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Recent News

Member Monday - Abbey Tadros, Class of 2019

7/30/2018

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Today we caught up with Abbey Tadros, a D4 and one of the current Vice Presidents of our ASDA chapter. For some of us it seems like D4 year will never come but time flies and before you know it, graduation will be right around the corner. D4 year comes with many new challenges but it is also the last year to make some memories with your classmates and leave your mark on the school. Abbey says she “can’t wait to spend another year with my classmates! I have the best time hanging out with them at school, and I know I will miss them a ton after graduation.” She is most nervous about preparing for life after graduation. “I am definitely most nervous about all of the work that will go into preparing for after-grad life: licensure, boards, and applying for residency.”
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All classes had a short summer break before diving back into school. Many students use this time to travel, spend time with family, and do their best to not think about school. Abbey says the most fun thing she did over her break was going to Santa Rosa Beach, FL with her parents and little sister. “I am from St. Louis, MO, so I don’t see my family often. My ideal vacation involves two things: 1) spending time with family and 2) reading uninterrupted on the beach for hours. I got to do a lot of both, so I was thrilled.”
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Abbey and her family enjoying the summer break together!
There are some very exciting things happening at UAB SOD this year including the opening of the new Comprehensive Care Clinic on the second floor! The current D4 class endured the grueling process of construction last year so they are all very excited to finally use a shiny new clinic during their last year of dental school. When asked about her favorite part of the new clinic, Abbey says “I love that the clinic is finally a reflection of the quality of care we provide at the school. The new clinic helps us put our best foot forward, and my patients really enjoy being treated there. My favorite part about the clinic is that our coordinators are finally back on the same floor as us. I visit Ms. Teresa about 30 times a day, so I’m grateful that she’s so close!”
As far as plans for after graduation, Abbey is applying for a residency in Pediatric Dentistry. “If I’m lucky, I’ll spend two years after graduation learning how to take care of kiddos!” Abbey clearly has a passion for working with kids and we wish her the best with her application process!

Finally, we asked Abbey if she had any pearls of wisdom to pass along to the new D1 class. “Be kind to one another,” explains Abbey. “Dental school demands so much of us, and there is no way that I could make it without my classmates. They always make me laugh and have shown me an incredible amount of grace over the last three years. Taking the time to care for a classmate never goes unnoticed.”

Great advice Abbey! If you have any more questions, Abbey and the rest of the D4 class are a great resource. Dental school is tough, but if we lean on each other, we are sure to get through it.   ​​

Author: Kelsey Gwin, Class of 2021
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Abbey with D4 friends Meghana, Mollie, and Renee on their last first day of dental school!
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Member Monday - Morgan Quarles, Class of 2021

7/16/2018

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School is back in session which means it’s time for another Member Monday!

Finding a part time job as a pre-dental student that is enjoyable, involves dentistry, and has a good paycheck is just about impossible. Morgan Quarles, however, was able to find a job during undergrad that was both fun and that had many skills that would soon transfer over to dental school. Morgan, a D2 from Naples, Florida, worked as a nail technician while she attended college at Nova Southeastern University. “I had always enjoyed doing my nails and other’s nails for as long as I can remember,” says Morgan. “In high school, a volleyball coach of mine suggested I go to nail school so that I’d have a fun job in college. I did so and I ended up making over $2,000 in college doing it on the side! I didn’t have time to have a serious job during school but I worked at a fancy spa at a beach hotel during the summers and I loved it!”
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An example of Morgan's manicure skills!
Being a nail technician is certainly a unique part time job to have during undergrad. While most of us were waiting tables or tending bars, Morgan was making acrylic art. Morgan says her favorite part about the job was the “satisfaction I felt after transforming a simple un-manicured hand into something beautiful, manicured, and clean. I also really enjoy talking to people and you basically do that the entire time while working.”

We may not realize it but many of the skills required to be a nail technician are skills that can be helpful in dental school. Have you ever walked by PCD and thought “what are they doing, painting nails in there?” That’s the smell of acrylic in the morning! According to Morgan “It’s crazy how much transfers over! Attention to fine detail, perfectionism, and using a drill all transfer over into my clinical skills in PCD. I didn’t know it at the time, but throughout my experience with nails, I’ve acquired a lot of skills that have helped me in dentistry.”
Of course, there isn’t much time to work part time as a nail technician in dental school. However, Morgan says she still finds time to do her own nails when she can. “I find it relaxing and I seriously feel restored having a pretty manicure.” When asked what other activities she likes to do in her spare time, Morgan says, “I also unwind by hanging out with my friends and planning fun things to do that do not revolve around studying and other school activities. It’s important for me to carve out my time wisely to do things that remind me I am a person and a friend and not just a dental student! I make “me-time” a priority as well. I don’t think I’d be as successful of a dental student if I didn’t.”

