Last month, eight UW School of Dentistry students traveled to Minneapolis, MN to participate in the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) national meeting and e-Poster competitions. The group received honorary recognition from the national AGD for having the most attending participants and presenters in the country.
Along with top-end involvement, the students took home multiple first place finishes. Fourth-year student Delbert Oxborrow won first place in Systematic Literature Review and Dr. Amr Abouzeid, a recent prosthodontics residency graduate, took first in Clinical Innovation Case Studies. Oxborrow’s win marks the second consecutive year at UW student won in the Systematic Literature Review category, following in the footsteps of Tyler Youn, another current D4.
“The UW Student Chapter of the Washington AGD is a great pillar of education, leadership, social connections and motivation for research in the hectic life of a dental student,” said Dr. James Newman, the UWSOD AGD Chapter Director, who accompanied the students on the trip. “Each quarter we provide high quality continuing education on relevant topics such as TMD diagnosis and treatment, cosmetic dentistry possibilities, 3-D printing and digital scanning.”
Some students who attended were winners of the annual William Howard Competition, hosted by the Washington AGD, including Youn and fellow fourth-year students Teddy Dong, and Jin Jung. Other students, such as Justin Lee, Jo Song, and Owen Tam, participated for the first time. First-year student Zhiyuan Yang also joined the older students on the trip to present his research project for the first time at the AGD.
Because of the unique challenges and rigorous commitment of dental school, it can be difficult for students to find time to participate in research projects, particularly at the national level. That’s why support from School of Dentistry faculty like Dr. Newman, along with other notable involved individuals Drs. John Yae, Daniel Chan, Alireza Sadr, and Martin Anderson, are crucial to students’ success.
“We hope more UWSOD students are inspired to expand their interests, build strong bonds with faculty mentors, and shape their careers according to their dreams,” said the students in a takeaway message from the conference they put together to share with their peers. “To achieve these exceptional goals, the UWSOD, AGD Chapter, and WA AGD provide outstanding resources for any UW dental student willing to work hard and excel. We want you to remember that opportunities are abundant, but it’s up to you to grab them and get ready to shine!”
The students would also like to thank Washington AGD’s Dr. Tim Hess and CEO Valerie Bartoli for their support.
“The department of restorative dentistry is supportive of enhancing the students’ experience in the dental profession through organized dentistry and research activities,” said Dr. Chan, former Chair of the UW Department of Restorative Dentistry. “I believe that this is the best way to prepare students to be lifelong inquirers and learners.”
To sign up for the Washington Academy of General Dentistry, or to learn more about the organization, visit their website here.