District 8 Leaders with Executive Director of the MDA, Dr. Kathy OLaughlin.

The American Student Dental Association is a national student-run organization that protects and advances the rights, interests and welfare of dental students. It introduces students to lifelong involvement in organized dentistry and provides services, information, education, representation and advocacy.

District
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Bringing District 8 together since 2013.

Articul or

Vol . 2: Fall 2013

2013 District 8 Meeting a Great Success!

University of Iowa hosts the districts first fall meeting.
Yet another ASDA District 8 meeting has been held with great success. The weekend included lots of continuing education for dental students and pre-dents alike, socializing and networking with students from our gr8 district. This years meeting was held in Iowa City, Iowa at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. They rolled out the red carpet to show all the Big Ten schools how its really done! On Friday night everyone gathered in downtown Iowa City at the Clinton St. Social club where students had an opportunity to meet with one another and talk about their experiences in dental school. The next morning our meeting started with a short welcome from or district president Eve Lofthus followed by a stimulating keynote address from Dr. Kathy O'Loughlin. Dr. OLaughlin has been the executive director of the ADA since June of 2009 and is the ADAs first ever female executive director. Students were honored to have her speak at such an intimate venue and were captivated by her message. She shared with us many words of wisdom and lots of information from a soon to be released economic report on the outlook of the dental profession and dental education. Dr. O'Loughlin inspired us all and reminded us of the importance of remaining involved in organized dentistry.

More inside!

Creighton ASDA Presents: Smile Miles

Many of us have met patients that have fascinatingly tragic life stories. Stories that tell of their trials and tribulations with health, addiction, finances. Often times, we find ourselves acquainted with these patients because they are in need of our help - to fix their smile and give them a second chance at life. To assist in just that, Creighton ASDA created a school-wide fund called Smile Miles, a denture fund designed to assist patients that cannot afford interim dentures on their own. Over the years, the cornerstone Smile Miles fundraiser - a 5K run-walk - has generated thousands of dollars. These funds directly benefit patients as well as dental students looking to meet Removable Prosthodontics requirements (wink). The only requirements of a student looking to use Smile Miles funding is simply filling out of a form and attending an ASDA meeting to speak on behalf of their patient. Once gaining approval from the ASDA chapter, funds are immediately applied to a patients account. With surprising success and use of the fund, Creighton ASDA Philanthropy Chair Blake Ridgeway (15) moved forward in his fundraising efforts, adding a silent auction and wine event to the calendar in the spring. Though the fund is self-limiting in how many patients can be assisted, Creighton ASDA is proud to be able to make such a direct impact on the lives of our patients. No matter what school you attend, the Smile Miles fund and programming can be adapted to the needs of your chapter and, ultimately, your patients. Lauren Reed, Creighton 16 Creighton ASDA Vice President

The Affordable Care Act: What You Should Know

October 1st, 2013 was the inaugural day for the Affordable Care Act. So far, the first month of online enrollment has been replete with technical difficulties. There is still time for the enrollment team to fix the portal, but as benefits are supposed to be available for full use January 2014, the clock is ticking. Under the ACA, all are required to have some kind of health insurance or will incur a tax penalty. (Remember the June 2012 debate?) Residents of all states, regardless of if they have set up a state-based market or use the federal market, will be able to utilize www.healthcare.gov for information and enrollment. Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa state governments CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

District Tailgate (Kind of)

With an extra busy fall semester, its not surprising that the 2nd annual Minnesota-Nebraska tailgate didnt happen quite as big as it did last year. Nevertheless, we still managed to get a few Huskers and Gophers together before the big football game on Saturday, October 26 in Minneapolis, MN. Mark your calendars for next years game! Lets make the 3rd annual tailgate one to remember.

Christine Lucachick, MN 16
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all opted out of setting up a state-based market. Confused by all the date changes? Heres the most recent run down. Oct. 1st, 2013 - March 31st, 2014: Open enrollment for 2014 begins Jan. 1st, 2014 March 31st, 2014: Anyone enrolled in the ACA, but not yet selected an insurance plan will not be subject to penalty. March 31st, 2014: Enrollment and coverage selection closes. No one will be able to purchase coverage through the marketplace for the remainder of 2014. Exceptions are loss of job, birth of a child, or divorce. Jan. 1st, 2014: Coverage begins for all that have enrolled and paid first premium by December 15th. Medicaid, CHIP, and SHOP participants will have coverage immediately after enrollment. Oct. 1st, 2014: Open enrollment begins for the 2015 calendar year. 2015: Large companies are required to offer health insurance to employees.

