National Dental Lobby Day Betty Yip, D2 Penn ASDA was proud to sponsor six student member representatives to National Dental Student Lobby Day, April 7-8 in Washington, D.C. As Legislative Liaison 2014, I was honored to have MJ Anderson ’16, Yesle Kim ’16, Lan La ’16, Dave Maciborski ’16, and Rebekkah Merrell ’16 on my team. We were among the 375 ASDA members who attended the conference to receive issue-specific training, network with other student members, and learning lobbying skills to prepare for our meetings on The Hill the following day. Volume 6 Issue 2 Newsletter of American Student Dental Association, UPENN Chapter PENN WIDE UPENN ASDA members (L to R): MaryJane Anderson, David Maciborski, Yesle Kim, Rebekkah Merrell, Betty Yip,, and Lan La attended the National Dental Student Lobby Day in Washington DC. Inside this Issue News National Dental Lobby Day Oral Cancer Walk ASDA Annual Session Policy Obamacare Feature Military Dentists NCAA Athletes Hospital Externships Spotlight Faculty: Dr. Kuperstein Fitness Yoga and Dentistry Fun Gingival Groove Pictures 10 12 14 1 3 5 9 16 17 19
Transcript
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National Dental Lobby Day Betty Yip, D2!Penn ASDA was proud to sponsor six student member representatives to National Dental Student Lobby Day, April 7-8 in Washington, D.C. As Legislative Liaison 2014, I was honored to have MJ Anderson ’16, Yesle Kim ’16, Lan La ’16, Dave Maciborski ’16, and Rebekkah Merrell ’16 on my team. We were among the 375 ASDA members who attended the conference to receive issue-specific training, network with other student members, and learning lobbying skills to prepare for our meetings on The Hill the following day.
Volume 6 Issue 2
Newsletter of American Student Dental Association, UPENN Chapter
PENN WIDE
UPENN ASDA members (L to R): MaryJane Anderson, David Maciborski, Yesle Kim, Rebekkah Merrell, Betty Yip,, and Lan La attended the National Dental Student Lobby Day in Washington DC.
Inside this Issue
News!National Dental Lobby Day
Oral Cancer Walk
ASDA Annual Session
Policy!Obamacare
Feature!Military Dentists
NCAA Athletes
Hospital Externships
Spotlight!Faculty: Dr. Kuperstein
Fitness!Yoga and Dentistry
Fun!Gingival Groove Pictures
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12
14
1
3
5
9
16
17
19
NEWS
Throughout the year, I worked closely with the Legislative Liaisons of Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry and University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine to divide and conquer the congressional districts of Pennsylvania. We split the state in thirds and made appointments with the Congresspeople of our targeted area. Penn SDM focused on the Eastern districts and was successful in securing meetings with the legislative directors of Rep. Patrick Meehan (7th), Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (8th), Rep. Charles Dent (15th), and Rep. Joseph Pitts (16th). We were trained to effectively deliver the key points of each of the three ADA- and ASDA-supported issues with clarity and personal stories during our brief 15-20 meetings. %!On Day 1, our presenters Mike Graham, ADA Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs and Congressman
Paul Gosar, DDS, our keynote speaker. Mr. Graham was proud to tell us that the American Dental Political Action Committee (ADPAC) was recognized by the Wall Street Journal as the “largest single health-care political action committee.” More importantly, ADPAC Before elected to Congress in 2010, Congressman Paul Gosar, DDS, operated a highly respected practice for over 25 years. At our meeting, he told us he was happy to see how many dental students came out to DC to lobby issues that would positively affect our profession. He stands up and fights for his constituents in DC, his home state, Arizona, and for our profession: “If they fire me, I’ll go back to being a dentist!” %The first day involved learning about the issues, developing a clear and cohesive message in small group breakout sessions, and most importantly, networking and making new friends in our national dental community. The issues we
lobbied on The Hill are the following:%
1) Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act (S. 1066)%
2) Student Loan Interest Deduction Act of 2013 (HR. 1527)%
3) Coordination of Pro Bono Medically Recommended Dental Care Act (S. 466/H.R. 963)%
The first two legislations would provide great benefits not only to us as dental students but for all students who seek graduate training, whether it is in law, medicine, engineering, or education, etc. They both seek to address the burden of our ever-increasing student loan debt. We learned that, within the last 10 years, private dental student education has increased by 68% (averaging $283,978 for four years of study) and public education by 104% (averaging $209,150).
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President’s Message Pavan Narla, D3
This year has been a monumental year for the ASDA Penn Chapter. We experienced great success with our Membership events at Tap House and Smokey Joe’s, and our vendor fair was one of the biggest we've ever held, with over 30 vendors that attended. We were able to expand our board to include 4 new committee chairs, and are currently pursuing auto-enrollment through Academic Affairs. We continue to strive for awareness for organized dentistry. All in all, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of such an influential organization for the past 3 years.
