Posted September 30, 2015
I am excited to announce that we will be having a new guest blogger writing about her experience in Dental School. Abby Halpern – pictured here at her recent White Coat Ceremony -is a second year dental student at Georgia Regents University College of Dental Medicine in Augusta, Georgia. She is also a legislative coordinator for the American Student Dental Association (ASDA). Abby will tell you about her experiences and her journey as she studies to become a dentist and joins us in the world of dental professionals.
As the daughter of a periodontist and a dental assistant, Abby grew up in the dental world. Leading up to her decision to go to dental school, she was involved in Georgia Mission of Mercy (GMOMs), interned at the American Dental Association’s Political Action Committee in Washington, D.C., and earned her Masters in Microbiology and Immunology at Georgetown University.
Abby’s decision to get her Masters was, in part, driven by her rejection from dental school and the feeling of not being qualified enough. When you ask about how she felt, she will tell you that while she was definitely disappointed, ultimately she’s grateful because her year off gave her the gift of passion. At first she wanted to be a dentist so she could have a good job in the healthcare space, but while working in Washington on dental policy, she realized that by improving dentistry through increased access to care or expanding research on dental pain, she could help groups of patients in addition to the patient sitting in her chair. This passion gave Abby the motivation to apply to dental school for a second time and gave a purpose to her life.
I look back at my time in dental hygiene school as such a significant part of my life. While I was in school, I formed relationships that made a huge impact on my life today. You’ve heard me talk about Ms. Heather Mapp who has been an important mentor and friend. I still work with her today through the Dental Hygiene Seminars that she started while she was my dental hygiene professor.
Think back to your time in dental assistant school, dental hygiene school, dental school or even high school. You may be in classes now preparing for your career, working while in school, or finishing up school and looking for your first job. If so, how can we help you?
Hopefully, you can learn from Abby’s experiences or just have fun watching her progress. Look out for Abby’s upcoming blogs, photos, and videos!
Posted November 05, 2019
Long before most patients visit a dentist, they try to take a look at a map. They need to know where the office is located, and those that don’t show up rarely get contacted. If you want to literally put your dental office on the map, you need to invest in local search engine optimization […]
Posted June 21, 2019
Spend more time with family. Have more time to pursue hobbies, go back to college, or write a book. Earn extra income to supplement your current job. Why do you want to temp as a dental assistant or hygienist? Temping in a dental office can be a super-convenient way to earn while maintaining a flexible […]
Posted May 24, 2019
So you’ve decided to find a new job—only to discover that the market is scarce. Job markets (like any market) ebb and flow. Some months, like September and October, are better than others because a lot of companies want to hire before the frenzy of the holidays. Other months, like June and July, aren’t so […]