First Impression Spring 2023

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE Is There A Doctor On Board? FIRST IMPRESSION Misperceptions in Dentistry Nº. 11

ECU School of Dental Medicine Our School The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine educates North Carolinians to be tomorrow’s solution to the oral healthcare shortfall in our state. We prepare students who are inclined to serve rural and underserved populations, and we teach them using a national model that includes the most modern technology, intensive classroom instruction and hands-on experience at our statewide community service learning centers. Faculty, students, residents, and staff strive to meet patients where they are, to provide access to care close to their home communities. Our clinics at ECU and centers across the state offer solutions to patients who might otherwise not have access to dental care. The State of North Carolina has funded the ECU School of Dental Medicine in building stand-alone dental facilities called community service learning centers (CSLCs) in eight rural and underserved locations, including Ahoskie, Brunswick County, Elizabeth City, Davidson County, Lillington, Robeson County, Spruce Pine, and Sylva. The centers are staffed by full-time and part-time faculty, residents, fourth-year students, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and business staff. The centers provide hands-on experience for advanced students and residents while also providing access to oral health care for more North Carolinians. Adapted from https://dental.ecu.edu/ 36 ECU ASDA 2 ELEVENTH EDITION

4 6 8 12 14 FIRST DELEGATE & EDITORS E D I T O R I A L B O A R D ASDA LEADERSHIP & EVENTS 16 28 30 32 34 W E L L N E S S FUEL STOP C L U B H I G H L I G H T F E A T U R E F E A T U R E F E A T U R E F E A T U R E S P O T L I G H T S Greetings from the First Delegate & Editors Meet the First Impression team Meet the ASDA Leadership team Mental Wellness & Self-Care Mental Wellness & Self-Care Sports Dentistry Club Discrimination Against Women in Dentistry Cultural Barriers in Dentistry & Service Highlight Mobile Dentistry Is a Dentist a Doctor? 36 Class, Resident, and Faculty Spotlights 18 E V E N T S & T R AV E L 24 C S L C S P O T L I G H T Home and Away Davidson SPRING 2023 3 FIRST IMPRESSION

Greetings SoDM Family! It has been a privilege to lead our ASDA chapter. We have accomplished a lot as a community during this time. We have hosted guest speakers, contributed to diversity and inclusion discussions within our school, represented ECU SoDM at Lobby Day and The ASDA House of Delegates, enhanced the wellness of students through interactive activities, and connected dental students to pre-dental students across the state. We have been recognized for our excellence in community service within our district and for our advocacy nationally. I am proud of what we have done and what we will do moving forward. As we move ahead, we hope to bring together our community further with fun events, educational opportunities, and the 2023 Burnisher’s Ball. It has always been my goal to help my family achieve their best. You are all part of my family and I hope that I can help you succeed as a student and future doctor during our time together at the ECU SoDM. You make this experience rewarding for me. The interactions that we have had planning and executing events or simply talking in the building have been great. I can’t wait to see what we are able to accomplish together in this upcoming year and throughout our careers. It is an honor and privilege to continue serving you in 2023 as the ASDA First Delegate. Joshua Walker, Class of 2024 First Delegate Joshua Walker ECU ASDA 4 ELEVENTH EDITION

Hi ECU SoDM friends! We are so happy to be working as a team to provide you all with the eleventh edition of the ASDA SoDM First Impression Magazine. We have some big shoes to fill with the amazing editors-in-chief that came before us. This opportunity has allowed us to cultivate new relationships with classmates, other students, faculty, and even with those we share the Health Science Campus with. We thank everyone who was involved in bringing this together, we could not have done this without each of you. Our team did an amazing job in illustrating the service, leadership, and excellence found on campus that embodies our school’s mission, values, and vision. As with previous editions, the First Impression Magazine aims to highlight the exciting things students and faculty are doing on campus and within the community. This edition showcases the true beauty of what the field of dentistry entails. There are often misconceptions about our education, our role in overall health, and our involvement outside the walls of a dental office. So kick back, relax, and take this vacation with us through the exciting, ever-changing field of dentistry. Lindsey Clevenger, Mckenzie Daugherty, and Annette Echevarria Editors-In-Chief, Class of 2026 McKenzie Daugherty Annette Echevarria Lindsey Clevenger SPRING 2023 5 FIRST IMPRESSION

ECU ASDA 6 ELEVENTH EDITION Tiffany Kurian is a D1 from Greensboro, NC. She went to UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad where she majored in Biology with a minor in Health and Society. Before dental school, she took a gap year and worked in a pediatric dental office. In her free time, she enjoys working out, updating her Goodreads, attempting Half-Baked Harvest recipes, and loving on dogs that are not hers. She is excited to be a part of the magazine committee and collaborate with others to bring out ECU SoDM’s creativity. Sydney Lewis is from Washington, NC and graduated from ECU with a degree in Public Health and a minor in Leadership. She also worked as a tutor and academic mentor at the Pirate Academic Success Center. She enjoys going to the beach, reading, painting/crafting, playing tennis, hanging out with friends and family, and playing with her golden retrievers, Sampson and Finley. Now that she is a D2, she is excited to be more involved by being on the magazine committee with an outstanding group of colleagues that she can learn from. Hannah Davis is from Unionville, North Carolina and attended UNC Chapel Hill where she studied Exercise & Sport Science and Neuroscience. She loves to exercise, read, watch reality TV, and play sports. She coached and played competitive soccer for many years. She has a spoiled chihuahua named Loui who she couldn’t get through without. She is proud to attend ECU SoDM because of the sense of community and the program’s mission. Trejin Hartsfield is a D1 dental student at East Carolina University. He is from Wake Forest, North Carolina and studied Microbiology at NC State University. In his free time he enjoys weight lifting, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and spending time with family and friends. In the future, Trejin hopes to own his own practice and eventually work part time as faculty at a dental school. EDITORIAL BOARD Before coming to ECU SoDM, Haley Debnam studied English and Spanish at Campbell University. Her time at ECU has been filled with fun, laughter, and above all, life-changing challenges. Dental school has truly caused her to grow in unimaginable ways. She looks forward to her continued involvement with ASDA and the remarkable journey here at ECU SoDM.

SPRING 2023 7 FIRST IMPRESSION Alec Whyte is a D3 and 2022-2023 NC J. Bradley Wilson Schweitzer Fellow from Greensboro. He attended Furman University in Greenville, SC and majored in Health and Exercise Sciences. Outside of providing care in the Comprehensive Care Clinic, he is working on a community-based service project in New Hanover County providing oral health education to older adults and their caregivers as well as connecting them to free dental care. He enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing, listening to new music, and spending time with his cat Piper! Jarod Ruffing grew up in Alaska and spent most of his life playing sports, fishing, and spending time with friends and family. After moving to North Carolina during high school, he realized how important education and service is. Since then, he has dedicated his time to volunteering, building relationships, and perfecting the trade of dentistry. He continues to spend time with his family and friends when the opportunity presents itself. Richard Van Gurp is a D1 at the ECU School of Dental Medicine! He is from the suburbs of Waxhaw, North Carolina. He attended UNC Wilmington where he studied Business Entrepreneurship and Biology, along with being a student in the honors college. He loves to exercise, cook, read, and above all, hangout with his friends and family. He is very passionate about dentistry and the amazing service that it provides. Joshua Walker is from Pleasant Garden, NC and majored in Economics at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is an Eagle Scout that loves the outdoors. Joshua enjoys spending time with his Wife, Kasey and watching college sports (Go Heels!). He currently serves as the First Delegate of ASDA, consults with the Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA), and is an NC Schweitzer Fellow. After dental school he hopes to serve as a provider and leader with Access Dental Care in NC. Maci Gurganus Woolard is a D1 at ECU SoDM. She is from Bath, NC and lived in Greenville during her undergraduate degree at ECU. After graduation she worked as a substitute teacher and later taught full time for two years. Maci plans to open a practice in Belhaven, NC, where she hopes to collaborate with other dentists as a team to serve the needs of the surrounding underserved communities. SPRING 2023