cont. on pg 8
NEWS
PDM spreads oral cancer awareness Yesle Kim, D2
On March 29th, Locust Walk leading up to Penn Dental Medicine was unusually rowdy for a Saturday morning. Despite the light rain, a grand total of 425 participants including 110 runners and 145 walkers, came out to participate in Penn SDM’s 6th annual Philly Oral Cancer Walk and 5k. With generous support from local businesses and the surrounding West Philadelphia community, Saturday’s event was a
monumental success in this proud continuing Penn SDM tradition.%
Saturday’s event had taken months of background planning. In fact, this year’s co-chairs Betty Yip D’15 and Alice Bassani ’15 decided to chair this event just as last year’s Oral Cancer Walk wrapped up. Both students had been a part of its planning committee since their first year in dental school. And they decided to go for it. “This event is huge for oral cancer
patients and their families and friends. Plus, it has Penn’s stamp on it,” said Betty Yip. “We broke up the tasks for Alice to manage the logistics of the event including communication with the Oral Cancer Foundation and for me to manage our board members. There was always something new popping up- like last night I was thinking, oh my gosh, did someone order the helium tank for the balloons?” In fact, throughout the months leading up to Oral
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OCW Board Members (L to R) Front row: Josh Simpson, Alice Bassani, Lan La, Betty Yip, Courtney Lam, Crystal Kim. Back row: Faddi Raffoul, Issac Chung, Alison Fishman, VJ Kracke and Katherine France spread oral cancer awareness.
NEWS
Cancer Walk, eight committees consisting of more than forty dental students hosted bake sales, dumpling festivals, and ice skating fundraisers to promote the event.%
Coordinating this tremendous event included volunteers from not only Penn SDM but also Temple SDM, Harcum College, and Community College of Philadelphia. Jerrica Orr, who is studying to be a dental hygienist at Community College of Philadelphia, was excited to volunteer at this event. “I want to be in community dentistry, and as a dental hygienist, I believe I can provide that one-on-one connection.” Orr said, “In case of oral cancer, if the patient is scared of the dentist, I can be the one to present this unknown.” She explained that oral cancer was an extensive part of her dental hygiene curriculum. In fact, a dentist who first noticed a
cancerous lesion in his own mouth came to her class to emphasize the need for cancer screenings.%
The importance of early screenings was echoed by Saturday’s first keynote speech, Dr. Eric Stoopler of Department of Oral Medicine at Penn. In the atrium decorated with green and purple ribbons, Dr. Stoopler emphasized dentists’ responsibility for oral screening. “Do the screenings”, he urged. “And tell your friends and family to expect oral screenings at their dental appointments”. Because chance of survival decreases with advanced stage diagnosis, early diagnosis is crucial. Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that less than 25% of dentists regularly do oral cancer screenings. Meanwhile, approximately one person dies from oral cancer every hour.%
Michael White, a 12-year survivor of Stage 4 oral cancer, also spoke
in front of the audience. He recalled the frightening ways his diagnosis changed his life. “There were new words in my vocabulary: feeding tube, tracheotomy, and free flap reconstruction.” In addition, his pregnant wife was managing White’s insurance hearings and caring for their younger daughter. Even after White emerged from his successful 25-hour surgery, he was in constant pain. While admitting he struggles to “accept the new normal”, White called himself fortunate to be alive today.%
All the participants and volunteers were invited to free screenings by Penn’s residents and faculty. Dr. Thomas Sollecito was one of such faculty who reflected on the development of this event from six years ago. “The students asked our department to participate and plan the event the very first year,” he said. “Now it is mostly student driven with less faculty oversight. It’s become a great event emphasizing something that affects our dental profession,” he noted with pride. He stressed that it’s important to visit the dentist when there is any spot that is sore, lesion, or discolored lasting more than 2-3 weeks. He also noted that although other cancers have decreased over past decades, the number of oral cancer diagnoses has remained the same. “That’s why it’s important that events like this raise awareness.”%
In total, Saturday’s event raised $19,600 for the Oral Cancer Foundation.
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Penn students cheer on the runners at the finish line led by Evan Eisler.
NEWS
ASDA board members attend Annual SessionKristin D’Adamo, D3!ASDA’s 2014 Annual Session was held this year at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. 1st years Kristianne Macareg and Kayla Pietruszka, 2nd years Elizabeth Freund and Rebekkah Merrell, and 3rd years Sarah Paje and Kristin D’Adamo represented Penn at the conference. Despite four days of cloudy skies and intermittent rain, the conference was productive and engaging. Jim Morris, former baseball player the Disney film “The Rookie” was based upon, was the Keynote Speaker. His motivational speech focused on never giving up on a dream, for he achieved his goal of playing Major League Baseball at the age of 35. Jim’s speech set the tone for the conference – ASDA gathered to address the issues
concerning dental students so that we can dream big for our future. Licensure, student debt, GPRs, and AEGDs were hot topics discussed. Various breakout sessions were also available to students depending on personal interest, including Women in Dentistry, CVs/Resumes, Ergonomics for Dentists, and financial planning. These sessions were lead by highly respected dentists and business people within our profession. As a part of the Executive Board, we all attended chapter improvement workshops to better Penn ASDA’s membership, fundraising initiatives, and communication with National ASDA. It is our goal to grow Penn ASDA into a stronger organization that allows its members to utilize the countless benefits ASDA offers,
and to become more involved at a local level. Our ASDA representatives also played a part in electing the 2014-2015 Executive Committee. The newly elected board is lead by President Kristopher Mendoza (UCLA ‘15), and Vice Presidents Daryn Lu (Oklahoma ’15) and Jason Watts (Nova Southeastern ’15). We are confident that these men will advocate strongly on our behalf and will work hard to keep this organization growing. When we found some time to spare, Penn ASDA members snuck out to lunch at In-N-Out Burger, and got to experience the magic at the Disneyland Park one evening. Through attending Annual Session, Penn ASDA has some great ideas for the year to come, and we look forward to sharing them with you!
