One last concern about AZ

[DDSdude]

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Ok, let me preface this with the following so it is not construed any other way than what I really mean.

I have spent numerous hours serving others and helping the underserved and underprivileged. I enjoy giving freely of my time and talents to help others and will continue to do so throughout my life. In fact I have given 2 years of my life to serve the people in Australia.

Now the concern I have. Through meeting with Dr. Dillenberg, touring the school, speaking with admissions, reading info on the school (published by the school, not third party such as media, dentists, etc) it seems to me that the whole foundation the school is built upon is public, community clinic based dentistry, not-for-profit and not so much on running a private practice.

I realize also that public heath and community health encompass a whole gammet of areas, including a private practice.

Before anyone is quick to respond to this post. Do you honestly feel that those who graduate from AZ over other schools will be more inclined to work for someone else over owning their own practice or will they be at a disadvantage over someone who has been trained on running their own practice and not working for someone else.

I have no problem with others wanting to work for someone else. I do not choose to do that though. I will give of my time to underserved people/communities throughout my career. I will most likely donate my time to the "Pratt Dental Clinic" in AZ.🙂

Maybe my conerns have no merit or I am way off in my thinking. If so, straighten me out. I just want to make sure it is honest and not biased. If you are not sure yet since the school is so new and you have just started school be honest about that too.

I appreciate your time in reading this post and commenting.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by DDSdude
Do you honestly feel that those who graduate from AZ over other schools will be more inclined to work for someone else over owning their own practice

Yes, absolutely.

I can honestly say that we will have a greater % of students who go on to do not-for-profit work or public work. This stems directly from the admissions process here at Arizona. For example, several students are going back to the reservations they are from.

Are we all going to take that route? Not by a longshot. The school understands this and in no way expects everybody (or even 25%) of the students to pursue that.

The bottom line is that AZ will graduate some top-notch clinicians. This I can promise.

 

[DDSdude]

This makes sense. I do know they look heavily on whether you have had community/service type experience. I am still unsure about applying there though. But the more I learn and the more I read I may. Thank you GavinC!😎

 

[ItsGavinC]

DDS,

Well, applying never hurts (if you are at all interested). Maybe you will get an interview, and then you'll have a chance to discover things first-hand!

 

[DDSdude]

That is very true. Long story short. We moved here last year to gain residency for OU. I had met with the Dean and some students and was very impressed. We also have family out here and one of my good friends was going to OU's dental school. At the time there was not a whole lot of information on the school in AZ so we decided to come here. Well I applied there last year and they sent a request for a supplemental app. I still was unsure about it and we did not want to move back there after just buying a home here and gaining residency so I did not pursue it. Looking back maybe we should have. Who knows, I may be sitting next to you in class as we type this. Either way though I will seriously consider it.

I do love AZ, I lived there for 28 years and the majority of our family lives there. If I do come I will have to have you give me a tour of the school.

Thanks again.