend dental hygiene school and graduated with my BSDH in 2020. As much as I enjoyed my role as an RDH, I realized that I wanted to provide more for my community which motivated me to continue my education at WesternU and join the CDM family! To be completely honest, I was terrified of going to the dentist when I was younger. I was that one demon child who threw tantrums and screamed like a banshee in the waiting room. It wasn’t until I was in college where I met one of the most patient and caring dentists. She turned my fears 180-degrees and actually sparked my interest in dentistry. After being in the field for almost nine years, one of the most magical things about dentistry that still motivates me is to be the best version of myself and to provide compassionate dental care for others to help impact a person’s quality of life in a positive direction.

While dentistry has a major place in my heart, I do enjoy doing things outside of the dental world. I am a martial artist and have studied “wushu” for over 15 years. I was part of the United States national team from 2011-2013 and have won numerous championships and all-around titles. While I do not compete anymore, I have been coaching over the last four years and hoping to inspire the next generation of wushu athletes. I am so grateful to be in dental school in California, where I can continue to enjoy the amazing weather and the many food adventures. I am even more grateful to be part of my DMD 2025 cohort. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic affecting our curriculum, I feel like my classmates and I share a mutual sense of respect and kindness for each other. We all have come from different backgrounds and have so much experience to contribute as we grow into

Our bond is as strong as the fourth generation adhesive resin we use for composite.. or perhaps even stronger!

professionals. All the things I have mentioned I believe is what bonds us together. You could say that our bond is as strong as the 4th generation adhesive resin we use for composite restorations…or perhaps, even stronger! I wish much success for everyone at CDM and I believe that we all have the potential to be superstars in dentistry!

D1 Introductions

Damarcus Causey

Roshiel De Guzman

My name is Damarcus Causey. I was born and raised in a

Hi! My name is Roshiel and I am very

small city in north-central Florida called Gainesville. I

excited to be a D1 here at WesternU. I

received my BS degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 2018. In my free time I enjoy working out, playing basketball with friends, watching quality shows/movies, and reading. I also am a big sports fan. My fascination for dentistry began while I was in high school. I was drawn to the lifestyle, the challenges it presented, as well as the artistic abilities it presented. I am dedicated to dentistry so much that I moved across the country to fulfill my dream in beautiful Southern California. One of my favorite things about California is walking outside and enjoying the views of the mountains around me. This move has been a challenge, but it has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and enter a phase of ongoing personal growth. During my D1 year, I have had the pleasure of meeting my wonderful classmates who have helped make this new experience

than

enjoyable.

And

that’s

what

“Bonding Together” means to me. It is connecting with

graduated with my BA from UCLA in 2017 and previously I have lived in New Zealand for five years. After undergrad, I worked as a dental assistant for a few years before I attained

Master’s

Science

Biomedical Sciences here at WesternU in 2021. I became committed to dentistry after volunteering at dental clinics in underserved communities. I saw firsthand the difficulties people faced to gain access to toothbrushes and toothpaste, let alone receive the dental treatment they needed. Since then, it has been my goal to help provide dental care to patients in underserved communities. This edition’s theme of “bonding together” deeply resonates with me, as I believe that I would not have gotten to where I am today

while

without the unwavering support of my family

result

and friends. Although our ways of spending

relationships have been built that will last a lifetime. I am

quality time now involves Facetime and

thankful for this opportunity and excited for what the

Zoom, I am still eternally grateful for having

future holds.

them in my life.

others

and

overcoming

being

present

obstacles

for

together,

one and

another as

D1 Introductions: Valentina Garcia

"I LOOK FORWARD TO BONDING WITH MORE STUDENTS " My name is Valentina and I am currently a D1 at WesternU CDM. I was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia and raised in Orlando, Florida. I love traveling and learning about different cultures. I’ve been loving California so far and exploring all the different cities and restaurants. I must admit, I don’t understand the hype around In-nout. Maybe I’m just not ordering it right. My dental journey has been a long one and I’ve grown so much from it. It has taught me resilience and to always trust in God’s timing. After multiple DAT attempts and multiple applications, I am so blessed to be part of the WesternU family. This edition’s theme, “bonding together” really hits home for me. I have learned to not be embarrassed to ask for help because we cannot do this thing called “life” alone. I am blessed to have my family’s support every step of the way and I wouldn’t be here without them. I am also grateful for all the friends that I have made here at WesternU. Despite COVID confining us to our homes, I know that I can always reach out to my class for help and advice. I look forward to bonding with more students and making more memories in the years to come. We are all in this together!