CVs and Resumes ! !Kristianne Macareg, D1!Dr. Colleen Greene, the 2012-2013 National ASDA President, gave an informative presentation for an early morning breakout session on CVs and Resumes that was very well attended. Dr. Greene is a graduate of Harvard School of Dental Medicine Class of 2013 and is currently a pediatric resident at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. She has given many presentations on how to write resumes and CVs and was able to leave us with her words of wisdom at ASDA Annual Session 2014. Below are some tips she gave us to write an incredible dental student resume!%
The Header%
The header is the first thing a reader sees when they look at your resume, so you want to keep it neat and well formatted%
• List your contact information in the order of likeliness someone will contact you: e-mail phone number address%
• Don’t label your phone number and e-mail because they are obvious and just take up space%
• Keep your e-mail school based (@dental.upenn.edu not @yahoo.com)%
• Check your voicemail and make sure that your message is professional with your full name. Also identify that you are a dental student at your school.%
Must-Have Sections%
Education should be listed first and Personal Affiliations should be last. The other sections should be ordered in a way that highlights you best.
• Education%
• Research (other descriptions may include experience, projects, or presentations)
• Awards (other descriptions may include honors, scholarships, or achievements)
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NEWS
• Leadership (other descriptions may include experience or professional development)
• Community Service%
• Personal Affiliations (or memberships)%
Bonus Sections%
• Teaching Experience%
• Publications/Published Articles%
• Presentations%
• Languages%
Writing Descriptions%
• Use powerful verbs to describe experiences on your resume such as collaborated, developed, mobilized, analyzed, and exceeded
• Write full sentences to describe the roles you’ve noted under each section%
• Begin each sentence with a POWER VERB%
Rank the bullet points in order of your most important accomplishment%
AEGDs and GPRs
Elizabeth Freund, D2!The session on AEGDs and GPRs was run Dr. Evelyn Chung, the director of the UCLA GPR and Dr. Colby Smith, the director of the Venice AEGD. %!AEGDs and GPRs are popular options for those students finishing dental school and looking to get more training before entering the job field. In New York, a post grad year is required for licensure and in many states, a GRP or AEGD can take the place of a board exam. We have all heard about these programs, but what is really the difference? And what is important in finding for the right program for you? %!GPRs and AEGDs share many common features. They are both focused on primary care for patients, require parts one and two of the boards, and many of the programs with focus on one or more specialties. The main way these programs differ is though the focus
on dentistry and medicine with GPRs which are in hospital settings and AEGDs, which tend to be more multiple disciplinary and private practice driven. Either way, generalities with these programs are hard to pin point. Every program is very different and finding the right one for you can require some time and research. The best way to get the information about a program that you might be interesting in is contacting the residents currently in the program. The administration and admissions personnel are always going to tell you what you want to hear, but the residents in the programs are going to have a better incite and clearer answers to your questions. Starting your search for programs at the end of third year rather than beginning of fourth year can be beneficial in that the residents at these programs will be at the end, rather then the beginning of the program. %!When applying to a school you are going to need a CV, personal statement and letters of recommendation. When it comes to the letters of recommendation, it is important to be up front with the faculty you are asking about what quality of letter they would be able to write you. Dr. Chung recommended simply and clearly asking “can you write me a good letter?”. When it comes to the interview take your time to answer their questions and have questions of your own to ask them. Be honest, practice the interview and make sure and follow up with a thank you card or at the very least an email.%!GRPs and AEGDs can be great opportunities to increase your speed, expand your skills and test your limits as a new dentist but over all, it is important to find one that is right for you and fits into your goals as a practitioner. !Liscensure
Sara Paje, D3!Are you aware of ASDA’s current position on Licensure? At ASDA’s 2014 Annual Session I was able to attend a very informative seminar on Licensure and learned about what ASDA is doing to make this exam better for students.
