Forty-five participants attend careers in dentistry workshop

Careers in Dentistry workshop participants pose for a group photo. While on the Loma Linda campus, the students attended lectures, shadowed students, learned about financing a dental education, and more.

The 19th annual 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.

While on campus, 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, Bill 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.

Students from the Dental Student Association under the leadership of fourth-year dental students Allen Job and Kirk Larson, 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 fourth-year students Christina Do, Rakiya Jones, Heather Lauer, and Allen Job. Also participating were third-year students Yolanda Hernandez, and Aurina Poh. The dental hygiene program was represented by students Sharika Boland, Melanie Leiske, Kristin Allen, Kelly Noto, and Becky Porch.

Dr. Ben Grant, a faculty member in the dental school for many years, began the program 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.