the
provisional houston ASDA newsletter november 2017
#RestoreHouston Harvey will forever be etched in our city. We are primed as healthcare professionals to help by bonding together to fill the needs of those affected and cure the destruction, one step at a time.
n Saturday, August 26th, 2017 Hurricane Harvey moved swiftly onto land, pouring pandemonium and blowing apart the lives of countless Houstonians. In the wake of the storm, many people escaped flooded homes with nothing but their loved ones to seek higher ground. Fully furnished homes that had stood the weathering tests of decades of hurricanes experienced water damage for the first and last time. Seeing our city broadcasted on international news while sitting confined inside is was a surreal experience. As many were unable to venture further than the closest block due to the rising waters to help neighbors and strangers alike, emotions of empathy mixed with a sort of survivor’s guilt swam through the hearts of many. As the water receded, the gravitas of Harvey’s damage to the city was assessed. While the path of Hurricane Harvey did not directly affect our dental school, each of us felt impacted by the storm.
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upcoming events 11/7-11/9 11/6-11/15 11/11 11/14 11/15 11/30
PDL: professional development lunches loupes lunch & learns (DS1 only) community service: buddy walk advocacy: mirror the scope of dentistry loupes fair L&L w/ mike manoloff WREB rubble debate: pro-live patient vs. against
follow us! facebook.com/utsdasda @utsdhoustonasda utsdhoustonasda www.houstonasda.com 1
committee updates ADEA The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) student chapter had its new beginnings at UTSD this year. They held their first L&L in late August with hopes of enlightening students on having a voice in their dental education. More recently, the officers met to discuss the direction in which the organization will take in the coming semesters.
ADVOCACY
ADEA officers (left to right): Noreen Ali, Stacey Tunggadjaja, Julie Tan, Grant Marcantel, Sai Goolla
Houston Advocacy is continually hosting and creating events to bring awareness of dental policies to students. In September, a day-long Advocacy Symposium was held at UTSD featuring prominent speakers from around the nation to discuss topics such as organized dentistry, advanced dental therapists, community health coordinators, pathways to licensure, and more. Upcoming events include the Annual ADPAC Registration Drive, L&Ls over how to get involved in advocacy, embezzlement in the dental office and the return of investment in organized dentistry.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Community Outreach: YMCA Trunk or Treat event
The fall semester provides many opportunities for ASDA members to volunteer in the community. October brings 2 events for our chapter: the annual service project at the Houston Food Bank and the YMCA “Trunk or Treat” event. The November service opportunity will be the Buddy Walk with the Down Syndrome Association. Volunteers will be encouraging attendees and teaching OHI along with giving out toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. A food drive will begin in November as a month-long service project to collect canned foods for the Houston Food Bank. This project also acts contest amongst the four classes so let’s see who will win this year!
Advocacy: Advocacy Symposium
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committee updates (cont.) ETHICS The Ethics Committee hopes to work closely with a new student organization called SPEA (Student Professionalism & Ethics Association) that is closely allied with ASDA chapters at many other schools. They hope to co-host a professionalism/interview workshop for post-grad jobs and residency programs with ASDA and
November
is advocacy month
SPEA later this year.
LEADERSHIP
You can be affected or be effective. The choice is yours.
The Leadership Committee has hosted events to support leadership development and promote team building. This past June, an event was held at the Houston Escape Room to encourage teamwork towards a shared goal: to escape. This fall, the Lead-
Participate in advocacy-related activities to bring awareness to the issues affecting our profession.
ership Committee will be presenting PDL (Professional Development Lunches) where dental practitioners will share their successes in private practice and give
Meet ASDA’s newest mascot, the Advocacy Molar Bear!
guidance to students looking to start their own private practices.
WELLNESS The Wellness Committee goal for the fall semester is to share opportunities for wellness in Houston through monthly newsletters. The UTSD Running Group is preparing or a 5k/10k in October and will also begin training for the upcoming Aramco Houston Half Marathon in January. Hopefully, as the semester winds down towards finals, there will be two more events to promote both physical and emotional wellness.
First year delegate: Bobby Anton Pre-Dental Representative: Lejla Zoronjic Legislative Liason: Chad Abrams
WELCOME, 2021 OFFICERS!
Publications Editor: Jeannie Binder Events Coordinator: Victoria Do ADEA Representative: Kelley Joo Community Service Coordinator: Annie Huet 3
#RestoreHouston (cont.) After the rain subsided, Houstonians walked through
There are not enough words to express the grati-
the water-filled streets.. Some of the city’s most
tude UTSD feels towards to the many kind-hearted
characteristic landmarks were transformed into
individuals and generous ASDA chapters. As a
unrecognizable, unfathomable swamplands. In light
chapter, we surpassed our $5,000 goal to provide
of this destruction, I admired our community’s selfless
for local flood victims. Physical supplies were
response. Houston was a shining example of what it
shipped from multiple dental schools and distribut-
means to come together and rebuild a city stronger
ed to local shelters and schools. The remarkable
than it was before the storm. During a time when the
response of the dental community during this trial
nation faced insurmountable turmoil and division,
was a simple yet powerful testimony of the dentist’s
the 4th largest city in America exhibited an antithet-
desire to serve and provide for others, especially
ical portrait of unswerving unity. Local store owners
those unable to help themselves.
graciously opened their doors to stranded flood victims. Numerous donations poured in to schools, shelters, churches, and even individuals. Relentless first responders sacrificed their own lives to help those in need. Our diverse mosaic of a city demonstrated that no storm could wash away the resilience of a group united for good. We were all proud to call Houston home. Students at UTSD went above and beyond to help those affected by the Hurricane. Whether it was time spent clearing sheetrock from the homes of faculty and students or providing treatment to those at George R. Brown Convention Center, our community had all able hands in for Harvey relief. As a chapter, Houston ASDA came together in a time of devasta-
Dr. Shalizeh Patel and DS4 Azadeh were two of many who volunteered to provide free dental care at George R. Brown Convention Center through the UTSD dental van.
tion to organize the #RestoreHouston campaign as an outlet to help those affected by Harvey. We formed a taskforce with District 9 Community Outreach to promote a drive with efforts to raise monetary and material donations. Numerous donations were received from ASDA chapters across the nation. Many dental schools hosted philanthropic social events and profits were contributed to the drive.
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ON BEHALF OF THE UTSD COMMUNITY, We would like to extend another earnest thank you to all the donors who have supported us. We are humbled by the selflessness and compassion exhibited during Hurricane Harvey and beyond. The rain and winds brought endless destruction and washed many Houstonians into unanticipated homelessness. Just as vividly as we remember the first rains, however, many also remember the sense of hope and rejuvenation that arrived with the first day of sunshine after the storm. The sun rays on the floodwater reflected both the pain of past tragedy and the promise of a stronger future. Rebuilding the Bayou City will not be easy, but if there’s one place I can count on to demonstrate the redemptive powers of community, it is this one. We are #HoustonStrong and we will #RestoreHouston. Katie Richardson, Houston ASDA President
EVENT RECAP 2017 GOLF TOURNAMENT The 2017 Golf Tournament took place on Saturday, November 4 at Pearland Golf Club. Thank you to all those who participated! Congratulations to the winning team: John Solms, Collin Myrick, Anson Hooper, Durstin Hooper
WANT TO WRITE FOR THE HOUSTON FILL? The Houston Fill is our end-of-year publication featuring articles from students and faculty. Anyone is welcome to contribute! Contact us at: utsd.asda.communications@gmail.com
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