All Categories - UCSF ASDA

Clinic in COVID

9/14/2020

By: Erica Harris

Beginning clinic marked a rite of passage I had been waiting for since I was the ripe age of 13 (and I'm not talking about my Batmitzvah) when I realized I wanted to be a dentist. But beginning clinic also meant leaving the safe quarters of my apartment and venturing out into a COVID world. The transition has certainly been different, especially because of the recent changes to the clinic model. Every day feels like Big Brother where we have to “Expect the unexpected.” New challenges arise every day, each one different from the next. This initially was really difficult to adapt to and navigate. I would run around clinic not knowing what I was looking for, lapping the same fourth years who would raise their eyebrow at this very lost third year. Having just purchased an Apple Watch, it would occasionally buzz, notifying me to “Breathe,” because clearly I was not doing an adequate job, lost to the hustle and bustle of clinic. Adapting was fast, but it still took a bit of time before I was comfortable going into clinic. This came with the first filling I did. It was a class IV, DIFL. I struggled with the prep and at the halfway mark, I wanted to give up. But I couldn’t. And I wouldn’t. I pushed to finish the restoration and the best feeling I’ve felt yet here was when I handed the patient the hand mirror and they exclaimed how happy they were. That day changed me and the way I saw clinic. It’s not a scary place. It’s a place to learn and to push ourselves. It’s a place to try new things and venture out of our comfort zone. When I came to terms with this, clinic felt much less like a monster and much more like a friend. After this, I turned off the “Breathe” reminders on my watch; I knew I’d be just fine without them.

ASDA Member Experience

9/14/2020

By: Mike Holland

Before I even moved to the day, I had plans of attempting Tartine’s sourdough using starter from a friend. It wasn’t until actually trying Tartine that I knew I needed to advance my bread came beyond the baguettes and French peasant bread I made regularly. When fall quarter of finals week came around I was trying to use the folding steps of the process as a Pomodoro timer for my anatomy studying. I found success with one of my first loaves but many failed after that. Throughout quarantine and the summer I practiced multiple times a week, baking so many loaves for friends and family that I almost lost interest in eating them. Almost. I tried the blueberry skins, different percentages of rice flour, dark chocolate chips with Guinness, and every type of scoring imaginable. Now I keep a loaf frozen for toast in the morning and make another as an appetizer for friends. Hit me up if you want a loaf.

Sim Lab in COVID-19

8/10/2020

By: Jerry Huang

"The professors were also extremely patient and helpful during the entire session as they provided me with constructive feedback and tips."

As part of the first group that returned to campus for simulation lab work, I really enjoyed my first day back. The overall environment felt safe and relaxing as there were just a few students in each row and everyone was social distancing. I was a bit nervous about using my hand piece for the first time after months, but as soon as I started prepping, everything came naturally. The professors were also extremely patient and helpful during the entire session as they provided me with constructive feedback and tips. Overall, I am very glad to be back and look forward to the remaining sessions.

Ergonomics

7/13/2020

Benjamin Lam '23

"Build good habits early by taking breaks regularly and having properly adjusted loupes."

My favorite classes from D1 year have definitely been the PRDS courses. Simulation lab reminds you why you are in dental school and it is a great way to connect with your peers, both in class and after hours. Although it can be tedious at times, practicing in simulation lab is a great distraction from the long hours spent studying for BMS. Shelter-in-place has made me realize how much I have taken it for granted. Some advice I would give to the incoming D1 class is to make sure your ergonomics are good early on. Build good habits early by taking breaks regularly and having properly adjusted loupes. Make friends with Maria and don't forget to have fun! Don't be afraid to ask D2s and any upperclassmen for help because we all have been through the struggle. Look out for workshops hosted by student organizations such as Hispanic Student Dental Association which gives better clarity on techniques that might be rushed in the curriculum.

Opportunity

7/13/2020

Katie Dileo '22

"In order to maximize your time in this class, I recommend taking every opportunity to engage with your faculty."

My favorite class was PCC 129 because it let me experience what it feels like to be an actual dentist caring for a patient and not just a technician honing skills. I learned about local anesthetic techniques, how to conduct a thorough complete oral exam/periodic oral exam (COE/POE), documenting via the electronic health record, diagnosing, treatment planning, how to remove plaque and calculus - along with other foundations of patient care. It was gratifying to be able to understand my classmate - patient's history and goals and then identify and execute a treatment plan that we jointly agree is best to optimize her health and well-being.
While it may seem obvious that this should be our goal as dentists, living it out for the first time was an unforgettable experience, leaving me energized to begin work in clinic. In order to maximize your time in this class, I recommend taking every opportunity to engage with your faculty. While it is often possible (and tempting) to get everything done quickly and enjoy the Friday afternoon, don't forget that this is your chance to ask questions and learn tips and tricks from your faculty. Lastly, make sure the two teammates you select to be with for the year work well with your learning style - while helping make the journey fun too!