Introducing New Faculty: Dr. Oyama "VALUE THIS TIME AND TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SHORT FOUR YEARS YOU HAVE HERE " During this time, I applied to dental school and was accepted at the UCLA School of Dentistry. While in dental school, I was attracted to the lab aspect of dentistry, comprehensive treatment planning, and management of medically compromised patients. As such, following dental school, I had the opportunity to complete a General Practice Residency at the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, serving patients with intellectual/developmental disabilities, an Advanced Prosthodontics residency at UCLA, which emphasized complex treatment planning and implant dentistry, and a Maxillofacial Prosthetics fellowship at UCLA, treating oral and facial anomalies secondary to head and neck cancer, trauma and congenital malformations. In private practice, while I gained valuable clinical experience, one of

Hello, my name is Dr. Jeffrey Oyama and I recently joined the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine (WesternUCDM) in the capacity of ECD and clinical faculty. Having a father who was a dentist and a mother who was a school teacher, has given me a unique perspective on the role of a dental educator. Through college I knew I wanted to be involved in the healthcare profession, but was unsure of which pathway to pursue. My father, who was a general dentist, suggested that I observe him and some of his colleagues to experience the day to day operations of a dentist and dental practice. I spent the next year, immediately following college, shadowing various dentists and enjoyed not only the deep interaction with patients but also the variety of procedures that were performed.

the challenges that I faced was the increasing emphasis on sales and marketing, and less emphasis on the patient care aspect. My mother, who had retired from a career as an elementary school teacher, would always comment on how rewarding it was to play a role in a person’s education, and have students who she continues to keep in contact with for over a decade. In conjunction with practice, I also returned to the Rancho Los Amigos GPR program as a clinical attending. Challenging the residents and emphasizing critical thinking was always an objective, and I appreciated playing a role in their early career development. After carefully assessing my career options and realizing that the days spent teaching were the highlight of my week, I decided to pursue a full time academic position at Western University of Health Sciences. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in dental school and residency, and my one piece of advice to current students is that despite how busy and stressful it may seem, to value this time and to make the most of the short four years you have here. Some of my classmates, co-residents and faculty are lifelong friends, and these types of relationships are just as important as learning the technical side of dentistry.

ASDA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH PODCAST Hey there future dentists! This is the WesternU Advocacy Team! Our mission with the ASDA Advocacy team, is introducing the student body at CDM to different ways they can get involved with how the dental profession functions and operates! There are many issues we as a profession face- student loan debt, different scopes of practice, and COVID19. ASDA offers a variety of events throughout the year, including at the local chapter, district, and national level. At WesternU, the main district-level advocacy event is called the Advocacy and Public Health meeting (APHA), where an entire weekend is dedicated to both Pre-dental and dental students to introduce them to advocacy. The most recent meeting, the district advocacy team discussed hot topics about advocacy such as licensure reform, student loans and addressing barriers to care for our patients. These meetings serve as great networking events for participants to meet like-minded individuals who are determined to promote the field of dentistry. One of the goals for the Advocacy Team this year is to do something creative and new, and reach a broader audience about the importance of advocacy. That’s how our podcast series, Uncovery, was started! In our series, we have started talking about student loans and started talking about burnout and implementing wellness in our profession. Our ultimate goal is to introduce advocacy to pre-dental students, dental students, and dentists, in an easy-to-listen format. In this series, our goal is to explore what ASDA’s stance is on topics, while being able to explore the different sides of each subject. We invite our listeners and guests to a safe space and non-judgmental zone to discuss how they feel about these subjects where we can get more informed about our role as dentists. With the podcast, we also want to incorporate all aspects of ASDA to spread awareness to our listeners. Part of our goal is to work with our other leadership positions in ASDA, like Wellness, Pre-Dental, Membership and Outreach! This podcast gives these student leaders an opportunity to share their passions to a wider audience! On behalf of the WesternU ASDA’s Advocacy Team, we are very thankful to be able to involve and incorporate our entire ASDA team! Keep a lookout for our next podcast! The Advocacy Team Jessica DeVera, Brandon Le, Philip Tagatac & Kamran Pakdamanian