EXECUTIVE BOARD TEAM COORDINATORS CLASS REPRESENTATIVES Joshua Walker First Delegate Markus Mosley Second Delegate Allison Tempel Treasurer Hannah Davis Secretary Lindsey Clevenger Pre-Dental/Magazine Nhi Bui ADPAC Haley Debnam Diversity/Inclusion Hannah Moore Social Media Brooklynn Schlarb Wellness McKenzie Daugherty Magazine Annette Echevarria Magazine Jayna Patel Class of 2026 Sara Feggler Class of 2025 Alec Whyte Class of 2024 Joel Anil Class of 2023 Jarod Ruffing Professional Development Tiffany Kurian Fundraising/Marketing The American Student Dental Association is a national student-run organization that protects and advances the rights, interests, and welfare of dental students. It introduces students to lifelong involvement in organized dentistry and provides services, information, education, representation, and advocacy. ECU ASDA 8 ELEVENTH EDITION

USE YOUR SENSES AND FIND DR. SENSI! An “Easter Egg” of Dr. Sensi is hidden throughout the magazine, the first to find him and reach out to us through our social media will win a prize! SPRING 2023 9 FIRST IMPRESSION

Every year, The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) hosts the National Leadership Conference in Chicago, IL. The NLC is the event to attend if you are looking to gain knowledge that is sometimes left out of the dental school curriculum. The keynote speaker, guest speakers, and educational sessions helped students learn how to be effective business owners, team leaders, and managers. A handful of ECU students were chosen to represent East Carolina University and District 4 ASDA. Many memories and connections were made with each other as well as other dental students from all over the country through the evening socials hosted by ASDA supporting organizations! Many doors were opened and interests sparked through the dental marketplace, Tech Expo, and educational sessions. It is safe to say that the NLC was an amazing experience for all the attendees and we cannot wait for the opportunity to attend more ASDA conferences! EVENTS Speaking of attending more conferences, the District 4 ASDA conference was hosted in Raleigh, NC this year and many ECU students made the hour and a half trip to represent their school. This conference hit close to home (literally) and allowed us to meet fellow dental students in surrounding areas! At the end of the conference weekend, District 4 ASDA hosted an award ceremony where East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine won the Outstanding Service Award and our very own, Allison Tempel, won the Outstanding Chapter Leadership Award. We can’t wait to see where the District 4 ASDA conference will be held next year! Lindsey Clevenger, D1 ECU ASDA 10 ELEVENTH EDITION

Four ECU SoDM students attended the 2023 Lobby day in Washington DC hosted by ASDA and ADA. They learned about the process of turning bills to laws and current issues in dentistry, specifically the Residency Education Deferred Interest (REDI) act, the Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access act, and the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act. They met ADA lobbyists, advocating students from all over the country, and knowledgeable dentists who care deeply about the careers of future dentists. D3 student, Omar Taha, also had the chance of discussing these issues and his personal stories with North Carolina congressmen! The 2023 ASDA Annual Session was hosted in Seattle, Washington. This annual session offered members the opportunity to advocate for their opinions on policies that affect the association. At this annual session the new ASDA district trustees were announced and East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine was awarded the Gold Crown Award for advocacy! Our new District 4 trustee is Natalie Benkandil who is a current D2 at MUSC College of Dentistry. Pictured on the right are our very own Markus Mosely (D2) and Allison Tempel (D2) accepting the Gold Crown Award for advocacy on behalf of East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine. SPRING 2023 11 FIRST IMPRESSION

ECU ASDA 12 ELEVENTH EDITION MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS Hannah Davis, D1 Sleeping 7-9 hours/night with reduced screen usage before bedtime is a great start to nursing your mental wellness! Eating healthy meals and drinking plenty of water is also incredibly helpful. Investing in a water bottle that appeals to you as well as meal prepping are easy and fun ways to maintain hydration and fuel. Regular daily exercise is known to boost mood and improve energy and productivity. You can even try wellness activities such as meditation (there are many free guided meditation apps for your phone or even available on YouTube!), breathing activities, and journaling. It should not be left unsaid that it is never too late to seek professional support. If you are a student, seek counseling through your institution’s Student Health Services. You can also contact your primary care physician to discuss treatment options and/or a referral to a mental health professional. If you are struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 for immediate help. Remember that self-care is very personal! Do not lose sight of your passions and hobbies as you trek through the complexities of life. Your mental wellness is just as important as your physical health - we are more than just our bodies, and we can only be our most optimal self when caring for our total being. I t is no secret that mental health serves an important role in wellness. Our mental wellbeing affects every aspect of our lives, including our emotions, academ- ic performances, relationships, and physical health. What exactly does it mean when someone refers to “mental health wellness,” though? According to the Global Wellness Institute, mental wellness is: Our society has grown more cognizant of mental wellness importance in recent years; nevertheless, signs of its decline can be sneaky. Persistent feelings of depression and anxiety are the obvious red flags, but subtle signs that should not be ignored are poor personal hygiene, changes in weight/appetite, feeling disconnected from reality, sleep pattern changes, and social withdrawal. These symptoms are easy to ignore and attribute to as “being in a funk”, but early intervention and treatment is crucial. Remember, mental health is not limited to the absence of mental illness. Like your physical health, it’s a dynamic state that requires conscious efforts and exercises to maintain optimal condition. “an internal resource that helps us think, feel, connect, and function; it is an active process that helps us to build resilience, grow, and flourish.”

SPRING 2023 13 FIRST IMPRESSION SELF CARE IN YOUR STU-CAL Where does the energy come from to pour into school, friends, family, and everything else that’s on your stu-cal? Wellness activities ultimately allow us to recharge and prevent us from working from an empty cup. We talk all the time about balance but are you truly doing things that your soul wants and needs? It can take time to figure out what truly rejuvenates you. Your interests and how you choose to spend your time can also change. Like most things, trust the process and know that intentionally investing in yourself even in busier seasons is positively impacting you and those around you. Practically, it takes discipline to do things that don’t have clear or instant outcomes. • Put it on the calendar. It’s helpful to visualize how much time you have in a day. It might seem daunt- ing to carve out 30 minutes to exercise, grab coffee with a friend, read, or do whatever the thing is that recharges you. Like you would map out a trip, map out your day. This allows you to see what you have time for and hopefully gives a perspective that there is time to do things for yourself. • It does not have to be monumental. Start small. Maybe it’s making your bed every morning or re- ducing screentime x amount of minutes a week. To practice mindfulness, journal for five minutes a day or write out 3 things you’re grateful for at the end of the day. Brainstorm a couple of things that would help to ground yourself throughout the day so it doesn't feel like you’re going nonstop. • Take advantage of the rhythms of school. Each year of school comes with its own schedule of sorts. Think about which days are busier than others then strategically plan out activities that comple- ment those days and how you typically feel those days. If you had a strenuous day in the clinic but still want to move your body, maybe opt out of the sweaty gym session and go for a walk outside or do a low-impact workout. Remember, there are ways to adjust activities that best serve what you need in that moment. • Think about what you want long-term. Just like your why for dentistry, what is your why to have a healthy lifestyle? For one, dentistry is taxing on the body. Having physical wellness can encourage an able body to continue to provide treatment to your patients. Maybe in 30 years, you still want to be able to dive in spike ball or play tag with your grandkids. Whatever it is, name it. This will be the fuel to pursue your overall wellness. It may feel overwhelming to think about the areas in our wellness that can improve. Choose 2-3 catego- ries and then think of a practical way to work towards specific goals in those areas. Here are 8 areas of wellness listed below if you need a kickstart. INTELLECTUAL PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL SOCIAL SPIRITUAL VOCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCIAL PS: if you want to read more on how to develop healthy habits, highly recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear! Tiffany Kurian, D1 Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes so that instead of just surviv- ing, you’re thriving. You might be thinking that thriving in dental school may not be possible. With the constant process of studying, skills assessments, patients, clubs, and building rela- tionships with peers and faculty, thriving doesn’t exactly come to mind. However, every season of life has its struggles. So, investing time now to in- corporate wellness is a good practice and invest- ment for both our present and future selves.

Fuel Stop Alec Whyte, D3 We all have busy schedules and it can be hard to find time to cook when you get home. The savior for many a dental student has been the art of meal prepping, which the crockpot is an invaluable tool for! This recipie has fed me for many days in lecture and clinic. My mom would cook this for my dad and I, and it was always one of our favorite meals. I hope you consider making it. Enjoy! Crockpot White Chicken Chili Ingredients (feeds 1 for a week): 48 oz Great Northern White Beans (Hard to find large can in stores, little ones work!) 14 oz chicken broth 1 – 16 oz jar of salsa (Choose your spice!) 1 – 10 oz bag of frozen spinach 8 oz shredded Pepper Jack cheese 8 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese 4 chicken breasts (fresh or frozen) Instructions: Put ingredients in a crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours. When done cooking, remove the chicken and shred with 2 forks. This can be a bit messy, so I always do it on a cutting board. Return all shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir in. Serve hot over rice or noodles. ECU ASDA 14

Maci G. Woolard, D1 Crockpot Chicken Tacos Ingredients (8 servings): 2 lbs. chicken breast 1 jar salsa of choice 1 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. chili powder 2 tbsp. taco seasoning of choice Tortillas Toppings of choice Instructions: • Place thawed chicken in crockpot • Cover with seasonings and salsa • Set crockpot on low for 6 hours • Turn to warm and shred the chicken • Make tacos! Maci G. Woolard, D1 15 FIRST IMPRESSION

SPORTS DENTISTRY CLUB It’s the Carolina Hurricanes versus the Boston Bruins with 10 minutes left in the 2nd period. Sebastian Aho, Finnish center for the Hurricanes, shreds down the rink with intensified velocity. As Boston defenders inevitably close in, he is forced to dish off the puck to his teammate, Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov. Upon retrieval of the puck, Svechnikov is instantly slammed against the glass with devastating force, causing extensive trauma to his overall dentition. This situation is not uncommon in hockey. In fact, oral and maxilofacial injuries are commonplace in most sports. For this reason, the 2023 edition of the First Impressions Magazine decided to highlight the resounding efforts of the Sports Dentistry Club, a student run organization that seeks to not only interact with different sporting professionals across the state, but also to raise awareness of what the job of a team dentist truly entails. To begin our investigation, we decided to interview Robert Baker and Yifei Wu, two incredibly sharp D3’s who serve as president and vice president of the Sports Dentistry Club, respectively. To kick off the conversation, we asked the two executive members to explain their last club meeting with Dr. Raleigh Wright, team dentist for the Carolina Hurricanes. They first explained the selection process, stating that Dr. Wright had to apply for the position, as the role itself is very selective and displays minimal availability. Upon acceptance of the application, Dr. Wright was tasked with a “working trial” and was only required to “treat the cheerleaders for a certain amount of time.” Finally, once the full position was obtained, his role was stated as being on call for every home game, having the capability to treat both the home and away teams. The procedures performed were primarily “quick fixes” and the occurrence of dental trauma remained consistently at “one to three times a game.” ECU ASDA 16 ELEVENTH EDITION

After retrieving this insight, we slightly diverged the discussion by asking what sort of compensation Dr. Wright received for taking on such a prestigious role. Based on this, it was noted that the team dentist does not get “paid” per se, but instead, receives their compensation through the marketing and advertisement of their private practice. In other words, being considered “the sole dentist of the Carolina Hurricanes” has its perks from a patient obtainment point of view. On top of this, they are also awarded suite tickets to every game they attend, which recently, enabled Dr. Wright to invite members of the Sports Dentistry Club executive board to a game with full box accommodations. To conclude, we asked Robert and Yifei if they had any recommendations for those aspiring to be involved in sports dentistry. First, they stated that leadership in the Sports Dentistry Club is vital. This allows for unique opportunities to interact with surrounding professional teams in a more intimate manner. In fact, this year the executive board did a clinic with the Carolina Panthers’. Six students were sent to the Bank of America stadium to perform polishings for children and in turn, they not only made multiple appearances on the Panthers Instagram page, but they were also able to network with the local dentists of Charlotte. Finally, they outlined the importance of not being afraid to cold call. ECU SoDM would have never interacted with Dr. Raleigh Wright if it wasn’t for the persistence of Mr. Baker and Ms. Wu to make it happen. Overall, the First Impressions magazine wanted to close by expressing our true appreciation for Ms. Wu and Mr. Baker. Their wonderful insight allowed us to accumulate a vast amount of information regarding the contents of being a dental practitioner within the world of sports. With this information, other students can take note of this professional route and ultimately apply it to their journey, with the hopes of maybe one day, representing ECU SoDM one Pro at a time. Richard Van Gurp, D1 SPRING 2023 17 FIRST IMPRESSION

s taying in the loupe s ECU ASDA 18 ELEVENTH EDITION Since the beginning of the 2022- 2023 academic year, it’s not hard to see all the exciting things happening on campus and the involvement that ECU SoDM students and faculty have within the communities all across North Carolina. Med Gala Theres nothing like finding an opportunity to swap out your scrubs for a dress or suit and tie! The IOMSC put on their annual event this past December to raise money for the IOMSC Patient Care Fund that helps cancer patients be seen at the ECU SoDM and ECU Brody School of Medicine. With more than 400 people in attendance, over $7,000 was raised. What an awesome success! McKenzie Daugherty, D1 Veterans Day 5K On November 12th, 2022, the school’s Military Club hosted a Veterans Day 5K Race and Ruck. Over 100 members of the community participated in the event that raised $5,400 for the ECU Smiles for Veterans Patient Care fund.

Impressions Day 2023 An opportunity for likeminded students seeking dentistry came together this past February to dip their feet into what could be their future. Put on by the SNDA, the event exposed prospective students to making impressions, pouring cast, drilling, and the process of applying to dental school. SPRING 2023 19 FIRST IMPRESSION Class of 2025 White Coat Ceremony The 52 members of the Class of 2025 celebrated another milestone in their journey in Dental School on January 27th, 2023, when they recieved their white coats. With a beautiful ceremony and a reception that followed, friends, family, and faculty were able to celebrate their achievement. Congratulations D2’s! Give Kids a Smile Day 2023 Faculty and students from the SoDM participated in ‘Give Kids a Smile Day’ here in Greenville to provide free dental care to underserved children in the area. Our CSLC-Spruce Pine also participated and served 37 children! Good work everyone!

Carmike Cinemas on Firetower Road has $5 movie tickets every Tuesday! With the busy schedule of D1 year, I haven’t been able to utilize this except for on my breaks but it is one of my favorite things to do. If you love going to the movies, this is a great option for students on a budget who want to relax and unwind after a long day. Coffee & Studying One of my favorite places to study is Giddy Up Coffee House on Arlington Blvd. They have the best coffee, refreshers, and bakery treats. It has a relaxing atmosphere for getting work done and studying. With an espresso in hand, there is no better place to be! Breakfast/Brunch The Scullery downtown has some of the most delicious breakfast food in Greenville, served with a college town atmosphere. It’s one of my favorite places to get a late breakfast on a Saturday morning. I like the classic pancake, egg, and sausage plate but the options are extensive here so it’s a great place to try something new or enjoy a classic meal. The Greenway If you like to exercise or get outdoors, this is for you! There is an extensive paved trail that runs through most of Greenville and has various entry points. This is where I did all my running during my years of undergrad at ECU. It is shaded and has a beautiful, scenic view along the entire trail. STAYCATIONStaying in Greenville can also be fun! There is plenty to do around town during your time off. Here are a few of my favorite things! Maci G. Woolard, D1 ECU ASDA 20 ELEVENTH EDITION

