LLU School of Dentistry Dentalgram

Dentalgram

September 2002

45 participants attend Careers in Dentistry Workshop
by Sylvia Davis

Careers in Dentistry Workshop participants and faculty pose for a group photo.

For the 19th year, Careers in Dentistry Workshop, sponsored by the School, was held July 7 to 9. Dr. Duane Wacker directed the Workshop; he has served as program director for seven years.

The goal of the Workshop is to introduce a positive view of professional roles in oral health care, with emphasis on dentistry and dental hygiene. Participants learn about the specialty areas in dentistry and spend time shadowing dental and dental hygiene students.

This year, 45 participants were welcomed to the School. Thirty-eight participants live in California, three in Arizona, and one each from Washington, Texas, Michigan, and Florida. Of the 45 participants, eight are interested in dental hygiene as a profession.

The workshop began Sunday evening with a buffet supper at Drayson Center. D4 students Christina Do, Brian Dudar, Rakiya Jones, Kirk Larson, Elizabeth Park, Darren Rich, and Sharisa Mellor welcomed the workshop participants and gave them a tour of the campus. Also giving tours were dental hygiene seniors Marian Kim and Becky Porch.

Duane Wacker SD’64, associate professor, talks to Careers in Dentistry participants.

This was followed by a short presentation in Prince Hall by Gerald Winslow, PhD, dean and professor of Christian ethics, Faculty of Religion and Fred Kasischke, DMin, assistant dean, admissions and service learning.

Brian Dudar, D4 gave a devotional Monday morning. The remainder of Monday and Tuesday, participants spent time with faculty from departments in the School and shadowed students in clinic, their favorite activity of the workshop.

Faculty who participated were Drs. Stan Appleton, James Dunn, Dan Hall, Floyd Hansen and his staff, William Hooker, Joseph Kan, George Lessard, John Leyman, Tonya Machnick, Patrick Oshita, John Peterson, Paul Richardson, Doug Roberts, David Rynearson, Wayne Tanaka, and Klaus Wolfram, Ms. Kris Wilkins and Ms. Marilynn Heyde. Ms. Nancy Pulliam spoke to the group about infection control.

William Hooker, PhD, MFCC, associate dean for student affairs, moderates for a panel of current students answering questions about their experiences in the School.

Students from the Dental Student Association under the leadership of Allen Job, D4 and Kirk Larson, D4, shared insights and information about their choices both to enter the dental profession, as well as choosing to enroll at Loma Linda University. Participating in the panel were D4 students Christina Do, Rakiya Jones, Heather Lauer, and Allen Job. Also participating were D3 students Yolanda Hernandez, and Aurina Poh. Dental hygiene was represented by students Sharika Boland, Melanie Leiske, Kristin Allen, Kelly Noto, and Becky Porch.

A celebration meal held in Fellowship Hall of the University Church, concluded the workshop. Ms. Jeanne Pang from student financial aid provided information on the costs and ways to finance a dental education and Sylvia Davis, MA, director of admissions, provided information about the admission process. Each participant was awarded a certificate for attending the workshop.

During a dinner on the final night of the workshop, Sylvia Davis, MA, director of admissions, speaks to attendees about the School’s admissions process. This year, 45 individuals interested in a career in the dental professions, attended the workshop.

Participants filled out an evaluation survey to assist in planning future workshops. The success of this year’s workshop was well documented by their comments. They were enthusiastic about their time on our campus with emphasis on time spent with students.

Dr. Ben Grant, a faculty member for many years, put the program together in 1984. Careers in Dentistry was modeled after a similar event at Oregon Health Science University. Dr. Grant directed the program for the first several years and Dr. Kenneth Pierson was director while he was on our faculty. This year Kathleen Kavanagh and Leigh Ann Evans from the admissions office assisted in coordinating the events.