Next Stop For Class Of 2028: Patient Care

The Class of 2028 gathered for the annual White Coat Transition Ceremony, a School of Dental Medicine tradition that honors the milestone of entering the clinical phase of training.

52 second-year students-guided by the four student practice leaders Drs. Angelica Gargano, Isabella Paolino, Sree Raghavendra, and Pooja Bysani-wore their white coats for the second time.

The UConn School of Dental Medicine's unique tradition includes two white coat ceremonies-one at the beginning of dental school, and a transition ceremony before students begin their clinical phase of training.

Dr. Steven Lepowsky, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, began the program highlighting the significance of this tradition.

"We have two ceremonies because it's important to us here at UConn to hold the ceremony at the very beginning of your time with us because it allows us to welcome you into our profession, but more importantly, into our school community. But it also gave us the opportunity to stress some of the foundational principles of our profession, and that's integrity, ethics, service to, and compassion for others. We have this second ceremony to mark another, but just as important, milestone in your professional journey, and that's the entry into clinical practice and patient care."

"As you receive a new white coat, I'm going to ask you to take a little bit of time to reflect on some of the same guiding principles that we spoke about 560 days ago at your first White Coat Ceremony," Lepowsky continued. "And those are a commitment to the oral health of individuals and to society, a commitment to serve others, and your commitment to do your very best to make a real difference in the lives of the people that you are privileged to treat."

Dr. Maggie Drozdowski Maule-who earned her DMD at UConn in 1998 and completed her residency in AEGD in 1999-reflected on her time as a dental student and shared some words of encouragement as she delivered the alumni greeting.

"You are halfway point," Drozdowski Maule said. "You're at the start of this great clinical journey that will hopefully last a lifetime. You know the science. You've done a medical part. You know the patient's medical histories. You know your pharmacology, you know your oral pathology."

"You also know about teeth," she continued, "But don't forget that those teeth are attached to people, and those people are who you treat. All of your patients will be different. They all have feelings, thoughts, behaviors, fears, life experiences. And soon, you will have the power to change lives. Each one will be different. Each patient will be different. Each smile will be different. And you will need to weigh the wants and the needs of the patients versus the clinical reality, and find a match for those two. And that's a tough job. but you can all do it."

Kathlene Gerrity, executive director of the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA), also shared a few words with the students on behalf of the CSDA, and vocalized her support for the students.

"I stand in awe for what you're about to do, to go into the clinical world, to represent our profession, and to care for patients, and to wear your coat with humility, and courage, and every day treat it like a new adventure,"Gerrity said.

Dr. Maria Smith of the American College of Dentists, said: "When you go into clinic, you're going to be faced with a lot of dilemmas. The important thing, though, is that what you need to do is you need to focus on what's right, and what's just, and make ethical decisions based basing your patient treatment. Use your education and resources available, as well as your good moral character, to make those decisions. That is the essence of what an ethical leader is, and that's what it means to be a leader."

Dr. Jaqueline Duncan, associate dean for clinical education, spoke about ethics and patient care.

"The white coat is a symbol of responsibility, professionalism, and most important, integrity," said Duncan. "Over your career, you will continue to develop your clinical skills. You will diagnose, treat, and restore. However, what will ultimately define you as a dentist is not only what you can do with your hands. It will be the decisions you make when no one's watching. Please know that ethics in dentistry is not just about knowing the rules. It is about consistently choosing what is right for your patient, even when it isn't difficult, inconvenient, or less profitable. " said Duncan.

Dr. Eric Bernstein, associate dean for academic affairs, recited the School's honor code that the students first signed when they entered dental school. Dr. Sarita Arteaga, associate dean for students, finished the ceremony by reciting the professional pledge-officially kicking off the student's transition into the clinical phase of their dental school training.

The students are excited as they move towards this next chapter of seeing patients.