Th 124757

University of Maryland AAWD Student Chapter

May 1, 2003
Do you remember your second year as a dental student? All of the tests and lab work and practicals?

Do you remember your second year as a dental student? All of the tests and lab work and practicals?

When rising third-year students were asked to rejuvenate the student chapter of AAWD, the specter of an overwhelming amount of work was fresh in their minds. Their uppermost question was, "How do we help women dental students get through their second year?" The answer? Lunch Coaches.

During lunch, a third- or fourth-year student is matched with a second-year student for an hour of hints and suggestions on their upcoming project. This program has been very successful. We are now a group of 40 active students. The upper-classwomen enjoy the opportunity to teach, and the second-year students are appreciative of the assistance. They have much more confidence going into their practicals.

Front row: Erin Zizak, Amanda Baker, Susie Roberts, Alyse Rudnicki, Danielle Miller, and Sumi Tripuraneni. Middle row: Judy Melamed, Nathalie Zenian, Susan Ra, Azadeh Amini-Zand, Nicole Berger, Shannon Abel, Emily Stein, Nancy Bouchard, and Ginger Walford. Back row: Emily Brown, Jessica Baker, Priya Bali, Dawn Lawrence, Tara Jensen, Lissette Bernal, and Anna Kopit.
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We have also had other events for camaraderie. One of these was a lunch speaker on aromatherapy. It was a welcome break from teeth, and the lecture hall smelled wonderful! We were all interested in the essential-oil mix for enhanced memory.

We are looking forward to next year's prospect of expanding the Lunch Coaches to the first-year students. We are all here to help our fellow women students succeed in their chosen field of dentistry.