THE T H E
N E W S L E T T E R
FILL O F
U T S D
H O U S T O N
A S D A
Nov 4
Vol.8 Issue 1
CONTENT
President's Address - 2
Chapter News - 3
Advocacy - 4
Events -5
Literature Review - 7
Organization Feature - 8
Editorial - 9
Houston - 10
Editor in Chief Jeannie Binder
Contributing Editors Clayton Nguyen Stephanie Vu
Wellness - 12
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
A time of reflection and innovation Dear Reader,
Throughout explored
this
new
challenging
and
unique
year
ways
of
our
ASDA
Chapter
communicating
with
has our
membership. One of these initiatives includes creating a new and improved newsletter, "The Fill!!
Our Communications Committee has complied pre-COVID to "new normal" ASDA experiences
written by our very own UTSD
students. From ASDA Annual Session to committee initiatives in advocacy, community service, predental relations, leadership, social, events, and wellness read our newsletter to see what we have accomplished, transformed, and learned!
Our
authors
have
worked
diligently
to
contribute
to
our
newsletter and I'm sure you will learn more about ASDA and what it has to offer. As always, please feel free to reach out to me
or
the
authors
with
any
questions.
This
year
we
remain
determined to provide our members with value, benefits, and education
to
continue
to
advance
the
welfare of dental students.
Joy Nisnisan Class of 2022 UTSD Houston ASDA Chapter President ASDA District 9 Trustee
rights,
interests
and
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
CHAPTER NEWS
Adapting ASDA to a School Year Under Quarantine by Clara Kohlmetz, class of 2023 Anyone
who
sometimes
knows
me the
knows plot
of
I
hate
a
“not
movie
knowing.”
during
the
I
will
opening
credits. I relished the fact that I read the Game of Thrones books long before the show and knew exactly what was coming for The Young Wolf (and honestly, I’m still not over it). Spoiling books and movies doesn’t affect how much I enjoy reading and watching them. However, the uncertainty of not knowing how things will end drives me crazy.
Uncertainty defined these past few months under quarantine. Many dental students, myself included, are Type A. We love to plan, make schedules, and know exactly where we will be in the next five years. These days, I’m sometimes not sure what will happen in the next five hours. As the president-elect for our ASDA chapter, that uncertainty presented a unique challenge for the upcoming year. We could no longer simply plan the
Dr. Spears shows off the culinary masterpiece he created during our virtual cooking class.
same events from previous years safely, forcing us to come up with new ways to engage our members. The first few weeks into quarantine, my goals for ASDA shifted from improvement and innovation
to
relevance.
Who
would
want
to
attend
virtual
ASDA events without the free food?
Over
the
past
few
months,
uncertainty
became
my
constant companion. Though I may never stop reading the last page of a book before the first chapter, I no longer feel as anxious about my future or the future of Houston
I’m only half-joking about the food, but I did go into this summer
ASDA. Everyone can only do their best. As long as we
with
drastic
strive for that, everything else will work itself out. We plan
change, and I was worried ASDA would be the last thing on the
to continue hosting excellent events throughout the year,
minds
and I feel lucky I get to work with such excellent team
some
of
hesitation.
both
officers
The
and
team proved me wrong.
pandemic
members.
During
the
caused
such
Thankfully, summer
our
session
officer alone,
members to make them happen.
ASDA hosted half a dozen events. From essay prep for predentals to a virtual cooking class to a Q&A with national ASDA leadership, our officers continue to amaze me. We also made improvements to our website, social media, and organization as a chapter. To address membership engagement, we worked on providing events with better and more relevant content. Rather than seeing quarantine as a barrier to participation, we viewed it instead as an opportunity for improvement.
Virtual events
allow more members to attend, including students from other District 9 schools. Since we no longer need to pay for venues or food, we can hold more events during the semester. We also primarily focused on wellness and social events that allowed our members to escape their apartments, at least for a little while. Once the fall semester begins, we hope to tailor our events based on membership feedback. ASDA exists to serve its members, and we will continue to do so virtually or while 6 feet apart.
Pre-dental committee pulled off yet another successful Interview Prep Day, despite the new virtual format!
