Forty-five second-year dental students and 20 third-year dental hygiene
students recently signed pledges committing themselves to a higher level
of professional responsibility as they began their clinical experiences
at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln.
The college’s first Clinic Transition Ceremony took place at the UNMC
College of Dentistry. John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the college, said
the ceremony was a celebration of the students’ transition into patient
care as well as an opportunity to stress the importance of professionalism
— including appearance, ethical behavior, honesty and compassion — in
caring for the needs of patients.
The students, who were given new blue lab coats and the commemorative
pens used to sign their pledges, will start seeing patients soon in the
college’s clinics. There are 44 second-year dental students and 20 third-year
hygiene students.
Sree Koka, D.D.S., Ph.D., associate professor in the department of oral
biology, said being a member of a profession is more than having a specialized
education, following a code of ethics and obtaining licensure. It also
involves living up to a unique public trust and community standing earned
by the conduct of dentists and dental hygienists in the past.
“Society has conferred upon you a belief that you are a member of a
profession,” Dr. Koka told the students. “Society wants to know that the
trust it places in you is warranted, that it is placing concerns about
its oral health in the hands of intelligent, compassionate and ethical
individuals. I urge you to be keenly aware that our reputation now rests
in your hands.”
In signing the pledge, students committed themselves to treating patients
“with concern for their comfort, safety and confidentiality.” They also
agreed “to uphold the dignity of the dental profession by serving all patients
with integrity and respect” and to advance their knowledge and strengthen
their skills throughout their educational experience and their professional
careers.
Hometowns and names of the students are listed below.
Dental students
ALLIANCE Joseph Thompson
ATKINSON Kathryn Cadwallader
BEE Matthew Kunasek
BATTLE CREEK Melanie Anderson
CRAWFORD Travis Lambert
CENTRAL CITY Julee Weidner
CREIGHTON Craig Braun
GRAND ISLAND Mark Braasch, John Neuhaus
HASTINGS Paige Miller
HENDERSON Robert Pankratz
LINCOLN Susan Alexander, Brent Johnson, Martin Killeen, Thomas Milius,
Brian Newell, David Rallis
LOUP CITY Daniel Flynn
MORRILL Paula Schmidt
OMAHA Matthew Belcher, Bryan Medaris
SALEM Nathan Thompson
SOUTH SIOUX CITY Benjamin Aitken
WAYNE Erik Wiseman
WEST POINT Timothy Ernesti
FRESNO, CALIF. Richard Flores
JEROME, IDAHO Joel Bingham
ABILENE, KAN. Sara Budden
ARKANSAS CITY, KAN. Curtis Snowden
BIRD CITY, KAN. Travis Antholz
INDEPENDENCE, KAN. Melissa Morris
TOPEKA, KAN. Derek Durbin
WICHITA, KAN. David Brown, Jariya Niyakorn
ABERDEEN, S.D. Stephanie Duncan, Jennifer Wolk
BROOKINGS, S.D. Erika Zink
MITCHELL, S.D. Nicholas Shawd
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. Justin Nichols
TRIPP, S.D. Ryan Bakke
YANKTON, S.D. Elycia Schoenfelder
NORTH OGDEN, UTAH Cameron Oler
CASPER, WYO. Jessica Cassity
GREEN RIVER, WYO. Byron Killpack
RIVERTON, WYO. Bradley Alderman
Dental Hygiene students
CHADRON Amy Dayhoff, Lacey Easley
DAKOTA Angela Bakke
DILLER Jennifer Germer
GERING Nichole Pierce
GOTHENBURG Kathryn Strohmyer
HARRISBURG Peggy Brown
KEARNEY Gina Kissel
LaVISTA Melissa Georges
LINCOLN Julie Jane
MADISON Michelle Becker
MCCOOK Lindsey Ord
OMAHA Kimberly Parsons
PAWNEE CITY Phalisady Latas
RUSHVILLE Katie Palmer
SUTHERLAND Laura Carter
VALENTINE Rachelle Joseph
LOUISVILLE, COLO. Stacey Summers
CLAY CENTER, KAN. Sara Ferguson
PALCO, KAN. Jennifer Grecian