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Member Monday - Brett Silvers, Class of 2021

4/30/2018

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As dental students, our lives are dominated by classes, studying, lab-work, studying, clinic and oh yeah, more studying! Oftentimes, important healthy habits like eating right and exercising can be pushed to the wayside to make more time for studying. This week we are featuring Brett Silvers, a D1 who understands the importance of maintaining a healthy school-life balance thanks to his experiences with weight-lifting.

Brett started Olympic weightlifting for his high school during his sophomore year. “I joined the weightlifting team so I could get stronger for wrestling,” Brett says, “and I ended up sticking with weightlifting for the rest of my high school years. My coach in high school also opened up his own CrossFit gym in Orlando so I was able to continue training while I was in undergrad at UCF.”
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It is safe to say that Brett soon found his niche within weightlifting and it turned out to have a huge influence on his life. “When you lift a new weight for the first time you get this surge of adrenaline, pride, and accomplishment that can only be rivaled by a few things in life. As a shy high school student, this sport gave me a lot of confidence in myself and taught me how to work hard towards my goals. On top of that, the sky is the limit with weightlifting. You can always push yourself to get stronger, and I loved that I got to go to the gym every day and push myself to get stronger and to see what I was made of.”

Unfortunately, Brett is not able to continue weightlifting in dental school due to the large toll it can have on your body. “I needed to stop once dental school started to protect my wrists (I really need those now).” However, weightlifting during college put Brett in the routine of going to the gym on a regular basis, which he has continued to do throughout dental school. “Weightlifting taught me how important exercise is in a balanced schedule. So I still use going to the gym as a stress reliever and a break from all the studying. I’m just not able to lift all the heavy weights I used to.”
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According to Brett, “Weightlifting is for everyone! I was never the biggest or strongest guy, but Olympic weightlifting is about so much more than just being strong. The movements emphasize speed and technique just as much as they do strength. If you want to see how much you can lift and how far you can go, then weightlifting is the sport for you. I also learned so many valuable lessons in the weight room that I am now able to implement in my dental school journey. I never knew anyone who was worse off for being a weightlifter, so I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to try it out. You just have to go for it, and I promise you’ll understand what I’m talking about after you lift a new weight for the first time that you never thought you could!”

​While weightlifting may not be the best sport for a dentist, it’s never a bad idea to get out and get a little exercise between the long stretches of studying. ​​
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Author: Kelsey Gwin, Class of 2021
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Wellness Wednesday - Cooking Healthy with Elisabeth!

4/25/2018

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Let’s get one thing straight: I am a very hungry person. The kind of person who requires a snack every 1-2 hours and is all too familiar with the feeling of hanger if I go for too long without the aforementioned snack. This made it all the more surprising to find myself passing off spoons of peanut butter or a bag of chips as meals through the busy spring semester. Keeping yourself fed in dental school is hard. The hectic schedule, limited planning time, and complete lack of energy that often accompanies the daily life of a dental student make healthy cooking and eating very low on many people’s list of priorities. Luckily, some of us have got it all figured out! Known for her fabulous food snapchats and seemingly endless culinary knowledge, D1 Elisabeth Cantrell has some helpful hints when it comes to cooking an easy and healthy meal, yes, even on a school night!
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Elisabeth - I absolutely love to cook, particularly healthy meals, but some not so healthy, so choosing a recipe to share was not easy since I have so many favorites. I cook most nights, so quick recipes are a must. My favorite recipes are ones that involve as little clean up as possible, so this one pot meal is one of my favorites. Especially with summer right around the corner, this super flavorful meal is a go to for me. You can change it up by using chicken thighs or shrimp. I’m sure it would be good with any other meat, so you can have fun experimenting! Another great thing about this recipe is that it’s gluten free, so you can share with anyone!