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NEWS
The ethics of this exam have been questioned and scrutinized for years. This high-stakes exam is often a source of stress for many students, patients are sometimes mistreated, and the cost of taking these exams are outrageously high. On a national level, ASDA believes that our licensure exams should be a non-patient based exam. Fourth year students spend countless hours taking radiographs and screening patients in hopes to find a perfect “board lesion.” We have all probably heard stories from upperclassmen about how their patient was late, didn’t show up, or if they did show up, were under the influence of some substance. There have been instances where patients try to negotiate the amount they will be compensated only minutes before the exam. I think many of us can agree that this exam depends too much on the patient, and not enough on our clinical skills. %
ASDA is also pushing for a universally accepted licensing exam. Depending on what state or region you want to practice in, you will have to choose to take the NERB, WREB, SRTA, CITA, or CRDTS. But what if plans change and you need to move to a different state? There are many students who have had to take multiple licensing exams, which also means they have had to pay the expensive fees for those multiple exams. %
The licensing exams typically include a written portion that tests topics that you are usually already tested on in the NBDE Part II. ASDA realizes that this redundancy only forces students to spend even more money on exam fees. ASDA is fighting to get rid of written exams that duplicate the content of the National Dental Board Examination Parts I or II.%
Some alternatives to the patient based exam that ASDA has proposed includes being able to become licensed just by graduating from an accredited dental school, a portfolio-type examination based on cases a student completes in their 3rd and 4th year, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) done on mannequins, and licensing upon completion of a one year post graduate residency program (PGY-1). Canada currently uses the OSCE model for licensure, New York requires a PGY-1, and Washington, Minnesota, California and Connecticut accept a PGY-1 in lieu of a clinical examination.%
ASDA and the ADA have brought these issues to Capitol Hill and have been advocating for change. This is why it is so important to be an active member of ASDA! There are so many issues that require the support of dental students and dental schools across the nation, and with everyone’s help we can hopefully see these goals come into fruition.%
Oral Maxillofacial Surgery
Rebekkah Merrell, D2!Are you thinking about residency and not sure where to find all the answers to your questions? Look no further. At the American Student Dental Association Annual Session, I attended the session on Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Explore the Scope and How to Enter OMS with the current vice president of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Dr. Andrew Read-Fuller. %
According to the 2013-2014 Accredited Advanced Training Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, there are a total of 101 accredited OMS residency programs in the United States. 55 of these programs are single degree OMS programs, while the remaining 46 programs are dual degree OMS programs. Of these 101 programs, 19 programs across the country offer the option of single and dual degree tracks. Breaking down the numbers on these programs: 43 are hospital-based programs, 38 are dental school based programs, 10 are medical school based programs, and federal service programs offer another 10 programs. This past year 1,118 students applied to OMS residency programs, with 54% applying to single degrees and 46% applying to dual degrees for only 228 first year programs. %
Everyone always asks, what is the difference between a four and six year program? According to Dr. Read-Fuller, both programs are required to complete the same training and meet the same standards by showing competency in internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonary, infectious disease, anesthesia, and etcetera. In some states, a six-year program may be required to obtain full operating room privileges. Otherwise the program’s competencies and training are identical. %
What are the next steps to getting into an OMS residency? Make sure to continue to do well in your classes. Go on externships at potential residency sites and do not try to act like a know it all. Be helpful, be a team player, and try to learn all you can from the residents. Do well on the National Board of Medical Examiners Comprehensive Basic Science Exam (CBSE). This year the CBSE will be offered on August 16, 2014 and February of 2015. Only your highest score counts. For the August testing, the registration deadline is on April 18th. Good luck!
!
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NEWS
Dental school tuition is by far the most expensive graduate tuition in the nation. The first two issues would help to ease the burden of this debt by (1) applying a 4.0% fixed consolidation or refinancing rate for all student loans taken out July 1, 2006 until date of the bill’s passage; and (2) increasing the tax deduction allowed for student interest from $2,500 to $5,000 for individuals, offered to all regardless of income. With our education so prohibitively expensive, we need sponsorship from the federal level to help us repay the debt in a supportive way. In the past few years, our interest rates for Direct Unsubsidized Loans ranged from 6.8-7.9%, with growing concern that it would reach as high as 9.5%. In addition, the Student Loan Interest Deduction Act would eliminate the income ceiling for taking deductions. It repeals the current provision in the Internal Revenue Code that states only individuals with an adjusted gross income (AGI) between $60,000 and $75,000 receive a pro-rated deduction. This means that an average dentist income would never qualify, even though our debt is the highest of them all. Lowering interest rates for student graduate loan consolidation to 4.0% and allowing us to take tax deductions regardless of income would not only provide us an easier situation to repay but will show that our government supports us in making the life decision to become an oral health care provider to our communities. Educational debt greatly influences the career trajectory of recent graduates when they decide whether to enter private practice, work in underserved communities, or pursue a career in public service, teaching, research, and/or public health. These issues specifically help new dentists select a career path of their choice by lowering debt and tax burden for an already burdensome student debt. %
The third issue focuses on investing $2 million in grants to support pro bono national dental programs which coordinate medically recommended dental care for low-income individuals. These grants would support programs similar to Give Kids A Smile Day,
PennSmiles Bus, Missions of Mercy, and free oral cancer screenings. ASDA and ADA believes that this legislation would ultimately result in a cost savings of $11 million by drastically reducing Medicaid, Medicare, and emergency room costs. Cost and benefit analysis aside, these programs are crucial for dental students’ exposure to community oral health and preventative dentistry, positively influencing our innate role as compassionate health providers. %
Lobby Day was an enjoyable learning experience for all of us. We thank Howard University for organizing a well-attended and fun social event the night before. Bill Andresen, Vice President of Federal Affairs for the University of Pennsylvania, joined our meetings to support our issues and continued funding for research.
We were greeted and welcomed by the supportive legislative staff of the Representatives. They
listened to our short presentation of the issues, to our personal stories, and asked us questions about dental school life and our career aspirations. Rep. Fitzpatrick was in attendance for our first meeting and told us he is always happy to see students come through his office to tell him about our experiences. %
Personally, the reason why I joined the Penn ASDA Board was because of my memorable first Lobby Day as a freshman. Gatherings like these not only keep me current on our profession but also demonstrate the power of participation. I thank my Lobby Day 2014 team for joining me in this gratifying learning experience and I applaud our 2014 Board for working diligently improving efforts in providing a voice for our student body.
