The Dental Student Experience
at the ADA House of Delegates
By Ryan Kaminsky , Penn Dental Medicine , ASDA District 3 Trustee
Imagine walking into a room full of hundreds of dentists from across the nation . Every single one was prepared for the dialogue about to be had about our profession . As a dental student , it was a bit daunting , but I quickly learned that even as a dental student , my voice carried weight .
In October , I had the privilege of attending the American Dental Association ( ADA ) House of Delegates Meeting in Las Vegas , Nevada , as a representative for the American Student Dental Association ( ASDA ). I currently serve as the District 3 Trustee , representing dental students in Pennsylvania , Maryland , and the District of Columbia . My experience at the ADA House of Delegates meeting was invaluable . It provided me with insight that I would never have had elsewhere . It offered me the chance to be a part of conversations within the dental community . It showed me the importance of organized dentistry on every level and how the community comes together . Lastly , it allowed me to network with leaders in dental advocacy , practicing business owners , and others . Being able to casually speak to ADA leaders comforted me when discussing organized dentistry and ADA policies for the remainder of the conference .
Initially , it was overwhelming being a dental student in a room full of dentists , leaders in the advocacy community and politicians . I was not completely familiar with all the topics , but I took this as an opportunity to learn . I realized quickly that these topics were not only directly impacting the dental community , but ultimately could change the way we practice in the future . This is the reason why dental students need to have a seat in the ADA House of Delegates . This dialogue
was organized via resolutions , which are potential ADA policies that , for the authors , took months to carefully craft . One of the most poignant resolutions led to a controversial discussion , since it related to all dental schools in the country . This was a resolution that attempted to establish metrics to compare the dental school educational experience , with a very large financial implication . Many saw this as a step towards a dental school ranking system . In the background , the authors discussed that law schools are ranked , and they compared that to dental school . ASDA met as a delegation to discuss this resolution . Ultimately , we needed to decide whether we should vote in support or in opposition to it . During caucus , ASDA voted in opposition to this resolution and because it directly affected dental students , we spoke in front of the entire House and gave our stance on this issue . Our stance was received with cheer . Our voice carried weight . And it is moments like this when I see that dentists look to us to become familiar with issues affecting the dental profession . It is up to us to determine how we choose to practice in the future .
Alongside the House , as District 3 Trustee , I had the opportunity to join the Pennsylvania Dental Association ’ s caucus . I listened in on what my state dental association thought about the resolutions , gave the delegation ASDA ’ s perspective on resolutions that are high priority to dental
18 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL