JUNE 2012 T H E O F F I C I A L O U C O D A S D A N E W S L E T T E R

Where are you spending your summer? School of course! Whether you are seeing patients, stuck in a classroom, or

standing over a cadaver getting an anatomical experience, you are “this” much closer to graduation and receiving that piece of paper that says

you have a license to drill! OUCOD does have a heart in that summer schedules usually are flexible enough to

get in that occasional suntan. Why not enjoy that time laying out and do a little light reading of this summer’s edition of

Sooner Smiles? This newsletter contains

articles, written by a few of your fellow ASDA members and officers, that contain important info that you need to

know to get the most out of your ASDA experience this summer. Remember to stay cool, study hard, and play hard!

OUCOD summertime is in full swing!

SETH BROOKS IS PROPERLY “KNIGHTED” AS OU ASDA PRESIDENT BY FORMER PRESIDENT JENNIFER HEADRICK

Be sure to sign up for FREE life

insurance and disability for ASDA

members while in dental school. If

everyone signs up, our ASDA chapter

will receive a monetary award! So

take 5 minutes and do yourself and

ASDA a favor by signing up!

www.insurancefordentalstudents.com

LIFE INSURANCE AND DISABILITY

Want some friendly competition? Get your pals together and sign up

to play volleyball on July 20th outside the Student Union! Teams of 4 players (men, women, co-ed) can

sign up between July 2nd-18th at Jo’s desk.

ASDA SUMMER VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

As a dental student, you can have a

voice in legislation decisions by

joining the American Dental Political

Actions Committee (ADPAC)!

Student dues are just $5 and can be

paid to ASDA legislative liaisons:

Gabe Luttrell, DS3, Carlie Hall, DS2

ADPAC

SOONER SMILES

Newsletter at a GlanceSTUCO/ASDA Volleyball Tournament............2

Pre-dental student involvement.......................3

ASDA National Leadership Conference........4

Liaison Lair............................................................5

Words of Wisdom/Meet the DS1s..................7

Letter from the President..................................8

Just for Fun............................................................9

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-Diane Vincent, ’15, editor

The OUHSC Student Council and OU ASDA are once again teaming up to bring the 3rd Annual OUASDA/StuCo Volleyball Tournament. Last year’s tournament showcased nine very strong teams with the Stormin’ Mormons, Blunderbii, & Total Exceptional Qualities (T.E.Q.) taking 1st-3rd place, respectively. All members of the Stormin’ Mormons and Blunderbil have graduated, so a new champion is sought to be crowned!

Friendly competition will surely be displayed in this year’s tournament as the new DS1’s will also have the opportunity to participate. This marks the first year in which all four

classes will be represented and gives the DS1s the chance to introduce themselves to the upperclassmen and vice versa.

In addition to the tournament, and almost as competitive as the tournament itself, prizes will also be awarded to the best-dressed team. Last year’s winners, the Peg Laterals, just narrowly beat out the Clementines. It is always fun and interesting to see the creativeness teams display.

The double elimination tournament is set to take place July 20th from 4:30-9:00 pm at the sand volleyball court at the Student Union. Teams of four (men, women, co-ed) are encouraged to sign-up between July 2nd-18th at Jo’s desk. All ASDA members are invited to come out and enjoy free food, beverages, great entertainment, and chances to win free prizes!

Bump, Set, SPIKE!By Priyanka Kainthla, ’14

SIGN UP FOR THE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT IS JULY 2nd-18th!

ASDA members Greg Ragulsky, ’14 and Jordon Smith, ’14 playing volleyball in last summer’s tournament

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...and win free movie tickets!OU ASDA now has its own

Facebook page! We want our ASDA members to come check us out this summer and enter in a drawing for free movie vouchers to the Warren Theater in Moore, OK!

To enter, ASDA members will need to go to our Facebook page and “like” us and then post a comment on our wall!

The deadline to enter the contest is June 27 @ 5:00 pm.

Check back often to catch up on ASDA news, view pics from past events, and celebrate the dental profession!

OU ASDA would like to extend a warm welcome to the incoming DS1’s! The next four years will fly by so study hard, but don’t forget to take some

time to relax in-between exams! We are excited to get to know you and we hope to

see you at future ASDA events.