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
ADVOCACY
Advocacy goes virtual by Chandler Pruitt, class of 2022 Almost
nothing
has
been
consistent
for
dental
students
throughout quarantine and the transition to online education, except
for
the
fact
that
everyone
has
consistently
had
questions. Dental students were not unlike the rest of the world in the search for information during the height of COVID-19 with all of the uncertainties and ambiguities it brought with it. Everyone
not
only
wanted
to
know
how
and
when
their
education in dentistry would be continued, but everyone was anxious to understand how this rapidly spreading virus would affect the world of the dentistry as a whole.
As Advocacy leaders, we wanted to somehow start getting some of these swirling questions answered for dental students. We began to brainstorm the best ways to get the most relevant and updated information from the most reliable sources. Dr. Craig Armstrong was the first dentist to come to mind due to his long history of involvement with organized dentistry and his long-term relationship with dental students at UT Houston.
Dr. Craig Armstrong represents Texas on the ADA Board of Trustees as a trustee from the Fifteenth District. As a trustee, he helps to frame and review policies pertaining to dentistry while formulating recommendations given to the ADA’s governing body. Dr. Armstrong is a UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston alumnus, and he has held numerous leadership positions within the ADA as well as serving as the President of the Texas Dental Association and the President of the Greater Houston Dental Society. We knew that the information Dr. . Armstrong provided would be as close to the source as possible.
On Thursday, April 23rd we held our first ever Virtual WebEx Advocacy Event! We had UT Houston’s Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services, Dr. Ralph Cooley, Dr. Tommy Harrison, Dr. Duc Ho, and over 50 students in attendance for the event. Dr. Armstrong gave a thorough update about the countless virtual meetings he had been attending concerning how to help with the COVID-19 ramifications for dentists, updated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements, the political implications of the new CARES act, and updates about the dental licensure exam and WREB. Students submitted countless questions for Dr. Armstrong in the Webex chat box and he answered all of them with relevant and up-to-date information.
The feedback after the event was overwhelmingly positive. One student even said, “that was the most relevant and straightforward information I’ve received about COVID-19 yet!” ADSA Advocacy is excited about our success with the first virtual event and we will continue to look for innovative ways to provide updated information to students.
Nov 4
Our events look a little different this year... Check out some photos from our virtual wellness and social events!
Vol. 8 Issue 1
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
Interested in helping the social commiittee plan the next big ASDA event? Ask your ASDA officers for more information!
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
ORGANIZATION FEATURE
Dental Practice Leadership Association by Anish Reddy, class of 2022 What is the actual job description for a dentist?
When most people consider this question, they immediately think of the obvious answer: a dentist is a doctor of the oral cavity. Just like any doctor, a dentist must understand a patient’s medical status, diagnose current and potential future ailments, and perform complex procedures to maintain or improve the patient’s situation. Like a doctor, a dentist must have a good chairside manner, and an excellent understanding of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology.
However, there is one major difference between the way that the average dentist and the average doctor: the way that they practice. On average, only 31.4% of doctors identify themselves as independent practice owners to partners, compared to about 77% of dentists. That means the average graduating dentist today is more than twice as likely as the average doctor to be involved in the management of their own practice.
Dentists who are involved in the management of their practice need to understand a multitude of topics, ranging from financials (balance sheets, cash flows, taxes) to leadership (hiring, staff management, patient satisfaction) and more. Being proficient in these skills is a large factor in the success of a dentist’s practice. A dentist who is excellent clinically but who manages their practice poorly is less likely to have a sustainable business than an average clinician who manages their practice effectively.
However, despite practice leadership skills playing such a large role in the career of a practicing dentist, dental schools place minimal importance on exposing students to these topics. As a result many students graduate school as excellent clinicians who are confident in their ability as dentists, but who feel overwhelmed by the idea of managing their own practice. This is unfortunate as an ever-increasing number of new dentists have chosen to work as associates for Dental Service Organizations (DSO) long term, as they are unwilling or unable to manage a practice on their own. This has several drawbacks, including that DSOs may place production requirements on associates that may not allow them to practice dentistry in the way that they would prefer. Furthermore, the DSOs will collect the majority of the profit, even though it is the dentist who has the education and experience to treat the patient.
With this in mind, a few of my classmates and I decided to start the Dental Practice Leadership Association, a student organization at UTSD dedicated to understanding everything that is involved in leading a dental practice. The goal of the organization is to expose members to the situations they’ll encounter as a practice owner, and the information they’ll need to handle these situations in the future. Through presentations, case studies, and guest lectures from practicing dentists, DPLA aims to make students more confident in their potential to lead a practice one day. By getting students thinking about practice management in school, we hope that students will start early directing their career and life plans towards starting or purchasing a practice in the future.
