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Student elected to regional leadership position by Cindy Abole Public Relations When College of Dental Medicine (CDM) senior Heather Heaton entered dental school, she had no idea that her interests would elevate her to be a voice for her peers regarding issues on both regional and national levels. Heather Heaton Heaton won the right to represent her peers in the role as region 4 trustee during the Sept. 2 national meeting of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA). As a trustee with voting privileges, Heaton will represent the interests of 500 region members and dental students in six dental schools in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia.  ASDA members from each chapter elect two delegates to serve in ASDA’s House of Delegates to represent their school at meetings held throughout the year. Delegates from each region elect a trustee to serve on the organization’s board of trustees.  Heaton joins an elite handful of former MUSC dental students who have served in both statewide and national dentistry leadership positions. Originally from Greenville, Heaton has been active in many leadership roles from serving as secretary and president of the Psi Omega Dental Fraternity; class representative, vice president and Student Government Association representative, ASDA; secretary, MUSC chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists; and co-editor, yearbook.  During her tenure, Heaton will attend three scheduled board meetings lobbying the interests of members in her region. “Issues like dental education and clinical licensure reforms, student financial aid and faculty recruitment are just some of the issues that we hope to address this year,” said Heaton, during a recent interview. Heaton hopes to work together with local members and chapter delegates like legislative liaisons Kim Coxe and Corey Burgoyne who last spring took part in a congressional visit to Washington, D.C. and other regional members to discuss educational and professional issues. MUSC’s ASDA chapter actively participates in various activities from hosting a freshman welcome party, co-hosting two golf tournaments and fall sports weekend to a research-based Clinic Day for all students, the Reid-Ferry annual run, a charitable fund raiser and the spring ASDA banquet and awards.  “Participation in ASDA is great way for a student’s start in participating in organized dentistry,” said D. Edward Collins, DMD, professor, division of Operative Dentistry and ASDA faculty advisor. “ASDA presents one of the best avenues a student has in becoming informed and involved in organized dentistry. ASDA is itself an affiliate of the American Dental Association and its constituent state associations. Early involvement in this area of dentistry is beneficial to students.”         Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.