The UNMC College of Dentistry recently held a White Coat Ceremony to welcome 45 new dental students and 20 dental hygiene students into the dental profession. The ceremony is a rite of passage, as well as a call to achieve the high standards set forth in the profession.
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Dean John Reinhardt, left, Dr. Stanton Harn, and Dr. Seerinas Koka, far right, help with the white coat ceremony. Photo by Peggy Cain. |
“We are putting our trust in you that you will become talented and motivated health care providers,” said John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry, to dental and dental hygiene students during the ceremony. “The white coat should indicate a person with the knowledge and skills to maintain or restore good health, a person with compassion and empathy, a person who will treat patients with dignity, respect and confidentiality that our profession demands.
“By accepting your white coat today, you are acknowledging your choice to become the dentist or dental hygienist whom patients can trust,” Dr. Reinhardt said.
Of the 45 freshman dental students, 28 are from Nebraska, four are from North Dakota and one is from Wyoming, two states that contract with Nebraska for dental education. Other states represented in the class are Colorado, South Dakota, Kansas, Idaho, Utah and Missouri. All but one of the dental hygiene students is from Nebraska.
Last year, 565 applications were received for this fall’s freshman dental class. Of that number, 120 were invited to the college for interviews, 45 of which were accepted into the program.
Dental students
Beaver City — Chris Wenburg
Cozad — Timothy Davis
Creighton — John Wewel
David City — John Rutledge
Elm Creek — Hubble Reichert
Fairbury — Michelle Bargen
Fremont — Erin Capps
Gordon — Christine Riggleman
Grand Island — Kristen Luther
Hastings — Todd Hohlen and Elizabeth Vacek
Humphrey — Stephanie Stanton
Lincoln — Mark Garner, John Kobza, Joanne McConkey, Paul Rallis, Kelly Soder-Blackman, Heather Turk and Shelby Wibbels
Norfolk — Christina Martini
North Platte — Jonathan Simpson
Omaha — Travis Haynes, Meghann Longo, Brian Ozenbaugh, Brett Taylor, Kavitha Yathish
Scottsbluff — Nathan Luehrs, Sarah Vath
Littleton, Colo. — Mollie McNamara
Idaho Falls, Idaho — David Cleverly
Meridian, Idaho — Mark McDonald
Newton, Kan. — Andrew Friesen
Manhattan, Kan. — Emilie Smith
Branson, Mo. — Amy Buckley
Bismarck, N.D. — Matthew Friedt and Bryce Goebel
Grand Forks, N.D. — Rusty Lewis
Fargo, N.D. — Timothy Vacek
Aurora, S.D. — Anne Johnson
Huron, S.D. — Rick Fuchs
Pierre, S.D. — Melissa Stevens
Rapid City, S.D. — Bart Samuelson
Spearfish, S.D. — Lennard Hopper
North Ogden, Utah — James Bradley
Cheyenne, Wyo. — Corte McGuffey
Dental hygiene students
Ayr — Sarah Sexton
Bellevue — Jessica Godwin and Jamie Schwaninger
Holdrege — Sarah DaMoude
Hartington — Michelle Gutzman
Johnson — Kimberly Swanson
LaVista — Bethany Walker
Lincoln — Mayraish Amaro-Otero, Mariah Carroll and Cheryl Olson
Norfolk — Melissa Muessel
Omaha — Lisa Brown, Jenifer Harding, Julie Mikovec, and Jill Carr
Pierce — Kelly Silhacek
Schuyler — Mary Brooks
Tilden — Kristin Taake
Wahoo — Amy Anderson
Sparks, Nevada — Virginia Van Horn