Well, I think it’s safe to say we all know who to contact if we ever want a free manicure! Have a great week everyone!

Author: Kelsey Gwin, Class of 2021
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Morgan and fellow D2 friends floating down the Cahaba River!
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Member Monday - Tanya Saikaly, Class of 2020

5/14/2018

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When applying to dental school, most people don’t know what to put in the box that says “what activities have you done to demonstrate your manual dexterity?” However, our featured member this week, Tanya Saikaly, had plenty to put in this box given her love for art and painting that she discovered in undergrad. Tanya is a D2 from St. Augustine, FL and got her start in the arts while attending the University of Florida for undergrad. According to Tanya, “one of the organizations I was involved with had a social at the arts and crafts center at the student center and I decided to go to check out the scene! I quickly learned that they were open every day of the week and had several different activities, some of which included painting, ceramics, and even jewelry making. After the social, I started going on my own, painting different items to get fired in the kiln, and my senior year, I took the ceramics class, as well as the jewelry making class.” Soon after, she began painting her own canvases and doing crafts at home.
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Painting has become a great stress reliever for Tanya. She says that her favorite part of painting is how relaxing it is. “Whenever I start a project, I put all my attention to it and that allows me to get my mind off school and all the stress associated with life,” says Tanya. “If I’m crafting alone, I tend to put my headphones on and listen to music. If someone joins me, I turn the evening into a social time!”

Not only are Tanya’s crafts beautiful to look at but they are useful too! Tanya says her favorite memory of making art is being able to use the items she has made. “I have two mugs that I’m constantly using for coffee or tea and whenever I use them, it brings back great memories of college and making them.”

It can be difficult to make time for fun things like arts and crafts in dental school but Tanya feels it is worth it to set aside time for stress relievers like painting. “I try to make time for arts and crafts whenever possible,” says Tanya. “Much of what I’ve done lately has been through painting canvases, because it’s easy to complete at home and I can always get a good stopping point. I try to divide my free time evenly between crafting, cooking/baking, working out, and studying. So if I use my time to bake, I try to bake something that I can decorate to get that ‘arts and crats’ feeling.”

​As we’ve said in the past, making time for activities outside of school is incredibly important for maintaining proper mental health. Dental school can be daunting and if we do not set aside time to do things that make us happy we may start to burn out very early in our studies. If you are interested in getting started with arts and crafts, Tanya says do it! “Dentistry allows us to add our own personal artistic style to our work so now is the time to master anything, and everything, related to art. Art allows us to pay closer attention to the small details and I think this is very important when it comes to all restorative procedures we do in this field.” As dentists, we are also artists, so don’t be afraid to bring out your artistic side!

Author: Kelsey Gwin, Class of 2021
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Examples of the beautiful and creative works of art Tanya has made!
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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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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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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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Member Monday - Kai Huang, Class of 2020

3/12/2018

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​This week we are proud to feature Kai Huang who has recently been appointed as the District 5 Trustee of ASDA. Kai makes history as the first student from UAB to earn this position. “I’m very excited to serve in this position,” Kai says, “but there’s a lot of work coming my way!”

Kai first became interested in ASDA during his time as a pre-dental student at the University of Central Florida. His first experience with ASDA was attending Pre-Dental Weekend at Nova Southeastern University’s dental school.
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At the event, Kai was introduced to the national vice president of ASDA who, seeing Kai’s enthusiasm for dentistry, highly recommended that he attend ASDA’s National Leadership conference. “A group of us from UCF was able to get funding to attend NLC and I’m so glad that we did. I was so amazed by the concept of organized dentistry and found it to be a great networking experience.” Kai especially liked learning about things you do not necessarily get to learn in dental school like the business aspect of dentistry.
 
