SUMMER 2019 | Volume 8 | Issue 2 Photo Credit: Megan Huynh, ’22
CONTENTS 4 6 8 9 14 18 20 23 27
Presidential Address Alumni Interview: Dr. Burton Coleman Ways to Serve the Community as a DDS Road to Residency Smiles Across Tennessee Memphis Summer Lovin’ Guide to Memphis: Where to Volunteer Summer Photography Showcase The Bitewing: Peanut Butter Squares Photo Credit: Megan Huynh, ’22
2 | SUMMER 2019
Sweet Summertime As the spring semester winds down, our workload amps up as we finish up clinic requirements, lab assignments, and prep for those intimidating comprehensive final exams. At the same time, the flowers are blooming and temperatures are shooting skyward, and summer is beginning to take hold.
Allison Poget, ‘21 Chapter Editor-in-Chief
Sometimes it is easy to miss this sweet season change because it creeps up on us at a time where we find ourselves preoccupied. Unfortunately this all too often happens to us as dental students. We miss out on the beauty going on around us during our quest for achievement. We work so incredibly hard to achieve this dream of getting into dental school and thriving once we get there, that we often forget to take a look around and soak in the view. This summer let’s get out there, enjoy the beauty, and engage with the community around us. The broad theme of this issue of theTENNESSEALANT is community. In this issue we will hear advice from an alumni and read some tips for summer fun as well as how to give back in the Memphis community. An upcoming pediatric dentistry resident shares advice, and we will also hear about dentists serving their communities across Tennessee. All this and more can be found in the following pages.
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Our chapter president Reed Turpin recently explored Shangri La Falls in Bankhead National Forest.
Presidential Address
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Photo Credit: Reed Turpin and Nolan Kemp, ’20
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Alumni Inte
Photo Credit: Heritage Endodontics
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Dr. Burton Coleman is a Tennessee native and is originally from Franklin. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2006. He began dental school at UTHSC in 2008 and graduated with his DDS in 2012. Dr. Coleman began his residency in Endodontics at UTHSC immediately after graduating from dental school. Burton is married to his dental school sweetheart, Dr. Candice Coleman, and they have three wonderful children. He now has his own private practice in Clarksville. Candace: Why did you choose UTHSC COD? Dr. Coleman: “I chose to attend UT COD based on the reputation of clinical experience compared to other dental schools. I knew that the graduates came out with lots of reallife experience. Also, the cost of attendance made the decision easier.�
erview
Dr. th i w n a m e l o C n o rt u B
Candace: How would you describe your experience at UT? Dr. Coleman: “School was definitely a grind. The classes and academics were tough, but I had a great time while I was there. I made life-long friendships, and I also met my wife, Candice, while in dental school. I think they were all important experiences and were life changing. I would describe the overall experience as enduring boot camp together that helped create a deeper bond with everyone.” Candace: When did you decide that you wanted to pursue Endodontics? Dr. Coleman: “I guess it was early junior year (D3) when I started giving it real consideration. I was intrigued with what Endo was capable of and the level of technology that was involved.” Candace: How did your career in dentistry begin? Dr. Coleman: “I decided to start my own practice from scratch. It involved a lot of work but was the right decision with the opportunities that were available at that time. I would say though that it’s not for the faint of heart.” Candace: Is there anything you would do differently? And what advice would you give? Dr. Coleman: “I would choose Endo again. I enjoy the challenges that are presented
every day. I would say that when getting out of school you must be open to the idea of learning continuously. Gaining dental knowledge shouldn’t stop once you graduate.” Candace: How would you describe your involvement with ASDA? Dr. Coleman: “I was vendor chair for two years, then I moved into web design chair. As a D4, I held the district trustee position for District 4. ASDA gave me lasting networking opportunities and gave me an early start to building relationships with friends and peers within my career. ASDA was also where I got to really know my now wife, Candice.” He’s a supporting of ASDA couples everywhere! Candace: What do you miss most about Memphis? Dr. Coleman: “All of it! Memphis has so much to do. My favorite bar was The Cove. I miss all of the live music. When we were in school, we enjoyed going to Wild Bills, Stax Museum, and Levitt Shell. For food, everyone has to go to Kwik Chek and order a Bi Bim Bop. And of course, Memphis in May was Candace Windle, ‘21 always a blast.” Chapter Membership Chair
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Photo Credit: Megan Huynh, ’22
Ways to Serve the Community as a DDS While in dental school, community service is such an important part of our lives, but with the hustle & bustle of life after dental school, it may be easy to lose track of staying involved. Regardless of how busy life may get, there is an opportunity available for any level of time commitment. As practicing dentists, we’ll be in a unique position to serve in ways that others cannot, and it is our responsibility to remain active in our respective local communities (and let’s face it – finally live up to the claims we made in our application personal statements). Mission of Mercy Donated Dental Services (DDS) Give Kids A Smile Donate portions of a service fee to a charity (like bleach trays) Visit a local elementary school to give oral hygiene presentations Volunteer at a local community health center Donate extra supplies to a mission trip Open your office for a free dental day Make a monetary donation to an organization if you don’t have time to volunteer • Ask your local or state dental society about additional opportunities within your community!! • • • • • • • • •
Although there are many local opportunities, access to oral healthcare is ultimately a universal need. Visit the ADA website for more information about global volunteerism.
