Back to School for DMD Class of 2013 and AS 2011

New DMD and Advanced Standing (AS) students began their first day of orientation at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) on July 27.

After a morning of presentations by key School faculty and departments and posing for their ID photos, students enjoyed lunch with first-year course directors and other faculty. The mood was light, with faculty joking about pop quizzes and whose subject area is most important.

In addressing the Class, Dean Jeffrey Hutter encouraged students to acknowledge the diversity of the incoming students. He said, "This diversity better prepares you for your future in an increasingly diverse society. I also request that you treat each other, the faculty, staff, and your patients with the greatest of respect."

He added, "You will definitely work very hard, but with the knowledge that the more you put into your education, the more you will take away from it. Listen and study, study and listen; but most important of all, question and seek answers and always remember that learning goes beyond the classroom and clinic."

Adding to the excitement of the first day’s schedule, American Student Dental Association (ASDA) Faculty Advisor Dr. Joseph Calabrese and ASDA representatives led a student vote for the color of the scrubs students will be assigned to wear in the treatment centers. ASDA kept the final voting results a secret until the Ice Cream Social in Hiebert Lounge later that day, when Michael Visser DMD 10 announced that DMD students chose navy and AS picked ceil blue. The new scrubs will feature BU’s favorite terrier, Rhett, on both the top and bottom.

For the third consecutive year, alumni Craig Allen and Nicole Paquette-Allen, both DMD 95, supported the Ice Cream Social with a generous donation. In addition to an array of ice cream flavors and toppings, students picked up their official BU Dental tee shirts, which were a popular giveaway among all in attendance.

Alumni Board President Shadi Daher DMD 90, OMFS 94 also attended and congratulated the students, saying, "Welcome to your first day and the first step you take to join the ranks of the proud alumni of the Goldman School of Dental Medicine. We, the alumni, are proud of you and look forward to connecting with all of you. Please, find us online, in person, or by telephone. We would love to hear from you." Dr. Daher met and shook hands with most of the students at the Social.

Representatives from student groups and local companies and organizations set up information booths for students. On hand were Hue Ly DMD 12 and Galang Vu DMD 10 (BU Vietnamese Student Dental Association), John Fitzsimons DMD 10 and John Kiang DMD 10 (BU Hispanic Dental Association), Michelle Goldstein DMD 12 and Kevin Lee DMD 12 (Alpha Omega), representatives from BU’s Fitness and Recreation Center (FitRec), and more.

Photos from the week are available on GSDM’s flickr account and also on the GSDM Facebook page. You must have full web access to view the flickr account.