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- Jan 20, 2003
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I've been a SDN fan since I learned of it at one of my interviews. I've never felt the desire to register and post until I got back from my interview in AZ, and since others started discussing it. In an effort to try and help gavinc out I want to try and shed some light on what is really going on in the "valley of the sun" it's hot! Off the chain hot, and I'm not talking about the weather. The school is ridiculous. I interviewed and was accepted at a number of very impressive schools: As great as these schools are, they didnt compare to ASDOH. The people wo are setting up ASDOH are some extremely impressive individuals. They have brought together some of the most well respected minds of education, research, clinic, and public health adminstration. The ideas of these individuals are enough alone to instill a confidence and trust that are unparalleled. Still, the innovative concepts that will make up the curriculum at ASDOH are not just the ideas of these amazing, and respected individuals, but are the ideas of some of the most well-respected dental educators in the nation. What ASDOH has done is put together an all-star advisory committee composed of, among others, the current dean of UOP (unfortunately, he is the only one I can remember but suffice it to say that this committee contains others of his stature). This committee is working with ASDOH because they are excited about what they are doing and want to be a part of it. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that none of these advisory members are being paid...anyways, ASDOH has brought them together and basically asked them,"...how would you improve the way that dentistry is being taught? If you could what would change..." and so on. They have taken the ideas of these DEANS OF OTHER EXCELLENT SCHOOLS, are are implementing them into their program. Unofficially the ADA has said that this program will change the way that dentistry is being taught in the United States, and along the same lines, that it will be the model for all other schools in the future...UNLV has backstepped and changed to the ASDOH curriculum, a number of other schools have purchased it; surley, many others will follow. They are going to teach using an integrated model, which is the way the medical schools have taught for years, but for various reasons (mainly tenured faculty, and the egos that go with that) dental schools have been unable to adapt. They will also be one of the few schools (I believe UOP is the only other school that does this, and that's b/c it's a three yr program) that will have their students using their handpieces on their KAVO units in the FIRST MONTH. Granted we will just be doing basic procedues, i.e., 2mm deep incisions, but their idea is to expose us to the clinical aspect of dentistry early and often. It goes without saying that their clinics will be state-of-the-art with electric handpieces, and digital radiography, and anything else you can imagine. Also, with no speciality programs, whatever comes through the door, WE DO! (Now, I know you can get experience at schools with graduate programs, but if we can all be honest, you get more of that experience at schools without said programs, i.e., Creighton). Oh yeah, it's not official, but it's possible they will have us out in the community in our first year doing sealants, flouride rinses, and so on with indigent children and underserved seniors. What is official is that our fourth yr clinic will consist of clinical rotations that will be comparable to a resideny/externship...in addition to the work we will do in our beautiful clinic (that overlooks the superstition mountains to the east, and orange groves, and fields to the west), we will be out on clinical rotations at; Luke Air Force base, the VA hospital, various Indian reservation clinics, and other community related clinics. The class size will be among the smallest in the nation at about 50, and at the time of my interview (1st week in Jan.) they had received ~1200 applications, accepted ~30 with sci gpa of 3.5 and overall of 3.4 (or maybe vice versa), and DAT scores at 19's. Still, while ASDOH is concerned with academic excellence, they are more concerned with finding the type of people that will make contributions in their future communities through service and leadership. Clearly, if they wanted to they could fill their class with 3.8 and above students, with DAT scores from 20/21 and up (some of their students undoubtedly have those numbers), there are schools that pride themselves on their matriculation stats...ASDOH could be one of those but has decided there are other more important factors that go into training professionals...The Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health is sick! There is nowhere else I would rather be- I know many of you feel that way about the schools you will be attending, and I'm am genuinely happy for all of you. As you, I know what a grind it has been to get through undergrad. Good luck in all you endeavors. ONE LOVE
ONETIME (ASDOH-class of 2007)
ONETIME (ASDOH-class of 2007)
