Drs. William Hooker (center left) and Ron Dailey welcome the new students and review School policies during orientation on September 16.

Editors note: The dental and dental hygiene classes starting school in September, 2003, begin their program 50 years after the first dental class began instruction in 1953. Following is an article by Sylvia Davis, MA, director of admissions, that profiles this landmark dental class.

Each year more than 130 students arrive at the School of Dentistry with excitement and passion to become dentists and dental hygienists. After evaluating and interviewing over 300 students, it is exciting also for the staff in the admissions office. The privilege of meeting and assisting each student in the process of applying is made rich by the various experiences they share and their excitement about their missions and goals.

In the United States through the American Association of Dental Schools Admissions Service, 4,000 applicants applied for admission and selection by schools across the country. LLUSD received 1,234 applications.

Ninety new students arrived for orientation along with three returning students and two who transferred from another School in the University. There are 57 men and 38 women in this class, coming from more than 24 colleges and universities. Twenty-three students received pre-dental education at La Sierra University.

Included in the class are two dental hygienists, one physical therapist, one respiratory therapist, and five clinical medical scientists.

Drs. Fred Kasischke and Ron Forde (facing audience), speak to incoming dental and dental hygiene students about opportunities for service learning.

Coming from nine countries, 21 in the class are international students. In this year’s class, there are four African-American students, four Hispanic students, and 43 students with an Asian heritage.

In the class there are 75 students who are Seventh-day Adventists, with 15 students who are also Christian and represent a number of Christian denominations.

The School is very proud of the alumni who leave our campus and continue to show support by encouraging their sons and daughters to apply to their School. In the next issue we will list names of those from the class along with their relatives who are alumni.

Other alumni have chosen to teach an Introduction to Dentistry course in a college or university near their practices. Darleen Hemmerlin, SD’72, has taught this course at Pacific Union College in Angwin, California; Donald Kellogg, SD’72 and David Hernandez, SD’75, are teaching this class at Walla Walla College, Walla Walla, Washington. The introductory course at La Sierra University has been taught by several alumni, including Eugene Rathbun, SD’65, MS’71, who, with his daughter, Shelly Rathbun-Nordman, SD’92, MS’95, were the first to offer this class. Duane Wacker, SD’64, and his son, Chris Wacker, SD’95, PG’97, teamed up to teach the course followed by Muna Soltan, SD’74, current instructor. At Southern Adventist University, Patrick Im, SD’94, teaches a similar course, as does Dr. Frank Cochlin at Andrews University.

At each Adventist college and university there are alumni who open their offices to give the pre-dental students in their area a chance to volunteer or shadow them. LLUSD alumni often volunteer to give a current applicant an understanding of the dental profession by inviting the student to visit their private practice, as well as LLUSD.

Additional information about the incoming dental and dental hygiene classes will follow in the next issue.