TENNESSEALANT | Spring 2017

THE TENNESSEALANT Spring 2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE ✦ NEW YEAR, NEW PRESIDENT

ALAINA MARINELLO ’18

✦ ADVOCATING FOR

DENTISTRY

NEW YEAR, NEW PRESIDENT

AARON BROOKSBANK ‘20 ✦ ZIP IDOL

HOLLY DOUGLAS ‘18

✦ DISTRICT 4 ANNUAL

MEETING

MORGAN REBECK ’19 ✦ PULPOLITICO

JIM HOLLINGSWORTH ‘18

✦ STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

MORGAN REBECK ’19

Jim Hollingsworth is a third year dental student from Knoxville, TN. We sat down with him to learn more about our new president and his aspirations for our UTHSC chapter.

✦ TARGET HOUSE

BROOKLIN BYRD ’18

✦ PUT A BONNET ON IT!

MALLORIE PLATT ‘17

✦ THE BITEWING

MORGAN BROUSSARD ’19

If you could go to lunch with one person living or dead, who would it be and why?

Tough one. I can think of quite a few. Famous people are cool, but family is better, so I’d have to say my grandmother, my mom’s mom.

I got to know all of my grandparents except her because she passed away before I was born. My mom tells a lot of stories about her and about her cooking. Guacamole was her favorite, so any time I make guacamole when my wife and I are home, my mom will tell us about that and how much I would’ve liked her.

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Written by: Aaron Brooksbank ‘20

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Written by: Holly Douglas ‘18

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… CONTINUED FROM THE COVER What is your favorite aspect of clinical dentistry?

My favorite aspect of dentistry as a whole is the patient relationships. It’s very rewarding to be in clinic and have a patient begin their relationship with you by saying “I’ve let myself get this way because I hate the dentist” and then watch that relationship grow into a one of trust. You can see the patient’s demeanor change over a series of appointments. It’s amazing what happens when you take just a few extra minutes out of your appointment to get to know your patient and make them feel comfortable. I very much look forward to seeing this continue in my future practice.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years… I will be the chief resident of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency at Johns Hopkins. Just kidding. I love general dentistry and all of the aspects of it and just the variety it brings, so I don’t plan to specialize. So in five years, I will be in a private practice in Knoxville, TN. My wife will be pregnant and we’ll live an incredible, less stressful life with our two pups, surrounded by our extended family near the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Go Vols!

Describe ASDA in three words.

Like a sentence? Best dental organization. Three individual words? Service, advocacy, fun.

What has been the most challenging aspect of your new position as ASDA president?

The most challenging aspect of being president so far has been the transition. The way that it normally works at UT is that you’re the D1 Class Representative for a semester, then become Lunch and Learn Coordinator, then become President-Elect, then President. I didn’t do it that way. I was the Legislative Liaison-Elect and then the Legislative Liaison and never expected to end up as President. There were circumstances that called for the election of a new President-Elect to happen fall of last year and I ended up being chosen by our ASDA Executive Council as the new President for the 2017 year. Kyle, our Immediate Past President, and Taylor, our President-Elect, have been very helpful in all aspects of the transition because they did it the traditional way. By doing it the traditional way, you get used to working with vendors, asking for sponsorships, dealing with money, etc. As Legislative Liaison, I didn't have to deal with those types of things, so that’s why I would say that the transition has been the hardest aspect. But – it's also been fun having to do a crash course in all of that and I have an incredible team around me that also make my job a whole lot easier!

What is your favorite part of being ASDA president?

Getting to see and be involved in all aspects of how our chapter is run. So much behind the scenes work happens from the ASDA Executive Council that you would never really realize unless you’re a part of all of it. It’s been exciting to see that and be a part of the decisions being made and plans being made for our chapter. Some really exciting things are in the works for this year!

You’ve briefly mentioned a new sponsorship called the “President’s Fund” tell us a little more about that.