Welcome Class of 2016!

These are exciting times for OU ASDA as we prepare to launch a slew of brand new programming initiatives. In addition to revamping our Executive Board is the addition of a pre-dental chair. Think back to when you were a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed pre-dent. How many times did you apply? How many times did you re-take the DAT? How many times did you wish that you had someone to help guide you through the horrific process known as the AADSAS admissions cycle? Think back to even before that! Did you always know you wanted to be a dentist? What did you think dental student life would be like? Sure you shadowed a dentist for at least 100 hours... but there’s a little speed bump between being a pre-dent and a dentist... a speed bump called dental school.

So what does the current pre-dental landscape look like for OU ASDA? In addition to a personal mentor/mentee program, OU ASDA offers a pre-dental simulation course twice a year for aspiring dental students. The course provides pre-dents with an introduction into organized dentistry as well as a basic dental anatomy lecture. The aspiring dentists participate in hands-on workshops that include waxing, alginate

impressions, and even get to experience the thrill and excitement of revving up a handpiece when cutting a cavity prep.) Throughout the course, pre-dentals can seek advice on DAT prep and the daunting application process by engaging with dental student volunteers.

Currently, OU ASDA’s primary goal in establishing a formal pre-dental chair is to strengthen the relationships and capitalize on the networking potential of all the pre-dental organizations in the state of Oklahoma. This goal involves gathering and connecting representatives and leaders of all Oklahoma pre-dental clubs, improving the OU ASDA mentor/mentee relationship with the use of increased and targeted programming, and creating a pre-dental day offering pre-dents an opportunity to learn even more about dentistry from practicing professionals.

Organized dentistry starts from the ground up. Pre-dental students are brimming with the potential to become future leaders and ambassadors of our profession. If we are able to properly cultivate and inspire future leaders, dentistry has a bright future ahead.

OU ASDA seeks to expand involvement with pre-dental students By Daryn Lu, ’15,

OU ASDA Second Delegate

Pre-dents that attended the OU ASDA Spring 2012 Pre-dental Simulation Course (Photo by Loan Vu, OU ASDA Historian)

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Training you won’t get in school—ASDA’s first-ever National Leadership Conference

The American Student Dental Association’s first-ever National Leadership Conference (NLC) will take place in Chicago, IL November 2-4, 2012. This event replaces the regional meetings that traditionally occurred during the fall semester. At this event, students will receive in-depth training in specific areas of leadership and dentistry—including dental ethics, treatment options, and “life skills” that involve becoming a successful business owner, team leader, and people manager.

So why should you attend NLC? Whether you are just starting out as an ASDA member or have experience holding a position at the chapter or national level, this event will help develop your leadership skills. Even if you are not actively involved with a committee or hold an office, this event will provide opportunities to develop leadership skills that will extend far beyond chair side.

The list of sessions offered at NLC is vast and can benefit any dental student in any year of their education. First years can benefit from sessions such as Leadership Opportunities in ASDA and Introduction to Professional Issues. Second and third years can benefit from Specialties and Career Options, Personal Financing & Accounting, or The Art of Networking. Fourth years can also benefit from NLC, with courses in everything from Debt Management for Graduates to Marketing Tactics for Your Practice. To maximize your time at NLC, each student can customize their schedule to meet his or her needs. Oh, an added benefit to everything mentioned above… You get to enjoy Chicago in the fall!

With everything available at ASDA’s National Leadership Conference, what are you waiting for? Contact myself or any other officer to find out how to get registered—or visit www.asdanet.org/NLC.

ASDA to hold first-ever National Leadership ConferenceBy Seth Brooks, ’14

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The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) affords students the opportunities to not only help further community service and needs within a student’s respective dental school, but it offers the chance to work with others, ultimately building leadership skills. At the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, a unique position within ASDA is Legislative Liaison, which focuses on a variety of different aspects and responsibilities. There are currently three Legislative Liaisons at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, with each liaison representing their respective class.

