UCSF School of Dentistry NEWSBRIEF

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) held their Annual Session this year in Scottsdale, AZ, August 27th through 31st. UCSF School of Dentistry representatives came home with significant recognition and two awards.

UCSF was awarded Honorable Mention for the Crest/Oral-B ASDA Community Dentistry Award. This national award recognizes ASDA chapter leaders that have excelled in designing and implementing oral health programs in a community setting, focusing on children.

The 2008 Crest Healthy Smiles project was spearheaded by ASDA leaders Mai Dinh, Virginia Pham, and Christian Yee. April 10, 2008, Healthy Smiles Day at UCSF, began with campus ASDA members traveling to the Creative Arts charter school to conduct oral hygiene instruction, followed by an afternoon health fair/outreach event at the San Francisco Boys and Girls Club, where UCSF Dentistry volunteers introduced over 350 city youth to careers in the health professions.

Over the summer, Virginia Pham was also presented with the 2008 ASDA Award of Excellence. This national award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a superior level of participation, leadership and service to peers, school and community. Appointed UCSF’s ASDA membership coordinator in 2007, she will serve as the UCSF chapter’s President and First Delegate in 2008.

Mai Dinh received Honorable Mention for Legislative Liaison of the Year, having served on ASDA’s executive board at UCSF during the 2007-2008 school year. During her term she was responsible for organizing various advocacy events, including voter registration drives, "Pizza'n'Politics," and for organizing a UCSF Dentistry trip to Washington D.C. for ASDA’s National Student Lobby Day. She raised more than $3000 for the event, enabling a record ten students to attend.

Gail Garrett began her term as Legislative Grassroots Network Vice-Chair, providing leadership in advocacy and involvement in the political process. Her responsibilities will include assisting with activities of the LGN, serving as ASDA's liaison to the American Dental Political Action Committee (ADPAC) Board of Directors, as well as designing and implementing a national ADPAC drive. Gail served as ASDA President at UCSF during the 2007-2008 school year.



	News from the ASDA Annual Session in Scottsdale, Arizona

	The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) held their Annual Session this year in Scottsdale, AZ, August 27th through 31st. UCSF School of Dentistry representatives came home with significant recognition and two awards. UCSF was awarded Honorable Mention for the Crest/Oral-B ASDA Community Dentistry Award. This national award recognizes ASDA chapter leaders that have excelled in designing and implementing oral health programs in a community setting, focusing on children. The 2008 Crest Healthy Smiles project was spearheaded by ASDA leaders Mai Dinh, Virginia Pham, and Christian Yee. April 10, 2008, Healthy Smiles Day at UCSF, began with campus ASDA members traveling to the Creative Arts charter school to conduct oral hygiene instruction, followed by an afternoon health fair/outreach event at the San Francisco Boys and Girls Club, where UCSF Dentistry volunteers introduced over 350 city youth to careers in the health professions. Over the summer, Virginia Pham was also presented with the 2008 ASDA Award of Excellence. This national award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a superior level of participation, leadership and service to peers, school and community. Appointed UCSF’s ASDA membership coordinator in 2007, she will serve as the UCSF chapter’s President and First Delegate in 2008. Mai Dinh received Honorable Mention for Legislative Liaison of the Year, having served on ASDA’s executive board at UCSF during the 2007-2008 school year. During her term she was responsible for organizing various advocacy events, including voter registration drives, "Pizza'n'Politics," and for organizing a UCSF Dentistry trip to Washington D.C. for ASDA’s National Student Lobby Day. She raised more than $3000 for the event, enabling a record ten students to attend. Gail Garrett began her term as Legislative Grassroots Network Vice-Chair, providing leadership in advocacy and involvement in the political process. Her responsibilities will include assisting with activities of the LGN, serving as ASDA's liaison to the American Dental Political Action Committee (ADPAC) Board of Directors, as well as designing and implementing a national ADPAC drive. Gail served as ASDA President at UCSF during the 2007-2008 school year.