We all anxiously await the next trip we can take, but why wait when we have such wonderful leisure in our backyard. We can’t go to the Caribbean or Hawaii every weekend, but we can still find enjoyment in what Greenville and Eastern North Carolina offers! Here are some of my favorite places around Greenville! Alec Whyte, D3 GREENVILLE, NC Triad of Parks Greenville is home to a triad of parks all within a mile and a half of each other. Wildwood Park, River Park North, and ECU North Recreational Complex sit just north of Greenville and provides ample greenspace and water activities. Wildwood Park is a new park that just started welcoming guests to their ample hiking trails, easy access to both sheltered water and the tar river, as well as a floating dock. There is good fishing along the bank and near their sandy beach on the Tar River! River Park North is home to a unique park with 4 ponds and multiple trails to explore. There is ample parking and picnic tables to enjoy a meal outdoors. Near the parking area there are 2 fishing piers along the main pond where you can catch plenty of stocked catfish. You don’t just have to fish from the pier, you can rent fishing boats and paddle around the pond to find the best spots. They are hoping to bring pedal boat rentals to the park soon! ECU North Recreational Complex may sound familiar, it is the place where many classes have gone for orientation week! Like the 2 previous parks, they have lots of walking trails, kayak rentals, a sandy beach, and a pond you can fish on. However, they house one of the best disc golf courses in the area and a high ropes course. You can play 18 holes that spans the entirety of the park. In the summer you can look for their ropes course availability online and enjoy an adrenaline-fueled experience with friends! Ice Skate at Carolina Ice Zone Carolina Ice Zone is your one stop shop for ice skating year-round! It is a shared space, so you should check the hours of operation on their website to see when you can skate. They publish their schedule every week as it changes. You can bring your own skates or rent a pair from them. Enjoy Some of the Best Pizza in Greenville Michaelangelo’s Pizza has been a Greenville staple for over 20 years! They’ve mastered the art of serving pizza by the slice, and you can get your favorites or change it up with one of their gourmet pizzas. They don’t just serve pizza though, be sure to check out their subs and calzones. They have locations on Evans Street, Fire Tower Road, and Criswell Drive! Bring some friends and y’all will all be leaving with leftovers if you get a large! SPRING 2023 21 FIRST IMPRESSION

ECU ASDA 22 ELEVENTH EDITION HOW TO TRAVEL DURING DENTAL It can be hard to plan a vacation in dental school, but I am here to make it as easy, budget friendly and fun as I can! First you need to figure out where you are going. Maybe you want to go somewhere tropical or somewhere colder or somewhere with a lot of history. Next, you should figure out how many people you are going to be traveling with and if you can divide up the cost. Third, you need to decide if you want to stay in an all-inclusive resort, hotel, Airbnb or stay with a friend or family member that lives in the area you are wanting to travel. SCHOOL IN A NUTSHELL SYDNEY LEWIS, D2

SPRING 2023 23 FIRST IMPRESSION An all-inclusive resort can initially look more expensive, but it can be less stressful because everything you need is right there in the resort. Food, drinks, and Wi-Fi can all be included in the price. You can book excursions through the hotel, or you can stay at the resort and hang out at the pools, restaurants, and beaches they have there. Cruises are a chance to see a lot of different places in one trip if you do not experience sea sickness. Three months before your trip you need to book flights if needed. For cheaper flight options you can book less expensive flight options like Frontier or Spirit. If you travel frequently, you can use frequent flyer miles. You could also get a credit card with an airline, such as Delta SkyMiles American Express Card and build up points you can put towards a flight, a hotel or even a resort. Make sure to pay off the credit card every month to avoid interest charges. The Delta credit card is great because it does not black out where you cannot use the points. Try to find a travel credit card that does not blackout dates that you can use your points on. Where to Stay • Sandals Resorts • Secrets Resorts • Dreams Resorts • Barcelo Resorts • Grand Palladium • Beaches Resorts • Riu Hotels and Resorts • Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos • Four Seasons (locations in 47 countries) • Norwegian Cruise Line • Princess Cruise Line • Carnival Cruise Line • Celebrity Cruises • Virgin Voyages • Royal Caribbean Cruise Line • Airbnb • RV • Campsites Traveling Hacks • Use packing cubes: these will organize and compress you items (can find on Amazon for around $20) • Bring rechargeable batteries • Learn at least basic phrases in the language of the country you are traveling to • Put your boarding passes in your phone • Pack a universal adapter • Place a dryer sheet in your luggage to keep your bag and clothes smelling fresh • TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry Airport lounges Places to Travel To • Mexico (Tropical location, experience a new country, cheaper to travel here - Sydney Lewis D2) • Hawaii (The aroma, food, beautiful and tropical, still in the U.S. - Sydney Lewis D2) • Puerto Rico or Greece (history, food, culture, people - Kassy Monsalve D2) • Washington, DC • Utah (good for skiing) • Switzerland • India • Italy • New York City • Las Vegas, Nevada • California • Paris, France • Bahamas Create a budget and stick to it! Book cheaper airlines, such as Spirit or Frontier. Walk, ride a bike, or use public transporation. Book early. Travel mid-week to save money on flights. When it comes to packing, pack light so you can carry on and not check a bag. Pack snacks and a reusable water bottle. Book hotel rooms and flights on credit cards to receive points. You are bound to have a blast wherever you go! Travel for Cheaper

ECU ASDA 24 ELEVENTH EDITION The mission of the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine is to provide and enhance oral health services for underserved North Carolinians. This is accomplished in many ways, but the most innovative way is the Community Service Learning Centers, or CSLC's. CSLC’s, being unique to ECU SoDM, are educational dental clinics spread throughout North Carolina, but are nonetheless a part of the dental school. ECU SoDM boasts eight CSLC’s ranging all the way from the most western part of the state in Sylva, to the most eastern part in Elizabeth City. The other locations in the state are Spruce Pine, Lillington, Robeson County, Brunswick County, Ahoskie, and Davidson County. In the fourth year, a student of the dental school rotates throughout the CSLC’s for a total of 27 weeks providing care for the patients in that community. The students rotating throughout this clinic not only have the opportunity to treat complex cases with more autonomy, they also gain exposure to the business and practice management aspect of dentistry. Now that you know a little about the Community Learning Service Centers, let's take a look into the Davidson County CSLC by hearing from a student who rotated through that clinic and a faculty clinician. Trejin Hartsfield, D1 CSLC-SPOTLIGHT DAVIDSON COUNTY

SPRING 2023 25 FIRST IMPRESSION Why did you choose this CSLC? I chose this CSLC because I wanted to be in an environment where I felt like an actual student doctor. I love how this CSLC gives us the freedom to create our own opinions, treatment options, and decisions. I also love how in times of uncertainty I was able to get the advice and knowledge I needed. This CSLC provided great guidance and provided students with a sense of confidence. What is your favorite part about this CSLC? My favorite part about this CSLC were the oral surgery days. I think this is one of the best locations to learn more about oral surgery and to have a more one-on-one experience with the oral surgeons that volunteer to come help and teach us. Student Perspective, Fiondra Baldwin What does a typical day in this CSLC look like? A typical day in Davidson is what you would expect. We all see at least 4 patients a day, you will always have an assistant if you are doing any surgical procedures and during other procedures assistants try their best to be as helpful as possible. Check ins with the faculty are efficient and aid in the time management aspect of the treatment. What is something about this CSLC that you didn't expect? Something that I did not expect at this location was the amount of knowledge not only the faculty had but the staff as well. Most of the staff could help with almost any questions we asked and were very knowledgeable about procedures and protocols. What are your favorite things to do outside of the clinic in Davidson county? My favorite thing to do outside of the clinic in Davidson county was to go down town with my classmates and explore different restaurants. We always went out as a “family” on Tuesday nights to try different restaurants and socialize with one another, which was a great time! How has your relationship with your classmates changed while being on rotation? My relationship with my classmates improved while being on this rotation, which is common. We were all spending lots of time together in a more intimate environment which allowed us to get to know each other without outside factors affecting our relationship. At home we all ate together most days and played games together as well. The rotations, in general, helps all of us to build friendships with our classmates we otherwise may have never talked to!