Dental Practice Leadership Association covers a variety of topics in our meetings. These topics range from understanding dental financials, such as balance sheets, cash flow statements, and practice valuation methods, to interpersonal skills, such as managing staff and keeping patients satisfied. We also review topics related to dental technology and marketing involved in a practice. The organization hopes that by giving interested students an outlet to get a head start on understanding dental practice leadership, we can become more confident practice owners later in our careers. We hope you consider joining!
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
LITERATURE REVIEW
"You don't trust a government vaccine" by Mary Younan, class of 2022 Influenza vaccinations have continually posed a societal debate between physicians or pharmaceutical companies and the general public. Considering the fact that “only 37% of adults were vaccinated” in 2017-2018, it is evident that the vast majority of individuals opt out of taking the annual influenza vaccine (Jamison et al., 2018, p. 87). This article primarily probes the reason for the low turnout of vaccine takers by analyzing “three factors: complacency, convenience, and confidence” (Jamison et al., 2018, p. 87). Furthermore, the study dived into a more detailed analysis on the racial divide which exists between African Americans and Whites in regard to their level of trust towards healthcare industries and government agencies. Jamison et al. suggest that it is necessary for government agencies, such as the FDA and CDC, to gain the trust of minority groups through more “transparent” relaying of information to the public.
Measuring the public’s views on the influenza vaccine as well as the reasons why individuals do or do not take the vaccine required the authors to deploy various methods including the grounded theory, memos, and an extensive number of interviews. The grounded theory which they utilized is “successive stages of data collection interspersed with analysis” and memos are simply a place for taking note of any patterns, breakthroughs, or themes (Jamison et al., 2018, p. 88-89). The process of data collection was done in three phases: “exploratory interviews, focus groups, and in-depth interviews” (Jamison et al., 2018, p. 88). Additionally, prior to the interview processes, the authors conducted a pre-screening in order to ensure that their participants were sufficiently diverse in “race and vaccine behavior… age, sex, and educational background” (Jamison et al., 2018, p. 88). The study population consisted of White or African American adults who are native to the US. The time period during which this study was completed, 2012-2014, is important to take note of, as it was during Obama’s presidency thus having a profound influence on the opinions of the participants.
After analyzing different race and age groups and moderating discussions which pertained to the key word “trust”, a racial and generational divide seemed to develop in regards to trust in the government and healthcare industries. African Americans, who have a history of unseemly treatment and discrimination, fostered greater distrust towards the government in general. However, age also played an important role in the level of trust which the individuals had, as younger African Americans are said to have “‘loosened that mistrust’” (Jamison et al., 2018, p. 91). The optimism of the younger generation of African Americans is likely attributed to the fact that Obama was the President during the time of the interviews. Thus, had the interviews been conducted during current times, the responses would more likely than not looked very different. On the other hand, older Whites, who blame it on the way they were raised, have engrained within them obedience which is rooted in their discipline and respect towards the government. Contrary to this older generation of Whites, the younger White generation appears to exhibit a “‘more individualistic’” approach (Jamison et al., 2018, p. 91). Hence, it can be concluded that race is not the sole facet of the public’s view towards the influenza vaccine.
Jamison et al. highlight just a few of the various factors which contribute to perceptions about the influenza vaccination which include cultural conditioning, educational background, racial discrimination, and generational divides. Through analyzing the different age and racial groups it became clear that low turnout for vaccinations cannot simply be attributed to anti-vaccine groups or social media, rather it is rooted in the history and background of each individual. According to Jamison et al., in order to facilitate a greater percentage of vaccine
takers,
government
agencies
and
healthcare
industries
are
the
primary
entities
which
are
responsible
for
establishing
a
trustworthy relationship with the public. This is the only means by which the perception towards vaccines can take a positive turn in generations to come.