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“Dental school tuition is by far the most expensive graduate tuition in the nation.”
cont. from pg 2
POLICY
Should dental students care about Obamacare? Marisa Reason, D3On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known to the public as ObamaCare. By signing this law, President Obama intended to lower the cost of healthcare coverage for all Americans and to give more rights to insured patients. Under the Affordable Care Act the government wishes to lower healthcare costs, add new consumer protections, increase access to healthcare, expand young adult coverage, strengthen Medicare, and hold insurance companies more accountable. However, as it becomes clearer how the ACA will affect greater society, as future dentists we need to ask the question “How does the Affordable Act affect the field of dentistry?” Indeed, many dentists are uncertain how the provisions will change the way they practice dentistry, as well as being unsure how the law will affect the delivery of oral health care. %
Luckily, Penn Dental was fortunate to have Dr. Robert Collins, clinical professor of Community Oral health and previous Surgeon General, come speak to us about the implications ACA has for dentistry. Our discussion focused on two key policy questions; “Will health insurance marketplaces increase access to dental care for children in the US?” and “What is the future of adult oral health care?”
Although the ACA includes twenty-three provisions touching upon oral health, the answers to these policy questions remain vague. %
What is clear is that under the ACA about 3 million children are expected to gain some form of dental benefits by 2018. Roughly one-third will gain Medicaid dental coverage and two-thirds will gain private dental coverage through health insurance exchanges and employer-sponsored plans. Combined, this will reduce the number of children who lack dental benefits by approximately 55 percent. Also, the law includes funded efforts for sealant programs and fluoridation education.%
Also, nearly 18 million adults will gain some level of dental benefits from the Affordable Care Act, with 4.5 million expected to gain extensive dental benefits through Medicaid. An additional 800,000 are expected to gain private dental benefits through health insurance exchanges. Thus, about 5 percent more adults will now have dental benefits. However, unlike children, it is not mandated for adults to have any type of dental insurance. %
Furthermore, it is important to note the American Dental Association’s stance on the law. The ADA recognizes that the ACA will have a significant effect on its members. But the
organization advocates against the ACA-implemented 2.3% medical and dental device tax on materials such as supplies, instruments and equipment. This excise tax also applies to devices manufactured by dental laboratories and orthodontic manufacturers. The ADA believes this tax to be a burdensome cost to the dentist or dental clinic that will likely be passed onto the patient or result in higher dental school tuition.%
After digesting the bill, it is evident that the ACA has a larger impact on children than it does on adults. Nonetheless, there will be increased overall funding for public health infrastructure, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, oral health programs and national oral health surveillance programs. Also there will be increased grant opportunities for general, pediatric and public health dentists, as well as allocated funding for National Health Service Corps loan repayment programs. It is important as future dentists that we remain knowledgeable about the new policies under the Affordable Care Act as there is no doubt it will have a significant effect on the practice of dentistry and the dental delivery system.
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FEATURE
Two if by land, one if by air; PDM students in the military Tina Chou, D2
K. Santroch – Air Force
Kristin Santroch turned to her older brother when she considered joining the Air Force. As a C-17 pilot, Eric Santroch connected his sister with several Air Force dentists, and according to Kristin, “all of [them] had nothing but positive things to say.” The Air Force boasts some of the best quality bases within the military, and it promises the opportunity for both domestic and international travelling. Kristin knows of a few dentist who were stationed in Germany. On the weekends, they simply hopped onto a train and toured Europe. %
At Penn, five seniors are enrolled in the Air Force, and Kristin has been part of a strong support system in which “we bounce questions off each other and help
each other through [Air Force] paperwork, AEGD applications, etc.” She also adds that underclassmen have approached her to discuss the interview and application process. %
“During our time in dental school, the [Air Force] commitments are minimal because the [Air Force] wants to make sure we can focus on school.” Besides an extensive physical in Harrisburg, PA during her first year at dental school, Kristin has been able to completely focus on honing her skills and knowledge in dentistry.%
Kristin will complete her Commissioned Officer Training in Alabama before beginning a one-year AEGD residency at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington D.C. She will enter as a Captain, a
rank that typically requires many years of service and commitment, but is swiftly granted to entering dentists. After her residency, Kristin will serve an additional three years in the Air Force. %
D. Ramasamy – Army
Deepa Ramasamy was attracted to the Army by its combination of serving a community with the opportunity to travel. She was greatly involved in community service work during high school and college, and so it was unquestionable for her to seek similar opportunities after dental school. Deepa believes that many people are reluctant to enroll in the military due to the uncertainty of where they will be stationed, but she offers reassurance by saying that “as long as you are
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Kristin Santroch, Deepa Ramasmy, and Colleen O’Neil will be Captains in the Air Force and Army at graduation.