I prefer using a Dutch oven for most things I cook, everything cooks more evenly in my experience and it always browns the chicken nicely. If you don’t have a Dutch oven, any large skillet with higher sides will do. Ok, now on to recipe… this is for about 4 serving sizes, so more than likely enough for 2 people with a little left over. This recipe takes about 40-45 minutes from start to finish including prep time. 
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Cilantro-Lime Black Bean Rice with Chicken Thighs

​Ingredients:
  • Olive oil
  • 4-6 chicken thighs (skin on, bone in)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 cup basmati rice (Vigo is my favorite brand)
  • Minced garlic (~ 4 cloves)
  • 2 Tbs lime juice, fresh squeezed (maybe a more if you like more of a tang)
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (15 oz)
  • ½ cup fresh chopped cilantro (if you like cilantro like me add a little more)
  • Chicken Broth or water, follow instructions on rice package (usually 1 cup rice and 2 cups liquid)

Instructions:
  1. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Heat olive oil in Dutch oven. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper, then add chicken to pan skin side down. Cook on medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes until skin starts to brown, but not burn. Flip thighs over and cook 2-3 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and set aside. (*Note: the chicken will not be cooked through at this point)
    1. If using shrimp, do the same as above and remove shrimp once they are pink in color (they are cooked all the way).
  2. In the same skillet add the chicken broth, rice, about ¼ tsp salt, pepper and minced garlic. Bring to a rapid boil and mix well.
  3. Add chicken thighs back in, placing on top of the rice mixture. Reduce heat to low and cover with lid. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and chicken is cooked all the way through. (*Note: add additional liquid if rice is not done and liquid has run out.
    • If using shrimp, cook rice all the way through and proceed through step 4 before adding shrimp back in.
  4. Remove chicken from pan. Add 1-1.5 Tbs lime juice, cilantro, and black beans into rice and mix well. Taste and add additional lime juice (in small increments), salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Add chicken back to pan. Garnish with lime wedges and cilantro leaves if you are wanting to be a little fancier!

Author: Sydney Larsen, Class of 2021
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April 2018 - Committee of the Month

4/19/2018

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Committee of the month for April is Fundraising! Officers Ashley Weaver, Rick Rampi, and Steven Sheibley planned and organized our annual Vendor Fair. They did an incredible job putting everything together - for photos of the event, click here. Also, we would like to thank our sponsors, Aspen Dental, Henry Schein, Sarrell Dental, Patterson Dental, and Gendus for their continued support of ASDA!
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Member Monday - Jordan Reznik, Class of 2019

4/16/2018

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​As young aspiring dentists, we spend a lot of time in one place: 1919 7th Avenue South, to be exact. It’s a great place to learn and grow but it’s safe to say that almost every student at UAB SOD daydreams of traveling beyond the walls of PCD or the second floor clinic. Jordan Reznik, a D3 from Atlanta, Georgia, is one of those students. Traveling has always been a big part of his life and after talking to him, it is clear that there are ways to make time for traveling during dental school.

“Traveling has always been a part of my family life,” says Jordan. “Showing my sister and I that the world is a much bigger place than the city of Atlanta was important to my parents. For me, it’s always been the excitement of something new that has kept me traveling. Different cultures open your eyes to new foods, languages, and ways of life.”
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Jordan Reznik traveling through Greece
​While no Birmingham native would deny the great food options we have here, it is always fun to try out the tastes and flavors of a new culture. When asked what Jordan’s favorite part of traveling is, he said “Definitely the food. The weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten was a fried scorpion in Beijing.” Not saying you have to try a scorpion any time soon, but it’s always a great idea to jump out of your comfort zone and try new foods you may not think you like.