The Legislative Liaison represents the ASDA chapter by hosting lunch and learns at the dental school where respected individuals within their affiliated profession come and speak to students about political issues facing dentistry. In addition, this position is responsible for holding an annual ADPAC drive. The American Dental Political Action Committee (ADPAC) functions today in an effort to be a strong force for the profession of dentistry, ultimately being a voice to our dedicated lobbyists who act on our behalf as dental professionals in order to allow our beliefs to be heard on a national level regarding political activity facing dentistry. The drive raises money in an effort to help fund ADPAC so that our thoughts and concerns can continue to be addressed when necessary.

In the spring of each year, this position has the opportunity to attend National Student Lobby Day in Washington, D.C. and learn about political issues related to our education and profession, as well as learn the intricacies of lobbying. At this event, the liaisons are fortunate to hear from and meet the

lobbyist(s) for the American Dental Association (ADA) and learn the proper etiquette for lobbying, which in turn is utilized as the liaisons meet with their respective Oklahoma Representatives and Senators while in D.C. Before National Student Lobby Day arrives, a great deal of work goes into organizing the lobbying day.

The liaisons are responsible for contacting the offices of our Oklahoma Representatives and Senators and scheduling appointments with them during the duration of our time at National Student Lobby Day. During the event this year, we focused on two proposed bills known as the Student Loan Forgiveness Act and the Breaking Barriers to Oral Health Act. We were educated about these two issues and then had the opportunity to present the facts to our appointed Representatives and Senators.

Being a Legislative Liaison at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry has been a tremendous opportunity. I have had the opportunity to be involved first hand with ASDA, volunteer at different functions, meet and interact with a variety of new people, visit Washington D.C. and represent our university alongside with our other liaisons, learn what lobbying is and how it is put into action, further develop my communication skills in a variety of different settings, and ultimately learn new leadership skills. At the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, our ASDA organization is growing quickly, and I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to work with so many talented individuals who have a passion for organized dentistry and education.

Being a Legislative Liaison...By Gabriel Luttrell, ’14 OU ASDA Legislative Liaison

THE L IAISON

LAIR

Legislative Liaisons Carlie Hall, Gabriel Luttrell, and Stephanie McCarty with U.S. Representative Tom Cole. 

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Words from the Wise

Want advice on how to survive dental school? Why not go straight to those who have been there, done that, and learned the

tricks of the trade!

THE DS2‘S ARE STARTING TO STUDY FOR BOARDS! DO YOU HAVE ANY STUDY TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR NBDE PART I?

“Limit your resources, I can’t stress this enough. There are countless study aids

out there and if you use too many it can affect your studying in a negative

way. Find a couple that work best for

you and stick to them and you’ll do great.” (Seth Brooks, DS3)

“The three weeks before your testing

date are the most important! Buckle down, make some pneumonics, and go

through as many old tests as possible.

Always stay positive!” (Jenny Chadd, DS3)

“Don’t start studying too early. Use the

dental decks. Relax, it’s only a test, not a judgment of personal value.” (Greg

Ragulsky, DS3)

"All I know is that 3 weeks of nothing but coffee and Adderall is a great way to get your bikini body in the dead of winter." (Krystal Mills, DS3)

SHAK FEROZ

HOMETOWN: Tulsa, OK

FAVORITE FOOD: A good steak

FAVORITE THING TO DO OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL: Working on my photography

HOBBIES: Soccer, football, running, swimming, fishing, climbing, photography, cooking, anything outside or in/on the water

SAM McNICKLE

HOMETOWN: Stillwater, OK

UNDERGRAD/MAJOR: University of Central Oklahoma; Biology

DREAM JOB (BESIDES DENTIST): Ninja/firefighter/police officer/ basketball superstar

HOBBIES: Basketball, movies, music, games, reading, playing with my dog, hiking, fishing, hunting, biking, spending time with family and friends

Meet the DS1s

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ALISON SEAMAN

HOMETOWN: Minnetonka, MN

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Judge not, work hard, play hard, live well, and love, love, love.”- My Grandpa

FAVORITE TOOTH: I can’t discriminate! Together they make up a smile, which, to me, is the most distinguishing feature of anyone I meet!