Adult dental insurance is offered through the ACA but, unlike health insurance, is not mandatory and will not be subsidized. Adult dental insurance has two options, lumped into a health plan or as an individual purchase. Pediatric dental insurance is not a required purchase for states under the national plan, but as it is considered one of the 10 Essential Health Benefits, two states that opted into state-based markets, Nevada and Washington, are making this a required purchase even if you dont have children. Want to see if your premiums are higher or lower compared to private insurance? Platinum, gold, silver, or bronze, what does this mean to you? Visit healthcare.gov and walk through the enrollment steps, all your insurance options will be listed.
Kindel Kaelke, Nebraska 15 3

Afterwards, Dean David Johnson addressed us and shared his experience and struggles while trying to do away with live patient boards. Dean Johnson has been Dean of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry since 1995 and shared with us his broad perspective of dentistry and our future as practitioners. Eve Lofthus then gave us an update on what is being done with licensure reform. To close out the morning we had lectures on Leadership in the Dental Practice and The Ins and Outs of Malpractice Insurance. The afternoon began with a Q & A panel of dental residence that addressed questions from the crowd. They shared lots of information on the application process, what they would have known before applying, and how their days are currently spent. Some thoughts on clinical dentistry were shared and a short lecture about the basics of ASDA closed out our meeting for the day. The evening time fun began at Atlas grill where we ate too much steak and dessert and made merry with new and old friends alike. We were very grateful our sponsors took care of all of the food and drinks at the meeting, making it more affordable for more students to attend! The final morning of the meeting was combined with the student portion of the regional public health conference. Students were able to listen to Drs. Steve Levy, John Warren, and Peter Damiano address the affordable care act and other public health related issues in dentistry. There were over 70 students in attendance at the ASDA District 8 meeting. Everyone left the meeting having gained knowledge on the skills they need to be effective at their careers, the issues that we are facing, and having met new friends from around our district. Next year the meeting will be held at Creighton (?) and I hope to see you all there!

Taylor Zmoos, Iowa 15 District Meeting Liaison 2013-2014

Q&A with Stephanie Zastrow, MN 15: 2013 Ryan Turner Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Q: What does receiving the Ryan Turner scholarship mean to you? A: Receiving this scholarship is such an honor. When Jiwon Lee (President of ASDA) contacted me to share the news, I was entirely shocked and blown away. I know that many people applied and that there are even more across the country that have a remarkable dedication to ASDA, and so to receive this means a great deal to me. Its also serving as great motivation to continue striving to serve my chapter in the best way I can. Q: How has ASDA benefited your dental school experience? A: Being involved in ASDA and organized dentistry has truly made my dental school experience so far. My work with organized dentistry has allowed me to see the big picture and know that there are thousands of dentists and dental students that are all working toward the progression and for the common good of our profession and our patients. The day-to-day grind of dental school courses and labs my first two years was overwhelming and sometimes disheartening, but my work with ASDA and the MDA gave me something to believe in, look forward to, and keep me level headed when the other work was frustrating. It continues to fire my passion for oral health care and education. Q: What traits do you feel make a great ASDA leader? A: I believe a great ASDA leader helps reveal the leadership qualities in others. ASDA is not about one or two people but about the collective. Its about many, many voices coming together to be supportive and responsive to the needs of dental students now and their future needs as dentists. A great ASDA leader is able keep day to day tasks organized and on track while not losing site of the overall goals of the organization. Q: What is your favorite thing about District 8? A: District 8 (the Ocho!) has a distinct feel to it. Ever since my first regional meeting in the fall of my first year of dental school, District 8 has been a welcoming, fun, and supportive group of students passionate about ASDA and organized dentistry as a whole. Its great to see us come together to help make each of our individual chapters stronger. for reading the Articul8or.

Thanks!

If interested in contributing to this quarterly publication, contact Communications Chair, Christine Lucachick at lucac009@umn.edu

Q: What are you looking forward to the most this year in ASDA? A: Annual Session is always one of my favorite parts of the year. I enjoy the legislative aspect of House of Delegates and the Executive Committee election process. Meeting new students and seeing friends from other schools is a great part of the event. The fact that Annual Session is being held right next to Disneyland this year is icing on the cake! Q: And in the spirit of District 8what is the first thing that comes to your mind when I say: BUTT JOINT? A: Its certainly not curvaceous Christine Lucachick, MN 16