Friendship

7/12/2020

Jamie Chang '23

"Live one day at a time. Know that everyone survives and you will too ❤."

In my opinion, every single quarter of D1 year was rough. There's just so much material and it can get so overwhelming. Add on your personal and social life and it'll feel like you're drowning, but here's how to get through it:
- Live with supportive people you can share your struggles with (shout out to Ameera, Anna, and Yvonna for always being there for me).
- Realize what is important to your whether that be your well-being, your relationship with your partner, or your passions. Make time for them.
- Make a solid group of friends. Just a few people is all you really need, but find the ones you can both be goofy with as well as study with.
- Join clubs so you can lean into your interests as well as meet new people.
- Upperclassmen will be your best friends. They can serve as a huge resource to your survival so get to know them.
- Enjoy yourself. If someone asks you if you wanna get boba or cheap wings, even though you have a test coming up, yummy food and good company will always make for some good memories.
- Live one day at a time. Know that everyone survives and you will too.

Resilience

7/12/2020

Marrina Ran '23

"Get back in the game and keep going"

My advice on how to survive D1 year is to be resilient and be super on top of your time management. Most people, if not everyone, fail at something in dental school at some point, but just try not to get discouraged. Get back in the
game and keep going. Also stay on top of your work; don’t fall behind. If you are behind in sim lab, stay after hours to catch up. Go to class so you don’t fall behind in watching lecture captures. Do not wait until the last minute to start studying for exams or practicing for test cases. As long as you keep your work from piling on top of you at the end, you will be fine (this is especially true for your mental health, which is super important). Seek advice from upperclassmen, especially for simulation lab.
They went through everything you are going
through, and along the way, they’ve learned
clever tips and tricks for how to prevent your
provisional restorations from breaking, how to
better visualize the walls of your preparations,
etc. Do not be afraid to ask for help!

Reconnect

7/12/2020

Semira Amirkiai '23

"Go make friends, do things you enjoy, and it's okay to stay in sometimes."

At the beginning of my D1 year, I was always
worried I wasn’t studying enough because I felt
like everyone was rushing to go study for
something. I had to give myself permission to
take breaks and separate from my school work.
Sometimes that’s hard when a majority of my
friends are stressed about the same things. I can
tell you for sure that imposter syndrome is real
and I was confused how or why I got here. Just
took me a little bit to reconnect with the rest of
my life again and get into a rhythm. I think that’s
important, I couldn’t wait to start living when I’d
be less busy. So my advice is take some time for
yourself. Go make friends, do things you enjoy,
and it’s ok to stay in sometimes. Also, don't be
afraid to butcher your plastic teeth. I've ruined
more than I can count.

I AM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER

7/12/2020

Arielle Miller, D3

My motivation for becoming a military student
through the Army Health Professions
Scholarship Program (HPSP) stems from a
strong desire to serve the United States
military. My Grandfather was a Parajumper
for the 82nd Airborne, and my Uncle recently
retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving
a lifelong career in the United States Army.
These men, along with many other mentors I
have had throughout my life, demonstrated
true patriotism, bravery, and commitment to
serving their country. I am honored to have
the opportunity to uphold their legacy and
serve the men and women of the United
States Army, as an Army Dentist.

Impression Conference

7/12/2020

ASDA partnered with our local SNDA and ADEA chapters to host SNDA’s Annual
Impression conference. We were in charge of the Simulation Lab portion of the event
where we had 130 pre-dental students practice drilling on Learn-a-preps and pour up
a model of a typodont tooth. There were dental student volunteers from different
classes walking around and talking to the pre-dental students. Several pre-dental
students got a chance to have one-on-one conversations with UCSF dental students
and exchange experiences. This is the goal of our pre-dental events because we
believe that the most valuable advice is usually passed on with personal interactions.

We introduced a new part to the simulation lab experience this year by creating a
small Dental toolkit exhibit, where we placed our dental kits on display for each
specialty. We had a kit for Operative, Crown and Bridge, Prosthodontics,
Endodontics, and Periodontics. Pre-dental students were able to see what kind of
instruments we use in simlab and ultimately in clinic, this allowed them to gain
another perspective on what dental school is about. Photos and videos were
encouraged and several predental students enjoyed looking at the kits. We also had
a few volunteers stationed here to answer any questions as well as provide a quick
overview on how each set of instruments were utilized.