CONFERENCES

DISTRICT 11

This year's ASDA D11 Conference theme was “Designing your Destiny in Dentistry”, and the two-day conference lived up to the expectation. The keynote speakers were lively and inspirational, and the breakout sessions were long enough to pique interest but also allowed for Q&A with the speakers. Saturday’s opening keynote speaker, Dr. Paul Goodman, focused on how to maximize personal happiness in the dental field. His presentation served as a great reminder why I believed dentistry would make me happy, chose this as my future career and invested my time, energy, and money towards it. Dentistry offers many career options that allow me to do all the things I love including academia, interacting with patients, and serving communities in need. I attended four breakout sessions on Saturday including topics from working as an associate and in academia, biomimetic dentistry, cultural competency for better oral health, and balancing career with family and marriage. Attending the breakout session on cultural competency re-centered me. Being in my third year of dental school, I’ve become consumed with preparing for the next exam and my next patient, and I had forgotten to remind myself why I decided to become a dentist. It was an enlightening and “aha” moment that I needed gravely. I also learned that the dental field is constantly evolving and that with the proper planning and balance, you can achieve happiness by choosing your priorities. The keynote speaker on Sunday, Dr. Laurel Henderson, was extremely refreshing and was not afraid to dig deep into the imposter syndrome and stressors that affect all dental students. Dental students are a rare breed of individuals that want to do it all (#gunners) or most seem that way. At some point, some of us start to say, I need limits. However, she provided a different perspective, what if you could have it all, just look at the barriers that hold you back differently. It’s a thought process that helps remove the wall that contributes to imposter syndrome and expands your self-confidence. Follow her on IG @doctorlaurel for more inspiration. The conference refreshed my soul and re-ignited my fire, which admittedly was starting to burn out from the exhaustion. I realize, every now and then, we, dental students, need to take time to refocus our needs and learn from those who have walked the path before us.

THE SUMMIT

Aaron Bacha,

Last semester, I had the incredible opportunity to attend ASDA’s National Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois. From the moment I arrived, I felt an overwhelming sense of community. Sometimes you forget how big the dental community really is, but being surrounded by dental students from all over the country reminded me of that. Every day I got the chance to network, learn about dentistry outside of a clinical setting, and attend seminars ranging from dental lawsuits to residency programs. My favorite seminar of the weekend was one that explored how to deal with unconscious biases—whether it be your own or from other people. During the seminar, we talked about previous prejudice we’ve experienced, and how we could have addressed the situation. Although it is hard to openly admit, we all have unconscious biases. It was incredibly eye opening to hear about the struggles from dental students just like me. Leaving this seminar, I began to think about the unconscious biases I might have and how I could work to unlearn them. The conference pushed me to think about who I want to be after I graduate. I’m realizing that there is so much more to dentistry than simply fixing teeth. Throughout my time here at WesternU, I want to learn how to be a good leader, business owner, AND dentist. Conferences like these are a good step in the right direction to learn soft skills not emphasized in our curriculum. To anyone wondering: this conference is held annually, and I would highly recommend applying to go next year. I would like to thank WesternU and ASDA for giving me such an amazing opportunity. I see myself using the lessons I’ve learned from this conference and incorporating them into my time as a student and in my future endeavors.

Emily Nguyen,

ASDA'S 12TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT RECAP Our local chapter, ASDA at WesternU College of Dental Medicine, proudly presented the 12th Annual Golf Tournament on August 27,2021 at the Los Serranos Country Club. We welcomed players of all skill levels with prizes for the best and worst golfers. This annual event provides a great opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to bond all while bringing their "A" game to the golf course. We would like to send a big congratulations to the winners of the tournament and who have participated in the Eagle, Longest Drive, Closest-to-Pin Drive and the Puting Contest. A special thank you is also in order for the Fundraising & Activities branch and their members, Ling Mai, Celine Das, Megan Maher, Heather Nguyen & Joyce Jiang . Special Thanks to our sponsors below: Dean Friedrichsen Dr. Marisa Watanabe Dean Andrews Dr. Steven Gold Dr. Scott Turchi Ms. Monique Mast

Your Favorite Hygienist Refuses To Be Vaccinated

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act requires reasonable accommodations if an employee refuses

disability-related

By: Robert D. Stevenson, DDS, FAGD

This column is a collaboration between AGD and the American College of Dentists.“This article originally appeared in the September 2021 issue of AGD Impact. AGD Impact is the official newsmagazine of the Academy of General Dentistry.”