FEATURE
open minded, the military can provide people with an extremely unique opportunity to meet people from all over the world.”%
Last summer, Deepa completed a four-week hospital externship at Tripler Army Medical Center in Oahu, Hawaii. She witnessed “a little bit of every field of dentistry, including advanced surgical procedures in the operating room.” On the weekends, Deepa attended Hawaiian luaus and hiked up some of the islands’ tallest mountains. %
According to Deepa, many Penn dental students do not have previous military experience. As she nears graduation, she is learning more about her future from older Penn military students. “After graduation, I definitely know that these students will be my support as I transition from a civilian to a military professional,” Deepa said. %
After completing basic training in Texas, Deepa will be stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the state of Washington for a one-year AEGD residency. Afterwards, she will be in the Army for an additional four years. %
C. O’Neill – Navy / Army
Colleen O’Neill factored in many reasons to join the Navy, the largest motivator being the financial incentives. Even though she is now in the midst of transferring from the Navy to the Army – the branch her husband is in – Colleen still benefits from the
military scholarship. The Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) covers all school expenses, including tuition and housing. Each military student is also given a monthly stipend and a signing bonus, which Colleen has personally saved and invested for the future.%
“Another selling point for me is the opportunity to travel,” Colleen said. She has traveled within the United States, but has never traveled internationally. The military may potentially station
her abroad, and Colleen looks forward to that possibility. %
The sense of patriotism among those who serve in the military is strong, and Colleen does not miss that mark. Her commitment to the military is not self-serving – “I can give back to my country and to the men and women who fight to protect our freedom,” Colleen said. She will become “part of their experience as a health professional.”%
Colleen enjoys the camaraderie among the students in HPSP, and they all know who each other are. Some groups meet for dinner, and others playfully assess each other based on physical fitness testing results during officer’s training. Colleen hopes that everyone considers joining the military for the ability to offset tuition costs and to travel. As a dentist for the military, Colleen can “[focus] on dentistry for a few years without having to worry about purchasing or running a practice.”%
During her education at Penn Dental, Colleen “developed a strong love for treating children and geriatrics, and every age group in between.” Although the military offers opportunities to specialize, Colleen hopes to complete her time with the Army and then practice general dentistry in a private setting. She will be completing her officer’s training in San Antonio, Texas before beginning her first duty assignment at Fort Sam Houston.
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Dental corps badges in the military (T to B): Air Force, Army, Navy.
FEATURE
Who’s Who in Penn Dental Athletics Jacob Britt, D3!Remember undergrad life before dental school when free time actually existed? Most of us spent it watching movies, meeting up with friends for dollar beers, or going to watch our school’s sports teams play. However, a small portion of the students here at Penn Dental Medicine spent this time training and participating as NCAA college athletes. From cross-country to football, Penn dental students have represented a wide range of sports at the college level. I interviewed some (but not all) of the NCAA athletes here at the dental school to learn about some of their greatest achievements and memories of being a college athlete. %
!Andy Janiga: 3rd Year
College: Trinity College %
Sport: Baseball%
Position: Pitcher%
Greatest accomplishment in college athletic career: Winning the 2008 DIII National Championship%
Best memory of your college athletic career: National Championship and Ring Ceremony%
What you miss most about playing the sport in college: The camaraderie with my teammates%
How long have you been playing this sport: Since age 2%
Your team's biggest rival: Wesleyan, Tufts, and Bowdoin %
Catherine Campbell: 1st year
College: Dickinson College%
Sport: Cross Country, Track and Field (Indoor and Outdoor) %
Event: 5,000m and 10,000m (5k and 10k)%
Greatest accomplishment in college athletic career: All-American 3rd place 5,000m finish at the DIII NCAA National Championships 2013%
Best memory of your college athletic career: Multiple second place regional cross country team championships qualifying our women's team for an automatic seed in the NCAA National XC Championship meet. %
What you miss most about playing this sport in college: I miss the camaraderie of the sport, the inspiration from teammates and the support from the national DIII community. My athletic
career shaped my undergraduate experience in many positive ways I am thankful for.%
How long have you been playing this sport: I began running in 5th grade. %
Greatest accomplishment in college athletic career: Placing 4th at the Heptagonal Ivy League Championship in the 1500m in a mile equivalent of 4:47 and qualifying for the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Championships in Florida. %
Best memory of your college athletic career: Racing at the Penn Relays. I love relay events and this meet has a high level of energy, which always makes for a great race. Also, my HS teams races every year so I've been running this meet for almost 8 years. I get to see my HS coaches and many of my HS teammates that also went on to race in
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Andy Janiga with the Division III National Championship trophy in 2008.