Jordan has many great memories of trips with just his dad but he says his favorite memory of traveling was his study abroad trip to New Zealand and Australia. According to Jordan, “when you spend a couple of months in a country rather than a couple of days it changes everything.” Study abroad trips are becoming more and more popular for undergraduate students, especially for those who have a big interest in expanding their knowledge on an international level. Plus, it’s a great excuse to get out of the country and have a little fun!
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Getting up close and personal with a baby elephant in Thailand!
The biggest question on every dental student’s mind is “how do you have the time and funds for traveling during dental school?” We do have breaks but they are few and far between and generally by the time they come around, the last thing on our minds is planning a big expensive trip when we could be getting a little R&R and catching up on Netflix. However, Jordan says that he tries to travel somewhere on every break he has, “whether it’s out of the country or just to a different city.” He also gave us some tips on how to not break the bank: “I’ve gone on missions trips before and group trips, which have sales all the times. Also, hostels are a great option. I was skeptical at first but a lot of the hostels I’ve stayed in have been really cool and are dirt cheap.”
​For those of you who want to travel more but always come up with an excuse not to go, here is what Jordan says: “Stop telling yourself why you can’t or shouldn’t go and just do it. If traveling is truly important to you, find a way to get out there and see the world.” Summer is coming, so get planning!

Author: Kelsey Gwin, Class of 2021

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Enjoying the breathtaking views at Torres del Paine National Park in Chile
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Month in Review - March 2018

4/9/2018

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We are excited to announce a new monthly newsletter initiative called ASDA: Month in Review. Today, we focus on all the exciting events that happened at UAB SOD during the month of March. The beginning of March started out with a bang as our Executive Board members traveled to Anaheim, California to attend ASDA Annual Session. They participated in several leadership building and networking events that helped them to grow as leaders of our school. They also elected the new national ASDA Executive Officers and voted on issues that will be reflected in national ASDA policies and lobbied for on state and national levels such as licensure and student loans. On top of this, our very own Kai Huang was elected as District 5 Trustee, the first ever UAB ASDA member to be elected to this position. If you want to learn a little more about Kai, take a look at his feature in a Member Monday post.

​March was also full of plentiful volunteer activities. Our fabulous Community Outreach Committee planned a very successful Project Homeless Connect where UAB students and faculty saw 170 patients, distributed 300 hygiene bags, and identified 20 potentially cancerous lesions. Several of our members took part in the CMMA Dental Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic. The students that went spent their entire spring break serving the people of the DR, performing extractions and cleanings. They saw nearly 160 patients over the course of 4 days in clinic. Each day, they traveled to a different village and set up a mobile dental clinic in a church provided by the village. “It was a challenge the first day,” according to Morgan Quarles, a D1 who went on the trip. “None of us knew where to put anything and we were all nervous to be performing our first injections and extractions. But we got much more comfortable as the week went on and by the fourth day of clinic we knew exactly how to set everything up. It was such a great experience, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to gain more experience and improve their skills!”
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Project Homeless Connect at Boutwell Auditorium
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Ishita Johal '20 seeing a patient
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Kelsey Gwin '21 and Daniel Kuyk '20 serving the people of the Dominican Republic
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CMMA Dental Mission Trip group over Spring Break
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Danielle Ho '21 sharing a moment with a patient
The D1 class had a great time welcoming the incoming Class of 2022 at the annual ASDA Spring Preview Welcome Party. After a long day of icebreakers, the future D1s got to relax and eat some Taco Mama with the current D1 class. “It was so fun to meet the incoming class!” says Pre-Dental Chairman, Danielle Ho. “I remember how excited I was to come to my Spring Preview. I can’t believe it has already been a year since then! This new group seems so enthusiastic, I can’t wait for them to join our dental family in July.”

​The last major event of March was the annual Vendor Fair. Thanks to our Fundraising Committee, we were able to host 33 vendors and raise $20,300 to be put towards chapter events and conferences. Vendor Fair is always a fantastic opportunity for students to network with companies across the Southeast and learn about everything from dental supplies to recruitment.