ECU ASDA 26 ELEVENTH EDITION CSLC-Davidson County How long have you been faculty with the Davidson County CSLC? I’ve been a part-time Oral Surgery faculty member at the Davidson CLSC since September 2019. What does the patient population look like in this area? We see adults of all ages, races, ethnicities, and nationalities. We have a decent mix. What does the procedure mix look like? Which do you do the most? On the average Oral Surgery day we do extractions, bone grafts, sinus lifts, preprosthetic surgeries, implants, infections, trauma, and pathology. But sometimes the procedures are a bit more “exotic.” It all just depends on what walks through the front door. What is your favorite aspect about this CSLC? Hands-down, 100%, working with the students is the biggest reason I work parttime at the CSLC. But I also enjoy the collegial atmosphere; Davidson has great fulltime faculty in Dr. Smith & Dr. Apgar, as well as a great part-time faculty. And I also enjoy working with the staff; they are a fun group, led by Gloria. What surprises dental students most about this CSLC when they first arrive? I think it’s hard for me to speak for the entire CLSC, because I’m only a part of the experience. However, on the first day I work with the students in the clinic, I think they’re most surprised by 1: how much autonomy I give them when doing oral surgery procedures, and 2: how I’m more concerned with/ interested in the health history, as opposed to the potential difficulty of the procedure. I often say, “it’s not all about knowing what to do, it’s more-so about knowing when or when not to do.” Where are good places to eat and enjoy during the weekends around Davidson county? You have to try Lexington-style BBQ, which is representative of Western NC style/ Ketchup-based BBQ. It’s very different from the BBQ in Greenville, which is Eastern NC/vinegar-based BBQ. I won’t endorse any one particular restaurant, but if the coleslaw has a red/pink color to it (because of the Ketchup ingredient), you’re in the right place. After that look into the Davidson County CSLC, you should now have some understanding of what life is like at the CSLC’s throughout the state. Each CSLC is different in its culture and patient population, but they all serve the same purpose of expanding the provision of dental care throughout the state of North Carolina. "I won’t endorse any one particular restaurant, but if the coleslaw has a red/pink color to it (because of the Ketchup ingredient), you’re in the right place." Faculty Perspective, Dr. Crisp

SPRING 2023 27 FIRST IMPRESSION

Gender discrimination has been a century-long issue in medical professions, and while it is arguably less blatant in modern day practice, the problem persists. We have seen multiple federal laws protecting against discrimination on the basis of sex and gender in the workplace, but these laws have not totally halted the sexism and discrimination that women have faced for so many years. While flagrant discriminatory comments about women in health care are less common today than they were decades ago, unconscious bias still firmly stands. Public perception of female dental providers is an area where we see great bias. Women are often unconsciously perceived as emotional, friendly, and communal; conversely, men are viewed as agentic, encompassing leadership qualities. An example of this in practice is patients regularly assuming that the female in the room is the assistant or hygienist rather than the doctor. One provider describes, “It bothers me when some of my new patients still l assume I’m the dental assistant or the hygienist. I walk into the room and they ask, ‘Where’s the doctor?’” Amrita Reddy, “Lead Like A Girl,” Dental Economics. Another area to explore is the pay gap between male and female dentists. The statistics from 30 years ago are astounding; in 1990, male dentists made approximately 118% more than their female counterparts. This gap closed significantly but not totally over the years, averaging 54% by 2010. ECU ASDA 28 ELEVENTH EDITION

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN IN DENTISTRY Hannah Davis, D1 Current statistics show women earning 86.3% the income of their male counterparts; this is a victory for women, but the fight is not over just yet. This pay gap has been attributed by some to various causes such as women taking time away from work to raise birth/raise children, being more likely to accept Medicaid, and being less likely than men to perform surgical procedures, leaning toward lower priced non-invasive and preventative care instead. Regardless of these speculations, the wage gap still exists and must be addressed. We have seen a rise in the number of practicing female dentists, but the amount of women in leadership positions in dentistry is still lacking. This includes academic position such as school deans and department chairs, organized dentistry, and dental product companies. This gender disparity may be attributable to traditional pathways to leadership development and positions not being conducive to women. Deviating from traditional networking pathways and being more inclusive to women who desire maintaining home and family responsibilities alongside their career as a dentist can open the door for more women in dental leadership. Representation of women in leadership can have a domino effect - this will encourage and inspire more women to pursue leadership positions alongside men. Outlawing discrimination against women does not magically make the problem disappear; education, respect, and “saying something when you see something” are equally important. The advances we have made in recent years would certainly make prior generations of women proud. The days of traditional stereotypes about women hindering their success are limited. Women for years have been viewed as gentle, friendly, and empathetic - these all sound like characteristics a patient would love to have in a capable dental provider! It is time to take power in qualities society formerly tried to weaponize against us. The future for women in dentistry is bright! SPRING 2023 29 FIRST IMPRESSION

Entering college at the age of 15, being imprisoned nearly 30 times, and performing the impossible at the time, Martin Luther King Jr. showed endless perseverance during his time on this earth. In honor of MLK Jr. the ECU SoDM DSG, the Class of 2025 and the Class of 2023 partnered with ECU Sustainability, Love a Sea Turtle, and Community for Environmental Sustainability to donate their Saturday to make a difference. It started off at the Greenville Community Garden, where everyone helped harvest berries, vegetables, re-plant crops, trim, and pull weeds. All the collected crops were donated to Purple Pantry, JOY Soup Kitchen, and Hope of Glory. All donations will supply food to those that are in need. Students from all ages attended this event, ranging from 7th grade to doctoral students, as well as local professors. This was such a phenomenal way to give back to the community and come together to take time to acknowledge perhaps the most historical moment and advancement in US History. During this event, many of the participants were able to connect with others in the community and inspire and motivate them to continue to volunteer and serve the community. Allison Tempel, current D2 and Army HPSP Scholar, had the opportunity to connect with local high school students and share some of her favorite experiences about dental school and why she decided to pursue this career, and why ECU SoDM has a special place in her heart. After the crop harvesting and replanting was completed, everyone made their way to another local spot to enjoy Brunswick stew and a unique treat. Before eating, D2, and DSG Community Service Chair, Jarod Ruffing, gave a brief speech on what we can learn from Martin Luther King Jr. The highlights of this speech consisted of highlighting his endless perseverance and dedication to his dream, illustrating how one individual truly can make a difference, and paralleling his desire to make a change to individuals pursuing something that at one point may have seemed nearly impossible. This event was a time to reflect on past and recent history, and to come together to make a difference in the community. Thank you to everyone who donated their time and who continues to donate their time to make this world a better place. Dr. MLK JR. DAY MAYA G RIMES, D1 Jarod Ruffing, D2 ECU ASDA 30 ELEVENTH EDITION

•Brought to you by the ECU SoDM HSDA Social Chair, Oscar Jaimes SPRING 2023 31 FIRST IMPRESSION Healthcare providers don’t always have the trust of the general population. There are several reasons why this may be the case, but we can still try and change things for the better. Studies have shown that distrust towards physicians varies among ethnic/racial groups in the United States. This may seem obvious, but the reasons behind this distrust can be more complex. In fact, cities differed in which ethnic/racial group had more distrust towards physicians. Even though we don’t have a clear answer, we can still create change locally. Hispanics are among the different ethnic/racial groups who experience distrust towards physicians. As dentists, we fall under the healthcare provider umbrella, so we are not exempt from this distrust. There are several factors that may contribute to this such as language barriers, high costs of care and lack of oral knowledge. So, how do we gain the trust of Hispanic patients? It would help to build a relationship with them. There are several resources that can teach you small Spanish phrases so that you can improve communication and improve quality of care. This will help break the language barrier. Trust me, they’ll appreciate your attempts at speaking Spanish. While translators are available, it is easier to build a connection if you directly speak to them. Lack of oral knowledge is another barrier experienced by some Hispanic patients. Dentists must master different skills, including teaching. Once we get that patient to consistently come to us, we can become both their provider and teacher. This will not only improve their own oral health, but also that of their children. This means that you can improve oral care across different generations. Cultural Belief Barriers in Dentistry

