DECEMBER 2016
ASDA - The year that was
As both the calendar and membership years draw to a close, it's worth reflecting on what ASDA has accomplished for its members in 2016. According to its mission statement, ASDA provides services, information, education, representation and advocacy to dental students. Here are just some of the ways that ASDA carried out that mission in the past year.

Representation and Advocacy
  • Issued a new L-1 policy that describes ASDA's ideal licensure pathway
  • Released a white paper that details the concerns with and advocates for the elimination of the live-patient licensure exam
  • Sent nearly 400 dental students to Washington D.C. to lobby in support of student loan refinancing and debt reduction legislation. These efforts secured 29 legislative co-sponsors.
Information and Education
  • Hosted 10 webinars on topics ranging from international volunteer projects and becoming an ideal ASDA chapter to maintaining wellness while in dental school
  • Published 10 issues of ASDA News, 4 issues of Mouth, 36 e-newsletters and 165 blog posts on Mouthing Off - all full of valuable information for dental students
  • Provided a platform to nearly 200 current dental students to write for ASDA publications and 50 to present at national meetings
  • Held the inaugural Wellness Month and Advocacy Month to inform students about these issues and promote participation by chapters in furthering efforts towards wellness and advocacy
Services
The ASDA central office staff wishes you the very best during the holiday season and coming New Year. Thank you for your dedication, creativity and involvement this past year.
From ASDA
Contour is your new magazine. The successes of ASDA's print publications, ASDA News and Mouth, have inspired us to do more. In a few weeks, you'll receive your first issue of Contour, ASDA's new flagship publication. The Editorial Board spent a year researching what works, reviewing how you interact with ASDA's publications and tailoring Contour to the needs of every dental student. The January issue will focus on the changing face of dental education. Keep an eye on your mailbox!

Webinar helps you evaluate contracts. Planning to land your dream job after graduation? Don't get caught up in a bad contract you didn't understand. ASDA's free webinar, Top 10 things to look for in a job contract, coming up on Jan. 24, will provide an overview of different kinds of employment contracts.

Start your day and 2017 off right - January wellness challenge. If you've been sacrificing breakfast for a few extra minutes of sleep, you're not doing yourself any favors. The health benefits of a good breakfast are widely known - so why do so many of us skip it? The January wellness challenge is about adding nutrition to your morning routine. Learn more and #BeWellASDA.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS 

Ryan Rivamonte, Detroit Mercy '18 

What is your favorite thing about your current year in dental school?
My favorite thing about the current year is that I led the student body in the American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb in Detroit. Our team name is "The Sky is the Limit," and it proverbially serves as a reminder that even under the demands of societal pressures, we can still pursue endeavors of self-achievement. And better yet when it benefits charity! 

Ryan is a regular member of his chapter, and he's originally from Commerce Township, Mich. Read more about his inspiration to pursue dentistry and the bravest thing he's ever done.
Noteworthy
Set goals, not resolutions. This is the time of year when we set resolutions and often go on to ignore them. One business strategist points out that the most successful organizations - and individuals - are those that practice flexibility. Her suggestion? Set goals for shorter increments, like quarterly or every six months. Learn more about her approach.

National Health Service Corps scholarship. The National Health Service Corps scholarship pays for tuition, fees and other educational costs, and provides a living stipend in return for a commitment to work in a medically underserved community after graduation. The next application cycle begins in the spring, but you can sign up now to receive notifications from the NHSC. Learn more about federal scholarship programs in this ASDA webinar.

FDA finalizes ban on powdered exam gloves. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a final rule on December 19, 2016, banning powdered gloves based on the "unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury to individuals exposed to the powdered gloves". The ban includes dental offices and dental exam gloves and officially takes effect on Jan. 18, 2017. Learn more about the ruling.
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