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Shannon Pittman, ‘21 Chapter Community Service Chair-Elect
Road to Residency Photo Credit: Morgan Rebeck, ’19
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This time last year, I took the leap and began the process of applying to residency programs. Deciding to apply to residency is a big decision and the process can be intimidating. Honestly, I was terrified. Through my experience, I learned a lot about the process. The following are my tips to anyone considering applying to residency.
Prepare Yourself Update your curriculum vitae (CV). Better yet, completely overhaul it. Streamline your CV by organizing it into easy to find sections such as education, experience, research, and leadership. Make sure that the experiences you highlight in your CV reflect your vision and show off your strengths. Modernizing the visual appearance of your CV is something small that might help make your application stand out from the stack of candidates. Add a pop of color or play with different fonts. Your CV doesn’t have to be cookie cutter, however, I recommend sticking to simple fonts such as those in the Sans Serif style. Speaking of showing off your strengths, showcase them in your personal statement. This is a great way to directly tell each program why you want to pursue residency and why you are a great candidate. Be strategic. A strong personal statement can be make or break at some programs, so don’t put it on the back burner!
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EXTERN, EXTERN, EXTERN. If there is one thing that you absolutely have to do, it is visit programs. This allows you to answer a lot of questions before you even submit your application. Many of the qualities of programs that I realized I valued were discovered through externships. You can determine whether you prefer hospital-based or academic-based programs. You can see real-time patient flow and ask the tough questions that might be intimidating to ask in an interview setting. Externships allow you to truly see the vibe of the program. Additionally, externships allow you to show your commitment to the application process, that you know what you are getting into, and are great talking points in your interview.
Use Your Resources At UTHSC, we are fortunate to have almost all of the residency programs just steps away. Utilize the residents and faculty in these departments. Talk to them and get their input about the specialty. Find out what they think are important to look for in programs. You never know, they might just know someone at another residency program that you might be your perfect fit. They might be able to give you insight into programs that you might want to consider or give you a heads up about programs that you might want to mark off your list. We are lucky to have these resources, so use them and gain all you can from them!
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Have a Back-Up Plan
What if you don’t match? This is something very real that no one talks about, but EVERYONE thinks about. And, unfortunately, many applicants experience. The truth of the matter is that residency is competitive. You need to have a plan of action for the “what if.” If you are in Phase 2 of Match, the turn around time to find a job after match day is pretty tight. Plan for the worst, prepare for the best. Knowing your “what if” plan might even come in handy during interviews. I was asked at multiple interviews what I would do if I didn’t match – Would I reapply? Would I consider a GPR or AEGD program? Would I go into corporate or private practice? Thinking about these questions before interviews allowed me to give the interviewers a wellthought-out answer to a question that might have stopped me in my tracks.
Breathe Once you submit your applications, breathe. Once you are done with interviews, breathe. Applying to residency is a stressful and exhausting process. Make sure you take the time to take care of yourself. Take a step back, breathe, and reset your mind. Give yourself time to explore during your interview visits. Anywhere you interview might be your new home for the next few years. Make sure you can see yourself living there!