MOBILE DENTISTRY Many face barriers to dental care in a traditional brick and mortar dental offices. This is evident enough by the more than a third of Americans who do not receive dental care at least once each year. For some, the geographic distance to the nearest dentist is too far, especially given financial constraints. Others lack access to dental care not by proximity, but accessibility. Walking into an office may be challenging enough to those that have motivation barriers to care. For others with motivation and means, accessing an office can be challenging when many dental offices are not accommodating for patients using wheelchairs. Mobile and portable dentistry is an alternative treatment solution to help overcome some of the barriers impacting patients receiving care in the traditional dental market. Mobile dental practices can tailor services to underserved communities. Access Dental Care, a non-profit mobile dental clinic in North Carolina, has developed a team and equipment designed to care for special care populations in non-traditional settings. They provide care in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly programs, group homes, community centers, hospital operating rooms, and out-patient medical practices. The patients that they treat would likely not have access to continuous, comprehensive, compassionate care if their clinic was not mobile. Five counties in North Carolina are home to most of the practicing dentists in the state. The vast majority of the remaining 95 counties are Joshua Walker, D3 ECU ASDA 32 ELEVENTH EDITION

provider shortage areas. These communities are excellent markets for future mobile dental practices. An excellent example of this model is our ECU SoDM Hyde County clinic that offers dental treatment once each month to residents. A mobile dental clinic could similarly sustain a dental team fulltime by providing care to several communities based on their individual need. This would limit the geographic barriers patients face to receiving dental care. Mobile clinics can also reduce the financial burden faced by patients by reducing time away from work and the costs of transportation. Transportation and financial constraints impact special care populations more than the average dental patient. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities often have a harder time finding transportation to and from dental offices. Not all public transport is accessible and many communities have specialty public transport that may not be as reliable. Mobile dental clinics can meet special care populations closer to home or in more accessible community centers to alleviate these barriers. Additionally, mobile dental clinics can be designed in a way to support patients using wheelchairs or that are non-ambulatory. Although there are many benefits to mobile dental clinics, they also have many disadvantages. Certain procedures are harder to perform with a mobile dental clinic, including those requiring cone beam computed tomography. Despite the upfront cost of establishing certain mobile dental clinics being less than traditional dental offices, maintenance costs for operatories may be more given the additional equipment and their demands. Dental teams also lose productive time traveling to and from clinic sites. These costs can be recuperated by your collections, especially when you offer tailored community services. Mobile dental clinics can benefit all patients, not just the underserved. Corporate physicians care for the employees of corporations - corporate dentists could do the same. Companies offer these benefits to reduce the amount of productive time lost by employees traveling to and from their primary care provider’s office and illness related to missed medical treatment. Mobile dental clinics could provide companies concierge dental treatment to improve employee health and wellbeing, possibly improving productivity. Additionally, some patients may be willing to pay a premium for at home dental treatment for their family. Mobile dental practices are in a unique position to offer these services and profit from this market. SPRING 2023 33 FIRST IMPRESSION

ECU ASDA 34 ELEVENTH EDITION IS A DENTIST A DOCTOR? Common Misconceptions In Our Field Haley Debnam, D1 “If you would have asked me before medical school,” a student explained, “I would have easily said no”

SPRING 2023 35 FIRST IMPRESSION “Do you consider a dentist to be a doctor?” The student looked up, paused, and began to explain their point. It’s the same dull story every dental student and dentist alike detests, except this time, there’s a much happier ending. In the simplest of terms, a doctor is “a person skilled or specializing in the healing arts” (Merriam Webster). Below this definition, Webster offers a variety of examples of a doctor, with a dentist being a second on the list. Why then are individuals so inclined to dismiss the role of a dentist in overall medicine, claiming that dental professionals are merely dentists and not doctors? To gain a deeper understanding, I spoke with various students at the Brody School of Medicine (BSOM) to pick their brains about this concept. I asked a series of questions to gauge their knowledge about dental school and We continued the interview, and I posed the next question. “If someone stood up on a plane needing help from a doctor, and a dentist stood up, what would be your immediate thought?” Without a second to think, the student replied that they would be thankful. I prodded to understand more, and they continued to explain that in this situation anyone who has studied the body extensively is better help than none. “After all, a dentist is a specialist,” they stated, and with that, I couldn’t help but smile. Dental students and dentists alike would agree that dentists are doctors. We study the body with scrutiny, we examine the mind with detail, we scale the mouth meticulously; we know what is takes to foster health. As dental professionals then, it must also be our role to educate the population on the field of dentistry. Because we too, provide the key to overall health. Speaking with each student, I asked, “Do you consider a dentist to be a doctor?” Each answered with tact, “If you would have asked me before medical school,” a student explained, “I would have easily said no.” The student continued to explain that society isn’t readily aware of what the field of dentistry is. This lack of understanding further perpetuates the idea that a medical doctor is the sole individual who is deemed a “doctor” to provide overall health. After being in medical school, and working closely with the students in Ross Hall, this medical student finished by explaining how they have a greater respect for dentistry because of their medical education. The following students echoed the first in that they understood the importance of dentistry and the role dentists play in overall health. It soon became apparent that medical professionals agree on the importance of dentists, however; it’s the unfortunate societal stigma that continues to cause misconceptions. “After all, a dentist is a specialist.” IS A DENTIST A DOCTOR?

30 EAST CAROLINA 2 UNIVERSITY 2

SPRING 2023 37 FIRST IMPRESSION STUDENT & FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ANNETTE ECHEVARRIA, FACULTY HIGHLIGHT, ALEC WHYTE, RESIDENT AND D3 HIGHLIGHT, RICHARD VAN GURP, D1 HIGHLIGHT, SYDNEY LEWIS, D2 HIGHLIGHT, AND JAROD RUFFING, D4 HIGHLIGHT Educating leaders with a passion to serve The future starts here

ECU ASDA 38 ELEVENTH EDITION FACULTY SPOTLIGHT DR . HANAN ELGENDY CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR How have your creative capabilities influenced, or been influenced, by your decision to work in dentistry? Growing up I enjoyed doing any kind of art, especially the type of art that had a hand skills component. This was something that I picked up from my mom who was big in art and this how I developed passion to it. At the same time, I found myself passionate about the medical field and helping others, and when I was deciding which part of the medical field I couldn’t find anything better than dentistry as a career path since it incorporates art and health science together. Are you involved in any independent projects or endeavors outside of the dental world? About two years ago I started playing tennis and immediately fell in love with the sport. I am a very competitive person when I play tennis. I played singles and doubles three times in the USTA State Championships, and for me that is huge. Another thing that I recently started is learning wheel throwing for making pottery and I joined a club here in Greenville for selling pottery in various events. In addition to your career, pursing passion projects and athletic involvement, you are also a mother of two. What has been key to achieving balance for you and do you have any advice in that regard? Achieving balance as a mother who has a professional career and pursuing my passions requires prioritization, planning, organization, communication, self-care, flexibility, and seeking support. It’s important to prioritize what matters most to you and your family, plan and organize your time effectively, communicate openly with your loved ones and colleagues, make self-care a non-negotiable part of your routine, be adaptable and flexible in the face of unexpected changes, seek support from your support system, and be present in the moment for each aspect of your life. Remember, finding balance is a continuous journey and may require adjustments along the way, so be kind to yourself and strive for a healthy integration of your various roles and responsibilities.

