LLU School of Dentistry Dentalgram

Dentalgram

October 2002

Brian Preston selected for ESP for 2002-2003
By Sylvia Davis

The School of Dentistry Early Selection Program was established in 1994 to identify qualified students enrolled in Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities who are from under-represented communities in the School of Dentistry student population. The program gives a student an opportunity to learn more about the dental profession and provides an early transition in the dental school curriculum. Students selected participate in a four-week session at the dental school, visiting alumni in their private practices and sitting in on several of the summer courses.

Brian Preston, a student from Atlanta, Georgia, who has been enrolled at Oakwood College in Alabama, was selected as the ESP student for the 2002–2003 school year. He brings to the program experience in mission work in Trinidad as well as a sincere desire to bring Jesus Christ and His unconditional love to patients and to colleagues.

Brian came to LLUSD in August. He has shadowed in the offices of Drs. Donald Pearson, Alan Woodson, Michael Lee, Chris Wacker, Judy Strutz, and Shahrokh Shabahang. He spent time in the orthodontics clinic under Dr. Roland Neufeld, the oral surgery clinic under Dr. Alan Herford, and the implant clinic with assistance from Maria Melgoza. He is also preparing for the DAT at the local Kaplan Center and participated in the ABLE 111 program in early September. He will be taking coursework with the Class of 2006 (D1 students) during the fall quarter. He is applying through AADSAS to the School in September 2003.

Brian will return to Oakwood College in December, to complete his BS degree in Biology. The admissions office and the Diversity Committee of the School, chaired by Dr. Ron Forde, is pleased that Brian was accepted into the program and hopes that it will be possible for him to be with us as a full-time D1 student in the fall of 2003.

A Friday evening meal was provided at the home of Sylvia and Jerry Davis to honor and welcome Brian Preston who has joined the early selection program (ESP) for the School. Previous recipients of ESP awards were invited to meet Brian. Included were Mueni Mutinga, SD’01, the first student selected for the program in 1995, Phillip McIver SD’03 and Trevor Fraser SD’05. Ron Forde, SD’83, director, service learning department, also a graduate from Oakwood College, assisted Sylvia Davis as hosts for the event. Pictured are (l-r): Mr. Fraser, Dr. Mutinga, Dr. Forde, Mr. McIver, Mr. Preston, and Ms. Davis. Ms. Davis is director of admissions for the dental school.