Author: Kelsey Gwin, Class of 2021

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Welcome to UAB, Class of 2022!
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Special thanks to the New Member Outreach Committee, Danielle Ho '21 and Viviana Sepulveda '21!
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ASDA's fundraising committee, Ashley Weaver '21, Rick Rampi '21, and Steven Sheibley '21 put together a great vendor fair!
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Students anxiously waiting to hear the results of the vendor raffle
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Member Monday - Hillary Diffee, Class of 2018

4/2/2018

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​“So how much does dental school really cost? How much debt will you have when you get out? Will you ever not be in debt???” These are some of the dreaded questions dental students avoid thinking about while in dental school. Due to the extremely fast paced and busy schedule of the dental students here at UAB, it is easy to forget about the massive amounts of student loans most of us have to take out to pay for school and the rapidly accumulating interest that builds up each day we are in school.  However, there are several other ways to pay for dental school besides taking out student loans. Today we feature Hillary Diffee, a D4 who is a recipient of the Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). In this program, all of Hillary’s out of state tuition is paid for and she also receives a living stipend. Pretty sweet deal, right? The only slight downside is that Hillary will have to work 4 years in the Navy when she graduates dental school. But as Hillary says, “when you consider having a guaranteed job after graduation, competitive salary, and years counting towards Navy retirement, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages (if you even consider them to be disadvantages). The dental training in the military is said to be one-of-a-kind, with advanced training in specialties and trauma. To me, the four years of payback is just another learning opportunity!”
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Hillary Diffee, Class of 2018
Of course, joining the Navy is not for everyone but for Hillary, who had strong ties with the military through her family, it was a no-brainer. “Three out of my four grandparents were in the military, two in the Air Force and one in the Navy. My parents both grew up as military brats and have always thought highly of the military and the benefits it has still to this day provided for our family.” Hillary completed her undergraduate education at the University of Florida, which is where she first found out about the HPSP scholarship program. Her first step in learning more about the program was talking to a recruiter. She explained, “there was a very active dental/medical Navy recruiter in Gainesville, who I listened to a few times before I took serious thought to the idea.”
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With graduation looming near for the fourth years, I asked Hillary what she is most excited for after graduation. The day after graduation, Hillary will fly to Rhode Island for Officer Development School (ODS). She will be there for 5 weeks, at the end of which will be a graduation ceremony. “I think what I am most looking forward to in the short-term is this ceremony,” Hillary says. “I am really proud to be in this program and I think that on this day when I graduate as an official officer in the Navy, I am going to feel like I have put my life towards something bigger than I ever imagined.” Hillary has already been accepted into an AEGD residency program at Naval Station Norfolk next year which just happens to be the world’s largest naval base. It is safe to say that the Navy is giving Hillary plenty to be excited for when graduation comes.
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Presenting at the annual Scholar's Symposium
Along with the excitement of graduating and joining the Navy, Hillary made sure to point out there are still things she is nervous about. “ODS has definitely made me anxious” she says. “As soon as they gave me that start date, I went to my planner and wrote a countdown of the days I have left until then. I think it will be physically and mentally demanding and I am sure I will miss my friends and family. Still, I know I can get through anything I put my mind to.” No matter what, being in the military is always risky and this fact alone may discourage many students from joining the program. Hillary does not let this keep her down though because while political turmoil definitely makes her nervous, she takes it in stride saying, “should the U.S. increase deployments for any reason, I feel like this would be the time when my duty to our nation would be needed most and I will proudly serve.”

Hillary also has great advice for anyone who is interested in joining a branch of the military. “Do your research, meet with a recruiter (who you can trust!), talk with someone who has been there and decide if this is for you. Like I said, this may not sound attractive to everyone. For me, I would rather serve for 4 years, treating a population who I believe deserves the best care in the world, all while getting expanded training and getting paid, than have the financial stress of loans, finding a job, etc. after school. If this is how you think, go for it!!” She also pointed out that we have many experienced veterans right here in our school to get advice from, including Dr. Mueninghoff, Dr. Ford, Dr. Stevens, and Dr. Bradford. And being the superstar that she is, she is always willing to answer any questions anyone may have. We are proud to have Hillary as a member of ASDA and a student at our school and will miss her when she graduates in May.

Author: Kelsey Gwin, Class of 2021

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