The President’s Fund is a new sponsorship that I’m really excited about, and it’s actually an idea I got while attending an ASDA conference last year from Georgia. It’s essentially an UTHSC ASDA alumni association that I am beginning, consisting of previous ASDA presidents. It’s a way to ask for their involvement and support to further our ASDA chapter. Each president has grand ideas coming into their term as president, but may not have the time or funds – especially funds – to see them through. I know how much I appreciate this organization, and would love to give back (when I have a chunk of that student debt off my back) to help further the organization. I am confident that others will want to do the same. If nothing else, it’ll be a way to invite them to some of our events and keep them up to date on all things UTHSC ASDA, and I think that’ll be worth it.

What would you tell students looking to be more involved in ASDA? ASDA really has something for everyone. ASDA has so many aspects and so many ways to get involved that there’s a position for everyone, you really just have to ask and be willing. ASDA has many positions available at the chapter, district, and national levels. There are even more positions available at the district level than at our school and it’s a way to be involved in all of the ASDA chapters at the schools in our District. Our district, District 4, consists of the dental schools in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. And then after having a District position, it’s time for a National ASDA position. It’s easy to move up the ladder. So I would also emphasize getting involved early.

What event are you most looking forward to in the coming year?

Our first annual UTHSC ASDA Pre-Dental Day. It's this coming May and has been in the works for the better part of the past half-year. One of national ASDA’s big pushes is for more pre-dental involvement. There is so much that ASDA has to offer pre-dentals and they want our help in getting them involved. I’m sure for most of us there were a lot of people that gave us advice leading up to the DAT, application process, and interview and this day is a way to give back. We’re going to be taking the students to the lab to let them wax, drill teeth, and fill teeth. There will be a Q&A time on the DAT, interviews, and application process with current dental students. It’s going to be a very informative day and it’s something I wish would’ve been available to me as a pre-dental. I am excited that my first year as president will also be the first year of this annual event.

What do you hope to see ASDA doing MORE of in the coming years?

More pre-dental involvement, more funding, and more UTHSC student representation at national and district meetings. Most of all, I want to see more of our students representing UTHSC at the district and national levels of ASDA through leadership positions. It’s extremely easy and rewarding to get involved, all you have to do is ask and care.

Interview by: Alaina Marinello

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Article by Morgan Rebeck ‘19

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THE TENNESEALANT |

TARGET HOUSE Written by: Brooklin Byrd ‘18

You’ve been spammed all year with emails about going to the Target House to volunteer, so what exactly is the Target House, and why should you volunteer?

The Target House is a facility provided free of charge to families of St. Jude Children’s Hospital patients whose stay is expected to be more than three months. As the name implies, the Target House is provided funding by Target, and has been a staple in Memphis for almost 18 years. This facility provides a home away from home, complete with crafting room, living quarters, and communal dining area where local organizations can sponsor events for the children.

This is where UT’s ASDA chapter steps into the picture. Once a month, a group of ASDA members take a night away from studying dentistry to serve the children and families staying at the Target House through a meal and crafting activities. The last thing on anyone’s mind is medical concerns, as ASDA members dress in civilian clothes and engage with children and their families to try to provide a measure of normalcy for the children during their stay. Crafting activities in the past have included paper airplanes, popsicle stick castles, and paper hat construction, with the kids (and dental students) generating new ideas to create the best craft. While crafts are being made, UT ASDA students serve food from restaurants like Central BBQ and Chick-fil-A to the families.

So why should you volunteer? I’ve lived through D1 and D2 years, and I know how stressful the academic pressures can be. Volunteering your time at the Target House involves turning your mind from the bubble of dental school to face a world where the pressures are so much more than “will I pass pharmacology” or “will I be able to get all my clinic requirements finished.” These children are fighting for their lives, and if there is one thing we can do for them to brighten their day, it’s serving them a hot meal and taking their minds off their medical complications. I’ve witnessed firsthand how much the families and the children appreciate us, and I’ve seen how much it has changed my perspective regarding the pressures of dental school.

So the next time you get that Target House email, check your schedule and come join us. I hope to see you at the next Target House event!

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ASDA FEVER

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