SPRING 2023 39 FIRST IMPRESSION What was your inspiration for your book “TEETH DRAWINGS, INTRODUCTION OF TEETH DRAWINGS FOR DENTAL STUDENTS? And what can we look forward to with the new edition? The inspiration behind the book “Teeth Drawings: Introduction of Teeth Drawings for Dental Students” was to incorporate the art and science in dentistry and improve the right side of the brain. My main goal is to improve students’ understanding of tooth morphology and develop their dexterity to translate this into improved clinical skills. It also serves as a comprehensive and visually-oriented resource for dental students to learn about the anatomy, morphology, and characteristics of human teeth. The book aims to present teeth in a detailed and organized manner, offering illustrations and drawings that showcase the different types of teeth, their structure, function, and clinical significance. The new edition will be more interesting, in which, including the ability to draw a full arch, smile design, and might incorporate digital parts as well, all still in process. You expressed an interest in CAD/CAM and cosmetic dentistry. Are you able to incorporate that into your work here at ECU SoDM, and if so, what does that look like? At ECU School of Dental Medicine, incorporating CAD/CAM and cosmetic dentistry into the curriculum and clinical practice can be an important part of the dental education and patient care experience. CAD/CAM stands for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, which involves the use of digital technology to design and create dental restorations, such as crowns, veneers, and bridges. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the aesthetics of the teeth and enhancing the appearance of the smile. With all the courses that we have here at ECU SoDM, I was able to incorporate both things in my daily work. The following points explain how both disciplines are incorporated in the curriculum here at ECU SoDM: 1. Education and Training: Dental students receive education and training on CAD/CAM technology and cosmetic dentistry principles, including understanding the digital workflow, designing dental restorations using CAD software, and utilizing CAM technology to manufacture dental restorations. Students may also learn about smile design, tooth color and shape, and other cosmetic dentistry concepts. 2. Clinical Practice: Dental students have opportunities to apply their CAD/CAM and cosmetic dentistry knowledge and skills in clinical practice. This may involve using CAD/CAM technology to design and fabricate dental restorations for patients, incorporating cosmetic dentistry principles to achieve desired aesthetic outcomes, and integrating digital dentistry workflows into patient care. 3. Research and Innovation: Students have the opportunities to be involved in research and innovation related to CAD/CAM and cosmetic dentistry. This could involve exploring new materials and techniques, evaluating the clinical outcomes of CAD/CAM restorations and cosmetic dentistry procedures, and staying updated with the latest advancements in the field. 4. Collaborative Care: CAD/CAM and cosmetic dentistry also involve interdisciplinary collaboration with other dental specialties, such as prosthodontics, orthodontics, and periodontics, to provide comprehensive and coordinated care for patients seeking cosmetic dental treatments. Overall, incorporating CAD/CAM and cosmetic dentistry into the educational and clinical practice at ECU SoDM can provide dental students with valuable skills, knowledge, and experience in utilizing digital technology and aesthetic principles to deliver high-quality dental care to patients. How could VR technology impact dental education and practice, and what is your vision for its use here at the ECU SoDM? Incorporating VR technology into dental education and practice at ECU SoDM could offer a cutting-edge approach to dental training, patient communication, and research. It has the potential to enhance students' learning experiences, improve patient outcomes, and foster innovation in dental practice. As technology continues to evolve, VR could become an increasingly valuable tool for dental education and practice at ECU SoDM and other dental institutions. My vision for its use at ECU SoDM is to enhance dental education by providing immersive and interactive educational experiences for dental students, allowing them to visualize complex dental concepts in a three-dimensional virtual environment. Dental students can virtually explore the oral cavity, study tooth anatomy, practice dental procedures, and simulate clinical scenarios, all within a safe and controlled virtual environment. This can complement traditional dental education methods, providing an additional layer of experiential learning to enhance students' understanding and skills. I also see VR as a tool to facilitate communication between dentists and patients by visually demonstrating dental conditions and treatment options in a virtual environment, for example implant placements. Dentists can use VR to create virtual models of patients' oral anatomy, simulate treatment outcomes, and help patients visualize the potential results of cosmetic dentistry procedures. This can aid in patient education, informed consent, and shared decision-making, all leading to improved patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes.

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT DR . WALTON C. GODWIN ECU ASDA 40 ELEVENTH EDITION

SPRING 2023 41 FIRST IMPRESSION Where are you from? Kenly, NC Where did you go to undergrad and dental school? I went to ECU for undergrad and dental school. What made you want to do an AEGD? I wanted to do an AEGD because I wanted to further develop my skills and expand my clinical repertoire. Specifically, I wanted to learn more about and gain skills in endodontics, oral surgery, and implantology. Why did you consider ECU? I was interested in ECU because of the fantastic reviews I had heard from previous residents about the program and the director, Dr. MacPherson. How has your experience been? It’s been absolutely wonderful! I have learned more than I imagined I would, and I feel much more confident in my abilities. What kind of procedures should we expect to do in a residency? Treating medically complex patients, developing complex and comprehensive treatment plans, molar endo, third molar extractions, pre-prosthetic surgery, placing and restoring implants, and complex restorative/ removable treatment. How can you find quality residency programs? Searching the internet to find programs and reaching out to program directors and residents at those programs. What has been your favorite thing about your time here? Working with the wide range of faculty in each discipline and forming relationships with my support staff and patients. The people I have the privilege to work with have really made the difference. What kind of challenges have you faced as a resident? The transition from student to doctor was challenging and finding my own way to do things. Also taking on more challenging cases. Do you have any words of advice for future residents? As painful as it is, read the textbooks. 99% of the questions you have about something could be answered by reading a chapter of a textbook. Where do you plan to go after graduation? I’m still thinking about where I am going but hopefully somewhere in the mountains of Western NC.

ECU ASDA 42 ELEVENTH EDITION This remarkable student is easily considered the heart and soul of D1 class, spreading an aura of light to each one of her peers and with every step she takes! From origin, Ms. Nash began her prosperous journey in Pelham, North Carolina, with specifics to Caswell County. When asked where she attended school for her under- graduate career, she stated the following: “I call myself a spaggie”. I went to both North Carolina A&T and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro for undergrad where I received my bachelor’s degree in Biology. Afterwards I completed a master’s in biomedical science at Barry University,” which ultimately posed as the strong basis for the rigors she was destined to face as a D1 at the ECU SoDM. Investigating further, we then prompted her to explain when and why she decided to pur- sue dentistry. Her response was nothing short of inspirational: “I’ve always known I wanted to work in healthcare, but I never wanted to become a physician because I didn’t want to learn everything there is to know about the human body. I loved going to the dentist as a child and always getting compliments on my smile. That really boosted my confidence at a young age. At the age of 16, I had my first encounter with an African American dentist, she inspired me so much! In my mind, she was a superwoman. I then began to look in my own neighborhood only to realize there were only two dental offices there. I began researching more about dentistry my senior year of high school and never looked back.” To follow, we then wished to find out a bit more about the occupations of her parents. Upon explanation, Lativia explained that “believe it or not, neither of my parents graduated high school. My mother is now retired but they both worked factory jobs my entire life.” Thus, leading us to ask her how she believes her views on dentistry differs from someone who grew up with parents in the dental field. From this, she provided us with some captivating remarks: “It would’ve been nice to have a parent in the dental field. Shoot, especially if it’s to help pay for the application and fees (laughs). It’s nice because I’m pretty sure those individ- uals grew up in the industry, were able to shadow early, or their parents know some- one personally within the dental schools. They will always have the upper hand over someone who doesn’t. I truly believe that God gave me my parents for a reason. Even though they weren’t dentists, he blessed me with two successful mentors early on. Dr. Crisp and Dr. Doonquah! Shoutout to those ladies.” As one’s life unfolds, certain experiences mold and inevitably shape their desire to quest in lieu of a particular purpose. For Ms. Nash, her view on this notion was stated as such: “I didn’t have a bad childhood, but I did go through some difficulties that other African American families may have gone through as well. STUDENT SPOTLIGHT LATIVIA NASH CLASS OF 2026

I’m not going to go so deep into it, but I receive comments all the time like, “I can’t wait to come to your office,” “may you clean my teeth,” or even “My tooth hurts; what’s wrong?” My family and community genu- inely need me.” Lativia’s heart, humility, and passion for the field of dentistry is not only an inspiration to her fellow colleagues, but to all that will precede her. To conclude, we asked her to provide some insight on her goals for the future. Once again, pure grace was found from her words: “Goals while in dental school: great question. I participated in a pre-dental program recently, and there were 32 females and 2 males. I also attended another event a few days later, only to discover that there was only one predental student among about 15 others. This really opened my eyes to the underrepresentation of blacks in the dental field, especially males. I want to start a HBCU tour, where I’ll go to Historically Black Institutions within North Carolina and talk about dentistry and how to get into dental school! I sincerely hope that more black students apply to dental school. We need more of us. For post-grad, being that I received the Nation- al Health Service Corps scholarship, this gives me the opportunity to work in an underserved community within the United States. I’m open to going somewhere different for these four years, but I do plan to settle down in North Carolina. My goal is to become a general dentist in my hometown; they need me.” The D1 class continuously shows cohesiveness and synergy as our individualized backgrounds have intertwined to form a true family. With every good family comes the glue that keeps them all together. Through the good times and the bad, the skills assessments and didactic exams, that glue, without a question, is Ms. Lativia D. Nash. SPRING 2023 43 FIRST IMPRESSION