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
EDITORIAL
An unexpected D1 year by Parnian Salehi, class of 2023 Spring semester of first year was going to be fun according to the upperclassmen! We were promised that after finishing a difficult semester packed with grueling didactics like biomedical sciences in the fall, we would get to finally pick up a high-speed hand piece and start to eagerly-and rather amateurishly- drill into our first plastic teeth. Operative was THE course that class of 2023 was looking forward to. After all, this class made us feel like real dentists. Then COVID came. At first, it started as daily emails we would receive from the school, informative but not too worrying. All classes were going according to the schedule and dental school was in full session. We were taking our usual two or three tests every week, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. In Operative, we began to work on maxillary teeth, which required us to use mirrors for indirect vision; boy, was that tough! My friends and I even started to plan the group’s March/April birthdays. We had already decided where we were going, what we were eating, and of course the wish-list was the first thing that was completed! Then the school emails became more serious…more alarming. Yes, COVID-19 was spreading like wildfire. The Friday before spring break almost felt like an untimely goodbye. After all, it was only mid-March! We knew we were switching to online classes, but no one knew for how long. We had a lot of questions about our didactics tests, preclinical requirements, and our general safety, but there were no definite answers. So, we did what we do best as a class; we looked at the bright side, did our best, and gave our 100%.
Webex classes were not so bad. Some were funny even! Personally, I got to go on many house tours and met so many adorable pets that I would not have met in real life. I saw several tired faces, who had just rolled out of bed for 8 a.m. classes! However, proctored exams added an extra level of unnecessary stress. It definitely did not help that my mom once walked in on me during a test to give me a sandwich. Even though classes were online, dental school was still time consuming as ever. However, after two-three weeks of online classes and tests, most of us had acclimated to the new situation. My only regret was missing my friend’s birthday celebration. So, we decided we would throw a Webex birthday party! One of us baked a cake, the other drew a cake, another wore a party hat, and we all lit a candle. Then we all held the candles up to the screen, and once the birthday girl made her wish, we blew the candles out! It was in that moment that I realized that COVID may have put us all in quarantine, halted most activities, and ruined our semester, but it couldn’t break
Pre-pandemic views
our spirits to accomplish the things that matter.
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
HOUSTON
Quick, easy weekend getaways from Houston by Jill Huffman, class of 2022 While in dental school, it can be hard to get away and enjoy a proper vacation. However, making time relaxation and fun are necessary to be able to get through the stressed of school! Here are a few quick and fun weekend getaways from Houston that can serve as your minivacay to get you out of town for a few days and on an adventure!
Fredericksburg, TX Only about a 4-hour drive away from Houston, Fredericksburg boasts some of the best wineries in Texas to pair with their beautiful Hill Country views.
In Fredericksburg, you can stay at a cozy bed and breakfast, participate in several wine tastings, and check out the
Marktplatz (Market Square) in the middle of town to learn about the town’s history. Not huge on nightlife and clubs, Fredericksburg is a great place to have a low-key weekend filled with great food and wine.
Silsbee, TX While Barton Springs and the Guadalupe may be the first floating and water fun locations you may think of in Texas, Silsbee is a hidden gem just a few minutes north of Beaumont (less than a 2-hour drive!) that is the home of Village Creek. Something unique about this creek is it’s white sand beaches and sand bottoms. There are many places to rent canoes and kayaks from, so pack up your cooler and picnic basket and head over to Silsbee to soak up the nature, water, and sun in a much less crowded, crazy environment.
Kemah, TX This getaway is so close you could even go there and back in one day for a less time consuming option. Kemah is famous for the Kemah Boardwalk, a family friendly area with rides, restaurants, and a nearby marina so you can watch beautiful boats come in and out all day. Kemah also has an Aquarium restaurant with a Stingray Reef, where you can touch and feed live stingrays. Visit Skallywag Suds’n’Grub or Gulf Coast Daiquiri Hut for a cold adult beverage to enjoy while watching the water!
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
HOUSTON
A review of Houston's outdoor recreation spaces by Blake Hutzler, class of 2022 Buffalo Bayou Park This was a clear leader for outdoor recreation spaces in Houston due to the sheer versatility of the park. This span of 10 mile green space nestled directed east of Houston's downtown area hosts many joggers, cyclists, dogs, and even native Texas wildlife species. The Bayou is actually privately funding by generous donors in the Houston area, and likewise often hosts many passionate outdoor goers throughout the year. During the summer hours, a visit to the Bayou could find yourself listening to free concerts located within the inner Sabine Park, or observing an aerial battle as millions of Mexican free-tailed bats embark on their nightly odyssey to harvest insects while avoiding predatory raptor species.