HOBBIES: Traveling, reading, kickboxing, dancing, and anything outdoors

Exciting things are going on at our local ASDA chapter.  With the 2012-13 academic year fast approaching, the executive committee and subcommittees are working diligently to plan events like the summer volleyball tournament, the U.S. Open-Wide golf tournament, Dent Fest, and many more.  In addition to the previously mentioned events, we are looking into adding additional social events for our members, so if you have any ideas that you would like to see please share them with us.

Our goal as a chapter is to make sure you are up to date on important issues in dentistry while also providing opportunities to advance your education and career.  In order to make this goal happen we are constantly looking for new vendors/speakers for Lunch and Learns, reaching out to the Oklahoma Dental Association, and disseminating information through our newsletters, blog, and Facebook page.  

No more evident to this goal is the creation of our website—ouasda.com.  The idea of a website for our chapter came up at meetings over the past year, but it was not until the generous help of our sponsors that it became a reality.  We hope you will take full advantage of everything we offer on the website, from the ASDA and class calendars to the e-newsletters and blog.  The website will launch June 15th.

In the coming year, we hope to make our ASDA chapter one of the best out there.  So look out for everything we bring your way, whether it be our traditional events or new social outings, we’re doing our best to make your ASDA membership that much better.  

Seth Brooks,OU ASDA President, 2012-13

Letter From the PresidentCheck out OU ASDA on our Facebook page. You’ll find up-to-date information about ASDA events as well as photos and resourceful links to broaden your dental horizons!

Like us on Facebook!

Mouthing Off

Interested in writing an article for Sooner Smiles?

Congrats Class of 2012!

ASDA’s award-winning blog contains posts about current events in dentistry, student life, and fun stuff. Subscribe today! http://www.asdablog.com

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Contact an OU ASDA newsletter editor:

Jon Barnes, DS3Numair Kazmi, DS3Diane Vincent, DS2

(Photo by Shak Feroz, ’16)

You made it through the last 4 years and now you have

something to show for it! OU ASDA offers up a huge

congratulations to the University of Oklahoma College

of Dentistry graduating class of 2012! Come back and

visit!

You want me to redo that. That's a relief I didn't like how it turned out anyways.

I really love these green scrubs. The color just looks so good on everyone.

I made that pharmacology test my b****!

I love going to school year round!

First Aid was probably my favorite read during Christmas break.

Oh look, the Mormons are drunk again.

I hope that my molar tooth has four canals in endo today.

Keys NOT up!

Too many patients, not enough time.

I ♥ pharm!

The  DS2’s  would  like  to  pass  down  the  following  song  parody  to  the  Class  of  2016

Good  luck  in  Anatomy!

Verse:There’s  a  fake  skull  in  my  bedThere’s  a  pounding  in  my  head

Papers  all  over  the  roomPencils,  notebooks,  looks  like  school

I  smell  like  formaldehydeMy  scrubs  are  sticking  to  my  sideNothing  good  is  in  my  fridgeCoffee  pot  is  almost  dry

Netters  pics  are  goneDon’t  know  where  they  are

I’m  screwedOh  well

It’s  a  midbrain  blurBut  I’m  pretty  sure  it’s  through…Damn

Chorus:Last  Friday  night

Yeah  I  studied  cranial  partsWhere  nerves  go  and  were  they  start

Think  I  slept,  but  I  forgot

Last  Friday  nightMade  up  millions  of  Jlash  cardsGot  frustrated  and  felt  subparThrew  them  out  with  disregard

Last  Friday  nightI  emailed  my  study  group

They  were  all  reading  books  tooKnow  the  pain  I’m  going  through

Last  Friday  nightYeah  I  think  I’ve  had  enoughAlways  say  I’m  gonna  stop-­‐op

Whoa-­‐oh-­‐oah

Tomorrow  nightDo  it  all  againTomorrow  nightDo  it  all  again

JUST FOR FUN

Things OU Dental Students Don’t Say...

Caption This Photo!

The caption for last issue’s photo has been provided by Carlie Mae Hall, DS2:

“Poor girl was so busy with dental school that she never got her rabies vaccination...”

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“Last Friday Night”-DS1 Version(sung to the tune of “Last Friday NIght” by Katy Perry)