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The last, and in my opinion, the most important thing to remember is to not compare yourself to other applicants. Be nice to yourself. You have your strengths – OWN THEM. If you are a brainiac with incredible grades, own it. If you are a leader with stellar extracurriculars, own it. If you have a ridiculous amount of experience in the field, own it. Yes, knowing the weaknesses of your application is important, but you are more than that. Focus on what makes you unique as an applicant and take a deep breath. YOU GOT THIS! You may have come to dental school with a clear vision in mind. For some, that is not the case. Everyone’s journey to choosing to pursue residency is unique. Traffic may move smoothly and there may be speed bumps. Your car may stall. No matter the road you take, learn from it. Grow from the experience and enjoy the journey.
Morgan Rebeck is a former National ASDA Editor and Immediate Past Editor in Chief of our UTHSC ASDA Chapter. Under her leadership, we took home two Golden Crown Awards for Best Newsletter and Best Blog. She will begin her residency in Pediatric Dentistry in July 2019. Morgan Rebeck, ‘19 Immediate Past Editor in Chief
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Allison Poget, ‘21 Chapter Editor-in-Chief
Photo Credit: Allison Poget, ’21
Every Wednesday night for the past 25 years, under the I-40 bridge in Knoxville, TN, the Lost Sheep Ministry serves nearly 200 people from homeless community of the surrounding area. Having personally served with this ministry, I have directly seen the massive impact it has on the people who attend. Dinner is provided, clothing and blankets are passed out, and a couple times a month the dental van is present to provide dental work to those who need it. Knoxville area dentists and specialists volunteer their time and skills to keeping the homeless community in good dental health. Often times, this quick check up with the dentist may be the only healthcare received in the year. Additional services provided include free flu shots each year and physician visits monthly.
Get Involved:
http://www.knoxvilledreamcenter.org/homeless-outreach
Lost Sheep Ministry: Under the Bridge 14 | SUMMER 2019
Knoxville, TN
Photo Credit: Bayli Phillips, ’21
Get Involved:
https://www.facebook.com/SAVELL-DENTISTRY-355743194584314/
UTHSC graduate Dr. Lauren Savell saw a need in her community of Decaturville, TN upon starting her private practice. Many people who needed proper dental care lacked the financial resources to access it. To fill this need, she started Free Dental Day has been providing extractions, cleanings, and restorations to those who ordinarily would be unable to afford it. This year, her former clinic partner Dr. Blair Cohen (of Jefferson City, TN) and former classmate Dr. Randall Deaton (of Adamsville, TN) also volunteered their time to serve even more people than last year!
Savell Dentistry’s Free Dental Day Decaturville, TN
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Mid-South Mission of Mercy
Memphis, TN
Midsouth Mission of Mercy aims to provide free dental care to the uninsured people of Memphis and surrounding areas. Their numbers are astounding with over $3.4 million of services provided! Many of our own dental students from UTHSC were among the 6,000+ volunteers. Jennifer Lenning (D2) says, “Attending MOM events is what confirmed I wanted to be a dentist. The ability to transform so many lives over a single weekend is amazing. For some people this is the only opportunity they have to see a dentist, so getting to help them is a great service.” Since 2016, 6,200+ people from our local community have been able to receive dental care during this 2-day event. The next Midsouth Mission of Mercy is January 24-25 at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, TN. See you there! Photo Credit: Jennifer Lenning, ’21
Get Involved: http:// www.midsouthmission ofmercy.org/
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Photo Credit: Juliana Valk, ’20
Remote Area Medical Clinic
Gray, TN
Get Involved: https://www.ramusa.org/ In 1985, founder and president Stan Brock started RAM in order to close the gap between the less fortunate and access to proper healthcare. Since that date RAM has served thousands of less fortunate across the United States. Our very own UTHSC Chapter has recently attended the clinic in Gray, TN where they helped to treat nearly 700 people seeking dental care. Bayli Philips (D2, UTHSC RAM Club Fundraising Chair) says it best, “ To me, RAM club means showing compassion. As rising members of the healthcare community, our job is to help and to love others as if they are family and RAM club provides a platform that allows us to do just that.”
