Dental students don white coats,
commit to profession
by Cindy
AbolePublic Relations
Fifty-four, third-year dental students from the College of Dental Medicine (CDM) gathered to be formally recognized as practitioners-in-training during the college’s traditional white coat ceremony June 15.
CDM associate dean
for clinical affairs Dr. Mark Berry assists Jamie Driggers with her
coat. The 40-minute ceremony, held at St. Luke’s Chapel on MUSC’s campus, was conducted in the presence of dental faculty, staff and students’ family and friends.
The event marked the transition of dental students from completing their didactic and preclinical courses in the classroom to begin their clinical education and treatment role with patients.
John J. Sanders, DDS, CDM dean, and several faculty members addressed the class and audience, and praised the students for reaching this achievement.
“The white coat symbolizes the professional confidence we impart to all our patients,” said Sanders. “Working with patients and helping to care for their oral health is a great responsibility.”
Event speaker Eddie Taylor, DMD, a primary practitioner from Columbia and alumnus of CDM’s Class of 1995, spoke at the event and shared his thoughts and professional experiences to the Class of 2008 students.
“Each of you have chosen a marvelous profession,” said Taylor. “Dentists can make a big difference in the lives of individuals of all ages within a community. As students, you are drawn to a serious professional environment where a patient places their trust and health with you. Never stop learning and strive to be a professional devoted to listening and serving your patients.”
Taylor also challenged students to be proactive in dentistry as pre-professionals.
“Don’t be scared to plant a seed,” Taylor said. “There’s great faculty and a supportive staff that are available to help you as students define what dentistry means to each of you.”
Other speakers included Caroline Hartley, American Student Dental Association chapter president and Christopher LaTorre, class president for the Class of 2008.
The event ended with all 54 students reciting the Dentist’s Pledge, which affirms ones commitment to an ongoing pursuit of knowledge and skills in dentistry.
The Dentist's Pledge
I (dentist's name) as a member of the dental profeesion, I shall keep this pledge and these stipulations.
Third-year CDM
students recite the Dentist's Pledge after receiving their white coats
in a ceremony June 15. I understand and accept that my primary responsibility is to my patients, and I shall dedicate myself to render, to the best of my ability, the highest standard of oral health care and to maintain a relationship of respect and confidence. Therefore, let all come to me safe in the knowledge that their total health and well-being are my first considerations.
I shall accept the responsibility that, as a professional, my competence rest on continuing the attainment of knowledge and skill in the arts and sciences of dentistry.
I acknowledge my obligation to support and sustain the honor and integrity of the profession and to conduct myself in all endeavors such that I shall merit the respect of my patients, colleagues and my community. I further commit myself to the betterment of my community for the benefit of all of society.
I shall faithfully obesrve the Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct set forth by the profession.
All this I pledge with pride in my committment to the profession and the public it serves.
Friday, June 23, 2006
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
catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island
Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.