FEATURE
college, so it's a big reunion of runners! %
What you miss most about playing this sport in college: My team! It's fun to work out when you have great people to run with everyday. %
How long have you been playing this sport: I started track in 9th grade of high school. %
Your team’s biggest rival: Princeton %
Sharon Aradine: 2nd Year
College you played for: United States Air Force Academy%
Sport you played: soccer%
Position: goalie%
Greatest accomplishment in college athletic career: beating Army%
Best memory of your college athletic career: The away trips with my team%
What you miss most about playing the sport in college: All the free athletic gear! Shit is expensive%
How long have you been playing this sport: Since I was 5%
Your team's biggest rival: Army duh%
Alie Fishman: 3rd Year
College: Princeton University%
Sport: Rowing%
Greatest accomplishment in college athletic career: Winning a gold medal at the Under-23 World Championship in Scotland as a part of the US national team. We passed the
Germans, Brits, and Aussies in the last 20 strokes of the race!%
Best memory of your college athletic career: %
Out of the boat: My favorite memory was our initiation freshman year. We completed a scavenger hunt around campus all tied to each other at the wrists. It was a whole lot of fun and a great bonding experience, which really set the tone for the next 4 years. %
In the boat: My favorite memory on the water was at the NCAA championship my senior year, which includes beating Yale in the semifinals. In the regular season Yale beat us in the first, second, and third varsity boat events. Yale made a huge to-do about sweeping the races by hanging a broom on their flagpole while we were packing up our boats. At
NCAAs we had a great race in the semi-finals and beat Yale by 1.5 seconds. It was fun to get some revenge (and see the looks on their faces). We went on to get 3rd place in the team standing at the regatta. It was a great way to finish up my college rowing career.%
What you miss most about playing the sport in college: I miss being a part of an awesome group of girls and being in good shape.%
How long have you been playing this sport: Since 2001%
Your team's biggest rival: Yale, Brown, UVA %
Trevan Samp: 4th Year
College: Brown University%
Sport: Football%
Position: Wide Receiver%
Greatest accomplishment in college athletic career: Winning the 2008 Ivy League Championship%
Best memory of your college athletic career: Catching 15 for 206 yards against Holy Cross during my senior year%
What you miss most about playing the sport in college: Squeezing in between two 350 lb lineman in one small ice bath to ice my hamstrings. %
How long have you been playing this sport: Since forever%
Your team's biggest rival: Hah-vad
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Alie Fishman and her teammates celebrate winning gold at the Under-23 World Championship in Scotland.
FEATURE
Seniors go on externship
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“I interned at the Navy Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA. While the patients all looked the same, the quality of care and training that I observed was exceptional. %Go Navy!” - JB Peterman
“The externship [at Kings College/Guys Hospital] provided me with a unique opportunity to experience how having a universal healthcare system impacts dental education and treatment rendered.” - Katie Woehling
“My externship in Bogota was more rewarding than I could have imagined; I was inspired to pursue new areas in my field and enjoyed experiencing the beautiful Colombian people and culture!” - Rosemary Lelich
FEATURE
all around the world
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“Our Thailand trip was the highlight of my dental school experience. It is a colorful country with a rich culture. At the university we were able to learn about and compare dental care and quality of care outside of the United States.” - Alex Drew
“Traveling to Hawaii for my hospital externship was absolutely incredible. I was able to experience military life for the first time and learn about every dental speciality, while surrounded by beautiful Hawaiian scenery and culture.” - Deepa Ramasamy
“It was interesting to see that the same principles, techniques, and materials taught and used in Main Clinic were found halfway around the globe.” - Suzie Sheffield
FEATURE
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Arthur S. Kuperstein Giselle Galanto, D3You might know Dr. Kuperstein from your radiology courses, or have had the pleasure to work with him in the Oral Diagnosis and Emergency clinic. Anyway you know him, we all agree that PDM is lucky to have Dr. “K” on board. This past week I had a nice chat with Dr. Kuperstein, who is featured as this issue’s Faculty Spotlight:!
How did you get interested in health care and dentistry?
In my youth actually, sitting in my own dentist’s chair while he was doing his restorative work. He was friendly and talkative and an excellent teacher. And it wasn’t so much dentistry but health care in general that interested me. It wasn’t until college, where I majored in Psychology and Biology, that I decided to pursue dentistry.%
What was your path to dental school?
I went to college at Temple, actually I’ve been in Philadelphia all the way. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take the MCAT or DAT but I knew I wanted to do surgical stuff right away. I decided to go the dental route, got into Temple Dental, and so I got to stay there. %
What brought you to teach at Penn?
I didn’t come to Penn until after almost 30 years of oral surgery practice. From Temple Dental I went into pathology actually, did a year Abington Hospital. Then I did a residency at Philadelphia General Hospital, which is CHOP’s predecessor, and from there I went to Jefferson for Oral Surgery Residency. I was actually co-director of the clinical part of the residency program, but I wanted to go into private practice. So I made that choice and practiced for about 30 years. When I started
having trouble with my neck, I went back to my first love: teaching. So I bribed Dr. Greenberg – just kidding – I contacted
him, we tried it out, and here I am! I’ve been here at Penn for about 12 years.%
What do you like most about teaching here at Penn?
You guys! Being with young docs and sharing whatever I know and helping guide you and shaping your careers.%
What do you like to do when you’re not dentistry/healthcare?
Non-health care related stuff I’m interested include astronomy, painting, photography, opera, and railroad history. I edit a historical magazine: Railroad Historical Society. I like to keep busy when I’m not here! %
Do you have any advice your students?
I sincerely mean this: let your heart and mind drive you, don’t let the world drive you. As a health care provider, treat every patient as they are yourselves or someone that you love dearly. Put yourselves in their place, and “do unto others.” I truly believe that.
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“As a health care provider, treat every patient as they are yourselves or someone that you love dearly.”
We thank Dr. Kuperstein for taking the time to be interviewed for ASDA’s Faculty Spotlight. And of course we thank him for all that he does at PDM!