Rice University campus and surrounding trails Rice's campus is absolutely stunning. Located adjacent to the Texas Medical Center located in Houston, a visit to Rice's campus will often find you gazing at various abstract art pieces on the campus amongst the shady antiquated live oaks along with dodging photoshoots in the magnificent courtyard that surrounds the Fondren Library. Rice's campus was very close in ranking to our third and fourth place but this location edged out the competition with the addition of the 3.5 mile jogging trail that surrounds the campus.
Herman Park Arguably a continuation of Rice's campus, this location is right north of the Texas Medical Center. This park is a fantastic attempt to represent Houston from a multicultural approach while blending an active community harmoniously. A visit the Herman Park could find you peddling along the McGovern Lake, taking a cruise along a railroad train, or even finding tranquility amongst the peaceful flora of the Japanese garden. Of all locations reviewed, Herman Park certainly has the most content to explore.
Memorial Park Perhaps one of the largest parks in the United States, Memorial Park is slightly removed from the city atmosphere in comparison to every other recreation space in this list. This park actually self-labels as a conservatory and often finds a more tranquil crowd compared to the busy active youth of Houston's other spaces on this list. Memorial park often finds many bird watchers, trail hikers, and even mountain bikers throughout the year. Although this park has more of a suburban feel, it has long been park of the Houston parks and recreation scene and deserve to be a park of this list.
Levy Park This is a smaller park located in the middle of downtown, the medical district, and galleria areas of Houston. However, the Park's ambition is quickly turning heads amongst Houston city goers. The park has a ton to offer for all walks of life including a smaller dog park, public ping pong tables, many food trucks, and even an on demand Zumba pavilion. I can only imagine as this park continues to mature and develop, it will quickly bring more competition to the Houston parks and recreation field.
Nov 4
Vol.8 Issue 1
WELLNESS
How To: Charcuterie Board by Rachel Finelli, class of 2023 There is no appetizer more impressive than a charcuterie board on
the
counter
before
hosting
friends
over.
Piled
high
with
cheeses, cured meats, crackers, fruits, nuts, and much more, your guest will be mesmerized by the spread. From holiday themed boards, brunch-style boards, to the OG of charcuterie boards,
they
are
simple
and
easy
to
execute
for
your
next
occasion.
Step 1: Get yourself a board and serving knives Charcuterie boards can come in a variety of sizes and types. Any flat surface wood cutting board, slate board, serving tray, etc. could work. You can find inexpensive, cute wooden boards and serving knives at Home Goods or Target.
Note: when purchasing the items for the board, think about color and texture when you assemble them together. Look for some bright colored fruits for a pop of color on the board and do a variety of textures.
Step 2: Bowls of jams and dips The bowls set the foundation for the board where everything else builds around. I prefer a more esthetic look where I will have small bowls of different colors or textures scattered on the board. Inside these bowls can house a variety of jams, preserves, dips, etc. My go to is a fig spread or apricot jam, but go with whatever you want! To make a fuller board look, I try to stack and lean crackers, meats, and cheeses against the bowls.
Step 3: Let’s talk meats and cheese Go with a variety of cheeses from different families that your guest will enjoy. My go-to: smoked gouda, brie, and cheddar. The Unexpected Cheddar from Trader’s Joe has been a fan favorite. Just like the cheese, go with a variety of meats. Most grocery stores already have dry cured salami, prosciutto, and sopressata packaged together.
Step 4: The crackers Most grocery stores have boxes of a variety pack of crackers to make life easier. I also recommend getting the mini “toasts” crackers for brie.
Step 5: The add-ons We need to include a few more things to balance out the flavors and make it look full. To balance all the salt from the cheese and meats, add sweet preserves, chocolates, and fresh fruit to your board. Add a crunchy dynamic to the board with a handful of nuts. Next, add some savory with olives, pickles, roasted peppers, etc. Finally, add appetizers if you are hosting a large group or your guests are planning on coming hungry.
Now grab the vino and enjoy!
Nov 4
Vol. 8 Issue 1
Want to write for The Fill? Writing for the UTSD ASDA newsletter is a great way to get published, get involved with organized dentistry, and boost your resume! We're always looking for authors with unique voices and stories to share. Get in touch with our editorial team, or ask your class officers about how you can contribute!