Many challenging questions have arisen since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mask or no mask? Should social distancing be by six feet or 10? Can I treat patients safely?

intersection of science, law, individual opinion and preferences.

due

other

religious, protected

objections. If any of these apply, the decision has been made for you.2 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

guidance

permits

employers

mandate vaccination if they comply with federal law. But a mandate is ineffective without repercussions for noncompliance, and taking action against a recusant employee carries risks for the employer. If dentists exercise this option, it could put them at risk

These questions are difficult because they lie at the personal

vaccination

Viewing

these

and

other

for

wrongful

termination

charges.

mandatory vaccine policy should be the last resort

for

both

employers

and

the

decisions through an ethical lens can offer clarity and

government. The least restrictive and least

balance in deciding between conflicting viewpoints.

invasive

interventions

should

used

whenever possible.3 As the pandemic winds down and practices reopen, many dentists are facing additional difficult questions regarding their teams: “How should I deal with a valuable team member who refuses to be vaccinated? What do I do after discussions and even incentives fail to persuade this team member to be vaccinated?” How does the prudent dentist decide what to do? “It is beyond question that the pandemic has presented some of the most critical, intensive and urgent workplace issues HR professionals have ever experienced,” said Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president of the Society for

A core requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is that the dentist provides a safe workplace with adequate protocols and controls, but the mandate leaves many of the details up to the individual dentist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend mandatory vaccination and has relegated that decision to local authorities.4 A reasonable basis for mandatory vaccination must be

Human Resource Management.1 Because of the human

established before an employer requires it of

resources aspects of the problem, the decision has three

his or her employees. A dentist would do well

general considerations: legal and risk management,

to examine his or her motivation for requiring

regulatory compliance, and ethical aspects.

that all employees be vaccinated.

For example, if a dentist advertises that his or her office staff is fully vaccinated, a reasonable potential patient might assume that the quality of care is higher in this practice, compared to another practice where some of the staff is resisting vaccination. Although it is a true statement, it might create unwarranted expectations and suggest superior care, even if that is not the intent.5

One may argue that, because infection control

In an opinion piece for the Journal of the American Medical Association, Lawrence O. Gostin, JD, et al. suggest that healthcare employers must weigh employee safety and public safety as they consider whether they should mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for employees.6

professionals who wish to do good and to avoid

The American Dental Association’s “Ethics of Vaccination” inconclusively suggests that dentists need to consider how to deal with their staff who cannot be or choose not to be vaccinated.7 The California Dental Association’s Practice Support Center suggests that the dentist should encourage, but not mandate, COVID-19 vaccination, citing legal risks.8

Justice, or the principle of fairness, should

Ethical considerations help to bring the decision into sharper focus.

In conclusion, I believe that the autonomy of

The dentist’s duty to care for his or her patients is an overarching principle of the ethics of dentistry. This is part of the implied contract with the public in return for the privileges granted to the dental professional. Requiring the COVID-19 vaccine would provide maximum benefit to the public, but it conflicts with the autonomy of the individual dental provider.3 The principle of autonomy describes the individual’s right to determine what will be done with his or her own body. This lies at the heart of the conflict. The utilitarian notion that an individual’s actions should contribute to the greater good of society can be construed as denying the right of self-determination founded in autonomy. 9

precautions are accepted as the standard of care in dentistry, a safe, less invasive alternative to vaccination exists for dental personnel and patients who object to waiving their autonomy. The

twin

principles

nonmaleficence harm.

The

are

dentist

beneficence

accepted must

consider

and dental

whether

universal precaution practices are an effective means to fulfilling these obligations if an employee

unwilling

unable

vaccinated.

motivate the employer dentist in his or her professional relationship with employees. Each employee should be regarded without prejudice. A supportive and collaborative workplace should exist, regardless of vaccination status.

individual employees must be respected, even when the employer disagrees with their choices. The right to self-determination is a powerful principle. Each employee should be treated fairly, regardless of his or her choice. The conflict over vaccination status could impair the harmonious function of the dental team, and this is not a desirable outcome. Finally, consider that legal considerations vary from one location to another. Dentists should consult with employment law attorneys or human resources or risk management specialists for appropriate local advice before making the decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccines.