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Memphis truly comes alive during the warm days of summer. Everyone wants to be outside, and there’s always something to do. One of the biggest excitements of summer approaching is the Memphis in May International Festival. Memphis in May is a month-long celebration of food, fun, and culture. It kicks off with the ever-popular Beale Street Music Festival, featuring musical acts from around the world. Following is the World Championship Barbeque Cooking Contest, highlighting the special love this city has for its BBQ. One special aspect of Memphis in May this year is that the annual country of honor is actually a city, our very own! In recognition of Memphis’ bicentennial, the Memphis in May festival will conclude with a celebration of the city’s proud 200 years on May 25. Complete with fireworks, food, an airshow, and live music, it’s a party you won’t want to miss! Another wonderful opportunity to enjoy live music with your friends and neighbors is at the Levitt Shell. The Levitt Shell is an open-air amphitheater located in Overton Square. Elvis Presley even performed his first paid concert at this stage! The Levitt Shell offers a free summer series each year, showcasing different artists and genres. It’s a great place to have a picnic if you want to bring your own food and drink, but you can also purchase food from a number of popular food trucks. The summer series runs every Thursday through Sunday, May 30th to July 21. It’s dog friendly and family friendly, and the perfect way to spend your summer nights!
Memphis Summer Lovin’ 18 | SUMMER 2019
Memphis is already an established music city, but we’re also a passionate and growing sports city. Basketball is deeply ingrained into the Memphis spirit, but baseball, and now soccer, add to the city’s love of sports in the summer. The Memphis Redbirds, a Triple A affiliate baseball team of the St. Louis Cardinal, and the Memphis 901 FC, a professional soccer team within the USL Championship League, both play in AutoZone Park downtown. The Redbirds won the PCL championships in 2017 and 2018, and the 901 FC are in their inaugural year. Fans can expect games of both teams to be fun and exciting for all ages! Whether you choose to attend a festival, concert, or ballgame, get outside this summer and have some fun! Explore the city and make it your home. There’s so much to do, and plenty of people looking to share these experiences with you. HAGS - Have a great summer!!
Kim Taylor Freeman, ‘19 Chapter Social Media Chair-Elect
Photo Credit: Morgan Rebeck, ’19
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Guide to Memphis: Where to Volunteer Being in dental school takes up an overwhelmingly amount of time. While we are here though, we must not forget what it took to get here. I don’t doubt that every single one of us had a list of our volunteer history on our resumes, so why stop now? As healthcare professionals serving others is part of our identity.
A big reason why people volunteer is to help an organization that they are passionate about or to help make a difference in people’s lives. Beyond that, I have learned that volunteering keeps you grounded and humble and reminds you of the heavy impact you can have on your community. It would be naive to believe that we have all been given the same opportunity in life, so with the wonderful opportunity to attend dental school that we have all been given, we should keep the former in mind.
Photo Credit: Taylor Rogers, ’21
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Personally, I love volunteering at the annual Bellevue Baptist Christian Mobile Dental Clinic & their Mission of Mercy event. There are so many underserved patients who are extremely grateful to receive emergency care, a new smile, or the simple kindness of a good conversation.
Dental related organizations are not the only places to volunteer in Memphis. Because Memphis has two phenomenal children’s hospitals, St. Jude and LeBonheur, there are many organizations centered around serving the younger generation and the families of children that are here for treatment. Organizations like Memphis Athletic Ministries (MAM) and The Memphis Grizzlies Foundation strive to create rewarding opportunities for the youth of Memphis, and help guide them in a good direction as they continue grow.
Listed below is a condensed list of organizations in Memphis that are always looking for volunteers. I encourage you to pick a time & check one of these places out, whether it is on your own or with one of the UTHSC College of Dentistry school organizations. No matter what your interests are, there is a place for you to help! Serving is a two-way street, both sides will benefit. That being said, you will gain more purpose of who you are as a person when you put your time & heart into benefiting others. Dentistry, as we all can agree on, is one of the most rewarding professions to take part in by far. Let’s all connect with our community and give back in a big way, with our time!