Kai was hooked on ASDA after his experience at NLC. His first position at the national level was as the pre-dental consultant on the council of membership and he has held a district cabinet position every year since then. “I’ve continued to be involved with the district national level along with my local chapter throughout my time in dental school.”
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Attending the 2014 National Leadership Conference with fellow pre-dental students from UCF
​When asked about his favorite part of ASDA, Kai’s answer is clear; “Networking. The networking opportunities with ASDA are endless. When you go to a conference, you get to meet hundreds of other people from all over the country and learn about their dental school. It just makes the importance of organized dentistry that much clearer.”
 
Kai’s favorite memory of ASDA goes way back to his very first National Leadership conference. It was an experience Kai will cherish forever. The dental students there were overwhelmingly welcoming and eager to help him achieve his dream of getting into dental school. “I was surrounded by students and leaders that inspired me to be like them and to not give up on my dream. I’ll never forget that feeling.”
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Kai representing UAB at the 2018 Annual Session as a Delegate Reviewer
​Many of the students at UAB often wonder how Kai is able to balance schoolwork and being able to travel to all the ASDA conferences. His ability to go across the country for an entire week and still keep up his schoolwork baffles the mind of even the most avid procrastinator. For Kai, it’s all about staying ahead of schedule and keeping on top of things. “School always comes first,” says Kai. “At the end of the day ASDA is an extracurricular activity but it’s my passion so I’ve learned how to make it work.” Kai says it is also incredibly important to stay in contact with the faculty and request days off as far in advance as possible. “The faculty want you to attend events like this so they are often very supportive of me attending them.”
 
If you are interested in becoming more involved with ASDA at the national level like Kai, this is his advice for you: “Surround yourself with likeminded people and seek out mentorship. Don’t be afraid to reach out to district national leaders and express your interest in becoming more involved.” Clearly, ASDA has had an extremely large impact on Kai’s career in dentistry. So next time you get one of those emails asking if you want to attend a conference, consider giving it a try!

Author: Kelsey Gwin, Class of 2021
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Alabama ASDA having fun at the 2018 Annual Session in Anaheim, California!
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Member Monday - Rick Rampi, Class of 2021

2/26/2018

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The secret is out: dental school is stressful. Numerous tests, practicals, and lab work are just a few of the things that take up the bulk of a dental student’s time. But amidst all the stress, students at UAB SOD still manage to find time for activities to distress and unwind. This week we caught up with D1 Rick Rampi to find out how he makes time for playing the piano during a crazy time for the D1 class.
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Rick playing piano at the annual UAB SOD Variety Show 2018

​Rick has been playing music for quite some time now and can play multiple instruments including the guitar and drums. He started playing piano during his junior year of college while living with his friend, Nick. “I was really inspired by Nick’s passion for the piano,” says Rick, “and I started learning how to play shortly after that.” Unfortunately, Nick passed away while Rick was in college but Rick was able to play an original song of Nick’s at his funeral.

Unlike most pianist who learn to play by reading music, Rick learns a new song by rote only. That is, he listens to the song and plays the notes he hears back on the piano. “I love finding new songs and even write a few of my own. I also dabble in mixing music.”
 
Rick recently performed in two acts in the school’s annual Variety Show which he says is one of his favorite memories of playing the piano. “My ultimate goal is to write a song for a movie; even if it’s a small movie no one’s heard of!” Rick hinted that something might already be in the works to make this goal a reality but he could not confirm anything right now.
 
Now the question everyone’s wondering about; how does Rick have time to play the piano during spring semester of D1 year, a notoriously difficult semester. “Unfortunately I have not gotten to play as much as I’d like this semester,” says Rick. “It’s been a while because of the crazy busy schedule we’ve had recently. I just try to play whenever I can and use it as a break from studying. I have a small piano in my apartment that I like to fiddle around on. I have to be careful though because I lose track of time easily and sometimes end up playing for hours.”
 
For those of you wanting to take on learning the piano, Rick’s advice is simply practice. “Just play a little bit every day and you will get better and better.” It is always great to see students like Rick making time for the things outside of school that make them happy. Hopefully, we will get to see him perform again at next year’s variety show as I am sure he will continue get better and better while he plays at home during his study breaks. Are you ready to learn how to play piano?

Author: Kelsey Gwin, Class of 2021
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With fellow classmates and performers Ashley Weaver (left) and Kiara Garcia (center)
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In addition to piano, Rick also plays the guitar!
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