ADDENDUM FOR ASDA This article came together quickly after a discussion with the Editor-in-Chief for the Academy of General Dentistry. I reviewed multiple sources with an open mind and found my opinions softening because of my research and thought. That is what rational thought does to a person. Within days of submitting the following article for publication, the first of many additional court decisions was rendered. Each decision shed additional light on the vaccine/no vaccine discussion. Analysis of all these decisions is far beyond the scope of this paper. However, on January 13, 2022, the Supreme Court handed down a combined decision on two cases referred to as Biden v. Missouri, and Becerra v. Louisiana.[1] In my reading of these decisions, there appears to be a clear line drawn between the right to individual autonomy and the greater good of the public in a pandemic or other emergency situation. I choose to view this as a philosophical, not a political difference; others may disagree with this view. Biden v. Missouri refers specifically to OSHA regulations that would have applied to all workplaces, regardless of risk status. A key point in the Biden decision was the distinction between workplace safety and occupational health; OSHA is tasked with enforcing workplace safety more than occupational health.[2] The majority opinion determined that “although COVID-19 is a risk that occurs in many workplaces, it is not an occupational hazard in most,” as it can spread wherever people gather, and did not distinguish “based on industry or risk of exposure to COVID-19.” The dissenting opinion argued that “COVID-19 poses special risks in most workplaces, across the country and across industries.”[3] Becerra v. Louisiana refers to voluminous Medicare and Medicaid provider regulations that are obviously specific to healthcare workers. The court affirmed that the vaccine mandate by the Department of Health and Human Services “fits neatly” within the congressional power given to the agency because of the increased risk to unvaccinated health care workers and thus to their patients, in a mutual risk situation.

Becerra reminds me of a regulation from the 1980’s that required dentists who were HBV or HIV positive to disclose their status to their patients (although patients have no such mandate to disclose their status). I believe this has not been rescinded. Notably, neither decision affects the rights of states and localities (including schools) to mandate vaccination. It also has no bearing on private companies’ mandates. The case Klaassen v. Indiana U. was denied hearing by the Supreme Court in August 2021. This effectively upheld a university’s right to mandate vaccines or testing for its students during a pandemic. Western University’s policies are protected by this action. Because the risk of contracting COVID-19 occurs both within and without the workplace, the court felt that this limits OSHA’s authority; and that each workplace has a different risk level and requires different guidelines for protection. The majority did recognize, however, that “where the virus poses a special danger because of the particular features of an employee’s job or workplace, targeted regulations are plainly permissible.”[4] With this in mind, I offer this article as food for thought, not as a definitive statement. BIO: Robert D. Stevenson, DDS, FAGD, is an assistant professor who teaches preclinical dentistry and ethics at Western University College of Dental Medicine. He graduated from the University of Texas Dental School at San Antonio in 1988.

ADDENDUM FOR ASDA 1. “EEOC Examines Connections Between COVID-19 and Civil Rights.” U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 28 April 2021, eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-examines-connections-between-covid-19-and-civilrights. Accessed 12 June 2021. 2. “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws.” U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 28 June 2021, eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-knowabout-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws. Accessed 10 June 2021. 3. Gur-Arie, Rachel, et al. “No Jab, No Job? Ethical Issues in Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel.” BMJ Global Health, 2021;6:e004877, doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004877. 4. “Workplace Vaccination Program.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 March 2021, cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/essentialworker/workplace-vaccinationprogram.html. Accessed 12 June 2021. 5. “Examples of ‘False or Misleading.’” Principles of Ethics & Code of Professional Conduct, American Dental Association, ada.org/~/media/ADA/Member%20Center/Ethics/ADA_Code_Of_Ethics_November_2020.pdf?la=en. Accessed 6 July 2021. 6. Gostin, Lawrence O., et al. “Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines.” Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 325, no. 6, pp. 532-533, doi:10.1001/jama.2020.26553. Accessed 1 June 2021. 7. “Ethics of Vaccination.” American Dental Association Council on Ethics, Bylaws & Judicial Affairs, ada.org/~/media/ADA/About%20the%20ADA/Files/The_Ethics_of_Vaccination.pdf. Accessed 6 July 2021. 8. “Employer Best Practices and Policies.” California Dental Association, 8 June 2021, cda.org/Search/ArticleDetails/ArtMID/6007/ArticleID/2450. Accessed 2 June 2021. ADDENDUM FOOTNOTES [1] See https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21a240_d18e.pdf. [2] In this case, workplace safety is a more general term that applies to all workplaces; occupational health (or safety) refers to occupation-specific hazards. [3] Unless otherwise indicated, all footnotes refer to the Supreme Court opinions referenced above. [4] Special thanks to Debbie Kaminer for her analysis and clarity on these decisions. See https://theconversation.com/what-supreme-courts-block-of-vaccine-mandate-for-large-businesses-will-mean-forpublic-health-4-questions-answered-174998. Ideas shared and paraphrased under Creative Commons License.