• • • • • • • • • •
Bellevue Christian Mobile Dental Clinic
Bellevue Mission of Mercy (every January)
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St Jude Target House
LeBonheur Children’s Hospital
Memphis Athletic Ministries
Shelby Farms Park
The Memphis Grizzlies Foundation
Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County
Mid-South Food Bank
Taylor Rogers, ‘21 Chapter Vendor Fair ChairElect
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they the heart.” -Elizabeth Andrew theTENNESSEALANT | 21
Photo Credit: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Target House
UTHSC ASDA takes frequent trips to the St. Jude Target House to serve dinner to the families and make crafts with the sweet kiddos! Be sure to join us on our next outing!
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Photo Credit: Allison Poget, ’21
Photo Credit: Morgan Rebeck, ’19
Summer Photography Showcase
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Photo Credit: Megan Huynh, ’22
Photo Credit: Megan Huynh, ’22
24 | SUMMER 2019
Photo Credit: Kayla Webb, ’22
Photo Credit: Kayla Webb, ’22
Photo Credit: Kayla Webb, ’22
Photo Credit: Kayla Webb, ’22
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Photo Credit: Jackson Lowery, ’22
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The
BITEWING
Peanut Butter Squares Ingredients: • • • • •
1 1lb box powdered sugar 1 13oz box graham cracker crumbs 1 28oz jar creamy or smooth peanut butter 2 sticks of butter, melted 1 12 oz bag Hershey’s Special Dark (or milk) chocolate chips (can do more chocolate- up to 16 oz)
Directions: 1. Combine powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter, and melted butter until mixed evenly 2. Press mixture firmly into a large casserole dish about 13in x 8in in size 3. Chill mixture in refrigerator for about 30 minutes 4. Melt chocolate over a very low heat, stirring constantly until smooth 5. Spread chocolate evenly on top of mixture Britta Ristau, ‘21 Chapter Vendor Fair Chair 6. Once chocolate is hardened cut into 1in x 1in squares (Make sure the chocolate is room temperature and not cold before you cut it because the chocolate will crack if it is too cold!)
Photo Credit: Culinary Hill
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La Cha nce My pter ers Edit , ‘22 or E lect
Kaiti Walker, ‘21 Editorial Board 1 f t, ‘2 oge Chie on P -inAllis Editor pter
Cha
Megan Huynh, ’22 Photography Contributor
Chelsea Schwind, ‘20 Chapter Secretary , ‘21 r Kim tributo n ian Dam phy Co a togr
Pho
MEET THE UTHSC ASDA
Editorial Board
Get Involved! Email apoget@uthsc.edu to get involved with our writing or photography teams!
Photo: ASDAnet.org
Check out asdanet.org to get involved with National ASDA publications! theTENNESSEALANT | 29
Mark Your Calendars! July 8-12, 2019 Graphic credit: Temple UTHSC
ADA Annual Session
September 4-8, 2019 San Fransisco, CA Graphic credit: ADA Graphic credit: AsDA
November 1-3, 2019 Chicago, IL 30 | SUMMER 2019
THANK YOU TO
OUR
SPONSORS
executive council
PRESIDENT: Reed Turpin PRESIDENT-ELECT: Lauren Leiden IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT: Taylor Enochs TREASURER: Austin Wilkie SECRETARY: Chelsea Schwind EDITOR: Allison Poget LEGISLATIVE LIAISON: Cameron Togrye LUNCH & LEARN COORDINATOR: Anne Marie Currie PREDENTAL CHAIR: Taruna Purihella VENDOR FAIR CHAIR: Britta Ristau COMMUNITY SERVICE COORDINATOR: Kristina Slavik SOCIAL CHAIRS: Lauren Martin & Leah Efird MEMBERSHIP CHAIR: Candace Windle SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR: Bayli Phillips WEBMASTER: Kelsey Korb GOLD CROWN AWARDS CHAIR: John Wilson FUNDRAISING CHAIR: Nidhi Shah HEALTH & WELLNESS CHAIR: David Pencarinha
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@uthscasda
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@uthscasda
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uthscasda.com
DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the American Student Dental Association at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.