FITNESS
Intersection of Yoga and Dentistry Kayla Pietruszka, D1Have you ever heard the word ‘anxiolytic?’ It reminds me of some sort of enigmatic vocabulary word where biochemistry meets English Lit. On second thought– does anxiolytic really mean what its root words suggest? Yes, yes it does. Anxio, meaning anxiety, and lytic, meaning capable of lysing or destroying, come together in this precious gem of a word to describe something that inhibits anxiety. Pretty straightforward, right?%
By now you’re probably wondering why I even encountered this word. Well, to be honest, I’m actually surprised that anxiolytic isn’t a part of every dental student’s repertoire of fancy words. With a multitude of responsibilities to constantly juggle, I would guess that most dental students, if they’re anything like me, are probably in search of anxiolytic ventures that decrease the stress associated with the experience we so affectionately call “D” school.%
So, back to my point. I actually came across this glorious term while reading an online article about the intersection of yoga and dentistry. That’s right folks, in my copious amounts of spare time, I surf the net and peruse articles about health, fitness, and yoga. Just kidding – I actually typed into my Google search bar “dentistry and yoga” to see if anything interesting would come up. By interesting, I mean that I was in search of an actual scientific study discussing the tangible benefits that yoga can have on dental students, practitioners, and patients alike. %
What inspired this search, you might ask? Well, in the past few months I’ve been drenched in lots
of information on proper ergonomics and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and pain amongst both dental professionals and students. Just last week, my fellow first year dental students and I had a lecture on proper ergonomics, which was wholly merited after the interesting contortions we had just subjected our bodies to during our first ever practical exam in General Restorative Dentistry. According to the faculty, we were doing all kinds of kooky maneuvers to get a closer view of the teeth on which we were working. Hey, every detail mattered and the pressure was on! I mean come on, can you blame us for wanting to have a closer look at the itty bitty tooth we were preparing? %
It has become very clear to me that taking care of our bodies is essential if we want to successfully practice dentistry for years to come. This is where yoga comes in. I used the lovely buzz phrase earlier, “intersection of yoga and dentistry”…it has such a nice ring to it that I’m going to throw it out there again. My first real experience with yoga occurred about a year ago while I was traveling in South East Asia, Indonesia to be exact. While in Malaysia, I met a fellow backpacker who had just come from what he dubbed an “extraordinary” place called the Yoga Barn in Bali, Indonesia. After hearing him speak of it, beaming with praise, I knew this was something I obviously had to check out. %
So, off I went in search of this yoga paradise. The Yoga Barn was just as wonderful as my comrade
had described. The architecture of the “barn” itself was something of a marvel: exposed wood beams, tall ceilings covered by a bamboo roof, large rooms with open walls that let the outside in. After a week of yoga classes in this serene, enchanting yoga hub, I fell in love with the way that yoga affects both the mind and the body. I had never felt so present in the moment. My mind had never been so at ease. I felt in tune with and more aware of my body than ever before.%
Do you get the picture? Ok, enough of this fluffy yogi talk and back to the science. My Google search was indeed fruitful and I stumbled upon a research article published in the International Journal of Yoga, showing that yoga reduced stress in a study group of dental students about to perform their first periodontal surgery. Using written tests to measure stress and anxiety levels in a group of 100 students at an Indian dental school, researchers observed that students engaging in yogic breathing prior to performing their first periodontal procedure reported significantly lower stress levels than those who did not do the same type of yoga intervention. This is where the authors of this paper called yogic breathing an “anxiolytic tool.” You knew I was going to tie that back in somehow, right?%
That’s all well and good but where does this lead us? It seems fairly intuitive that relaxation exercises such as yogic breathing can help reduce stress and anxiety. Awesome. But what about the body component of this whole discussion? First, let me direct a
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FITNESS
more personal question to you, my dear reader: do you have any kind of pain when you practice dentistry? Do you ever have pain in your lower back, neck, wrists, or hands? Dentistry is much more
taxing on our bodies than we sometimes realize. The fact of the matter is that the majority of dental students will experience some sort of musculoskeletal pain by the time they are in their third year of dental school (thank you Dr.Yakobe for providing me with that fun fact during your ergonomics lecture). Along with
proper ergonomics, yoga is one of the best ways to combat and prevent these types of issues. In 2012, the American Dental Association cited a National Institute of Health funded study
in which yoga classes and intensive stretching were both shown to be effective means of reducing lower back pain and increasing back movement. So, there you have it – yoga and dentistry meet again! %
So let’s get down to the nitty gritty!. What I’m trying to say is that yoga can truly change your
life as a dental student. It did for me, at least. Whether yoga class is the one hour of the day where I can slow down, focus on just breathing, and leave the sometimes hellacious expectations
of dental school behind, or a time to strengthen my spine, stretch out my shoulders, and improve my posture, the benefits of regular yoga practice are simply profound. When I make time to squeeze in a yoga class, it is almost always my favorite part of the day. The best part about it, though, is that I not only benefit from yoga practice in
the moment, but it also helps to keep my body balanced and healthy, enabling me to practice dentistry for years to come. So what are you waiting for – get out there and get moving. Or should I say, “get breathing!”
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Gingival Groove ASDA held our annual Gingival Groove on April 21st, Monday at the International House of Philadelphia. We enjoyed seeing Penn SDM’s brightest talents in the spotlight this special evening. Who knew we had such a talented student body? Dentist by day, talented performers by night.We would like to say a special thank you to our fantastic judges Dr. Koup, Dr. Kuperstein, and Dr. Maggio. And a HUGE thank you to our wonderful audience who came out to support & cheer on our students.!
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Signing off, !Eunice Lee - Newsletter Editor (’13-’14)
