Three Students Complete, Two Begin National Academic Dental Career Fellowship Program
The UNC School of Dentistry continues to lead U.S. dental schools in the number of D.D.S. students participating in the National Academic Dental Career Fellowship Program (ADCFP), this year boasting three students who completed the program and two new enrollees. Since 2008, UNC has had 10 ADCFP Fellows.
Sarah Lee, Si On Lim and Shraddha Patel, all D.D.S. Candidates 2013, completed their year-long commitment in the ADCFP this year. Their involvement culminated in presenting individual posters summarizing their experience in the program at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) meeting in March. During the program, each D.D.S. student had a mentor. Lee’s mentor was Dr. Ibrahim Duqum, Lim’s mentor was Dr. Valerie Murrah, and Patel’s mentor was Dr. Carol Haggerty.
Also at the recent ADEA meeting, a new group of fellowship participants was announced. Two third-year D.D.S. students, Elizabeth Consky and Bhavna Pahel, were offered the opportunity to participate in the program. They, along with their mentors, are two of 28 student/mentor teams selected nationally. Consky’s participation will be mentored by Dr. Janet Guthmiller, and Pahel’s will be mentored by Dr. Jessica Lee. Both Consky and Pahel will present posters at the 2014 ADEA meeting.
The ADCFP program is co-sponsored by the ADEAGies Foundation and the American Association of Dental Research (AADR). The program immerses dental students and allied dental health students interested in academics into a structured program providing experiences in clinical and didactic teaching, a research practicum, and interviews of faculty and administration with the ultimate goal of fostering, encouraging and preparing students for a career in academic dentistry or academic allied dental health.
“We are extremely excited to have two of our student participating again this year and we are hopeful that this program will encourage our students to pursue academic careers in their future,” said Guthmiller, who serves as associate dean for academic affairs for the school.