DEAN FRIEDRICHSEN FAREWELL

I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this issue of the WesternU College of Dental Medicine ASDA Newsletter. As a dental student, I hated dental school. Although the curriculum provided me with the essential knowledge and skills, in my opinion (and most of my classmates) it was a horrific experience from a psychological perspective. As was the case in many dental schools of the era – it had an incredibly demoralizing culture. Based upon my dental school experience, my overarching goal in dental education is to sustain an excellent education and create a positive culture within my sphere of influence. WesternU CDM has offered me the opportunity of a lifetime to have an impact in a sphere of influence that I would not have imagined. The simple choice of the theme for this issue of “Bonding Together”, is an example of the CDM culture. It would have never been a characteristic in my dental school. We may have perhaps bonded together purely for survival, but we certainly did not bond broadly across the class. I was asked to reflect on a couple of areas, first, my favorite moment at WesternU and second, my personal growth as dean while at WesternU. It is very difficult to identify one moment because there have been so many milestones in our young College’s short history. Probably the most recalled major and positive event was the Commencement of the Inaugural Class of 2013. Every single person in the College of Dental Medicine pulled together for four straight years. We were often developing the curriculum the night before it was delivered, we had to build the patient base and clinical enterprise from zero patients to one sufficient to meet the graduate’s needs. Our recognition among the other dental schools in the LA basin, California and the nation was almost non-existent.

FAREWELL FROM DEAN FRIEDRICHSEN CONTINUED

Yet, even with all those challenges, thanks to our collaborative spirit and collective efforts, we were able to proudly ask the DMD Class of 2013 to walk across the stage of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to receive their dental degrees. My Deans Charge to the class was entitled “The Promise and the Piece of Paper”. The inaugural class came to the school on the promise that we would provide them with a degree, the piece of paper that would enable them to realize their dreams of becoming oral health care professionals. The faculty and staff literally smiled from ear to ear with each graduate who crossed the stage. To this day, everyone relishes the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of another successful class headed out into the world. A consistent thread that runs through the College is one of constant change and growth. My personal inclination to seek opportunities to grow and change have been a natural match for CDM. One of the joys of my time at WesternU has been the ability to grow in my capacity outside of the institution. Through my work with ADEA, CODA and CDA, I have been able to learn how to manage and lead larger groups of dental educators and practitioners. There have been several challenging workgroups and positions that stretched my abilities and helped me grow. A favorite quote is from Eleanor Roosevelt, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” In both the example of my favorite moment and my personal growth, it is with the recognition that none of this happens in a vacuum. We all have to align around a common purpose and bond together to achieve success. The theme of “Bonding Together” was a critically important concept from the very inception of our College and remains so today. The pandemic was the ultimate test of that quality. We all bonded together to provide a safe environment and sustain the educational program. I know of some schools that literally fell apart through all of this – they were schools with tall bulwarks of silos and people who were not used to communicating with each other let alone working together. I am unfathomably grateful for the opportunity to lead and bond together with the faculty, staff, students and leadership of the College. And of course, I can’t let the opportunity go by to point out that our strong bonds help move CDM – Forward – Together! Steven W. Friedrichsen, DDS Professor and Dean

R S EARCH

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