ECU ASDA 44 ELEVENTH EDITION Lauren Taylor (LT) Humphreys is a D2 student that is from right here in Greenville, NC. She went to UNC-Chapel Hill for 4 years and came back home to attend dental school. She states, “I guess Greenville couldn’t get rid of me!” When LT is not at school or studying, she loves to work out with her best friend, go on walks with her dogs, and lounge around watching criminal minds. LT’s parents are both dentists and this is what she shared her life was like growing up, “when my youngest brother was born (4.5 years after me), my mom stopped working full time and decided to be a stayat-home mom for my two brothers and me. So, even though my mom was a dentist and worked occasionally, it felt like my dad was the only dentist when I was growing up. I loved hanging out at the office on the weekends when my dad was in charge of us three and had some extra work to do. My brothers and I would run down the halls pushing each other in the wheelchair, eating all the sugar-free lollipops, and pretending to work at the front desk and probably messing up the computer settings. The best part was being able to have my dad (and mom obviously) at all our sports and academic events because he was able to schedule his patients accordingly to come see us and be present at all our important things.” Originally, LT did not want anything to do with dentistry because her parents, grandpa, uncle, cousin, and great uncle were all dentists. She wanted to pave her own path and do something different from the rest of her family. She explored different career paths such as medical school or pharmacy but ultimately dentistry was her calling. She shares “once I was finishing up my freshman year of college, it started to dawn on me that I wasn’t passionate about those jobs and that I should really investigate dentistry. The rest is history I guess!” The dental field is very lucky to have her! STUDENT SPOTLIGHT LAUREN TAYLOR HUMPHREYS CLASS OF 2025

I’m not saying there were not many tears and lots of stress during D1 year, but I was very lucky to have such a solid support system in my life… and my parents down the road!” Her favorite part about dental school has been meeting her best friends and both the Operative and Prosthodontics labs. It was easy to practice the skills learned in these labs because LT thoroughly enjoyed it. Having Dr. Sensi or Dr. Sheba giving LT stellar feedback when she showed them the preps or restorations she had finished helped to boost LT’s confidence and brought her joy. She has learned so much from both faculty that she feels ready to start seeing her own patients in a few short months. LT plans to buy into her parents and their partner’s practices here in Greenville once she graduates. Although, if she feels this may not be a good fit her parents have emphasized, she is able to practice elsewhere or work in a different office. Her main goal is to work with her parents because she feels it would be special to learn and work with them. Rest assured that anywhere LT works or goes she will be prosperous! Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist every six months were the norm around the Humphreys household so LT never knew anything differently. Her mom was better about limiting sweets around the house, while her dad loved to spoil LT and her siblings with sweet snacks. “It really wasn’t talked about that much about how important oral health was because it was just known what we should be doing to keep our teeth white and clean. It just was so normal and natural to prioritize having our teeth and gums healthy that it never felt like I had any sort of different look into oral health than other people, but I truly did!” LT mentioned. When asked about the transition from undergrad to dental school, LT felt it was rough but doable. She felt that in college she was able to balance numerous clubs and classes with superb time management skills. She was able to keep using her time management skills when she entered dental school. LT states, “The material was very hard, but I made sure to just take it one week at a time and celebrate small victories. SPRING 2023 45 FIRST IMPRESSION

What do your parents do for a living? Most people consider my mother to be a social worker, I see her as a superhero. My father is a medical equipment salesperson. Why did you choose to go to ECU SoDM in particular? I desired to be among a cohort of compassionate dental students, like those at East Carolina University’s School of Dental Medicine, who are promoting care for underserved communities in North Carolina. The possibility of developing my skills at clinics across the state in addition to the special-care clinic was especially exciting. I was reassured that the Community Service Learning Centers would make me the most competent dentist upon graduation. I had confidence that I would be competent with hand skills and culturally competent as a mobile dentist caring for communities across North Carolina in the future. I also heard that ECU graduates looked at patients as people first and understand the complete impact oral care has on overall health. ECU ASDA 46 ELEVENTH EDITION STUDENT SPOTLIGHT JOSHUA WALKER CLASS OF 2024 Where are you from? Pleasant Garden, North Carolina Where did you attend school for undergrad? The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill What was your major? Economics with a minor in Health and Society within the Departments of Sociology Why did you decide to pursue Dentistry? When was this decision made? Dentistry has the perfect combination of hands-on, creative procedures; community impact; and space for professional growth that I desire. When I was about 5 years of age, I was interested in dentistry simply because teeth fascinated me and I wanted to help people by working with my hands. Throughout the years, my interest has grown into a passion as I experience the rewards of treating underserved populations and begin to understand the complete impact oral health status has on overall health. I have always been inspired to care for underserved populations and I believe that dentistry is an excellent medium to make a meaningful impact on these communities. I want to dedicate my career to making the greatest positive impact possible on my community by providing continuous, comprehensive, and compassionate care.

SPRING 2023 47 FIRST IMPRESSION What’s your favorite part about dental school so far? Although those Monday and Thursday lecturers were really spectacular and the weekly tests fun; the best part of dental school is treating patients. It is incredible to learn from the faculty that we have at our school and learn from our patients. I am incredibly grateful for their trust and support. I truly believe that we are improving the lives of those we serve. Do you have any goals while in dental school? What about post-grad? My goal in dental school is the same goal I have in life - to do the best that I can every day. Being my best means being the best possible in all aspects of my life. After dental school I hope to serve with Access Dental Care and expand their mission to more underserved communities in North Carolina and possibly beyond. How do you feel your views on dentistry differ from someone who grew up with parents in the dental field? In general, I believe my perspective on dentistry is more focused on the patient and their benefits when compared to those who grew up with parents in the dental field and see the benefits of dentistry for their family. I believe everyone recognizes both benefits but my focus is more on others and not myself. What role has your life experience played in wanting to become a dentist? As a child I started to pursue dentistry partially because of the short work week and exceptional salary. I saw how hard my mother worked to make ends meet and I wanted an easier ride in life. With time I recognized that the impact my mother made was much more valuable than any salary she received. The life we were living had more meaning and genuine happiness than a life we could have lived pursuing money and leisure. Around the same time I started to appreciate the impact of dentistry and the vast inequalities within dental care, which was made apparent by the many of my community members struggling to find dental care. Taking this into consideration along with many other desirable qualities of being a dentist I hope to pursue a career in dentistry helping some of the most underserved communities in North Carolina.

ECU ASDA 48 ELEVENTH EDITION What has been your favorite thing about being a student at Ross Hall? My favorite thing has been serving the mission of the school and providing care for the underserved population of North Carolina. Every day I work with patients I am constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to have a positive impact on these patients’ lives. Recently, I had a patient tell me that I was the blessing she had been asking God for. After working with her, I had to walk away because I started crying tears of joy. What drew you to pursue a career in Public Health Dentistry and what are your tentative plans following graduation? Since my friend got bullied in the 10th grade in high school, I knew that I wanted to help those who are in need of dental care the most. The feeling I get from helping people who don’t have many places to receive care means so much more to me than any salary I will ever receive. My tentative plans are to work at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), as I have had interviews in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota. STUDENT SPOTLIGHT TRANDON JEFFERSON CLASS OF 2023 What motivates you day in and day out? 3 things motivate me daily. The first is that I want to help as many people as I can through providing dental care and oral hygiene instructions. The second is I want to be an inspiration to other minority children because growing up I never saw an African American or Hispanic dentist. Additionally, I’ll be the first doctor in family history. Lastly, both my brother and sister died while in dental school and I just want to make them proud. Looking back if you could give D1 Trandon any advice, what would it be? You’re gonna fail a good amount of pre-clinical skill assessments but don’t let that get you down as this is not a predictor of how your clinical skills will be. Also, enjoy your first three years when you are with all your friends because the final year you will be away from most of them.

SPRING 2023 49 FIRST IMPRESSION

TO THE CLASS OF 2023 We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you and the change you will bring to North Carolina! MACKENZIE AUSTIN, D4