Third annual Dental Day draws dedicated students
The College of Dental Medicine welcomed potential students and advisors from nearby colleges to gain a sense of the dental profession and the school's offerings during Dental Day held Sept. 14.
Second-year
Dental Medicine student David Norrington adjusts a dental prosthesis in
the dental lab as Morehouse College students Jason Panda and Isaac Karikaroi
look on.
The event gathered about 45 students from nearby colleges including The Citadel, Francis Marion College, S.C. State, and Morehouse College. Students, advisors and pre-health advisors were greeted by Dental Day organizer Gwendolyn Brown, DMD, director of diversity, College of Dental Medicine. Also present to welcome the students were MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Charles Hook, DMD, associate dean for clinical affairs, College of Dental Medicine, among others.
“We have tremendous needs here in South Carolina,” said Greenberg, during his welcome to the students. “It is our focus to attract people who are committed to improving health disparities in this state.”
In South Carolina, nearly half of the state's population visit the dentist regularly, while the other half get dental care only in the case of an emergency. The key to better oral health, according to Hook, is through better patient education, especially to under served populations.
The event began with an orientation of the dental medicine program and other programs offered at MUSC. The dental program offered an overview in the areas of operative dentistry, periodontics and dental research. The event ended with an admissions and financial aid overview, plus a campus tour.
“Dental Day was extremely successful and met the objective of introducing
the university and collegee to bright prospective dental students,” said
Brown. “The strategies and exchange of ideas related to the recruitment
and matriculation of students into the collegee to be most valuable.”