In March, the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) invited students from all three dental schools to attend the American Dental Association’s annual Dentist and Student Lobby Day in Washington, D.C. 

The two-day conference included learning about advocacy, meeting with Congresspersons on Capitol Hill about current issues, and networking. 

We asked our dental students several questions about the event and will be sharing their responses in the next two newsletters. Overall, they found the experience enlightening and enjoyable.

Ria Patel – Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine

What was your biggest takeaway from the event? 
My biggest takeaway was how much organizations like ASDA and the ADA show why organized dentistry is so powerful and why it is so important to advocate for. Having so many students and dentists advocate for a common cause is so much more powerful than anyone alone. That was made clear in the Capitol Hill meetings and was so impactful for me as a first year dental student.

What impact do you think this experience will have on your future education and career? 
As a student, I have learned that ASDA is so important to dental students in the way it educates us before joining the profession. It is truly a gift that we are able to be a part of ASDA and are able to form educated opinions that will be able to carry us forward to become future leaders in the ADA and beyond.

Zoya Ahmed – University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry

What was the most memorable part of the event? 
I really loved the seminars I attended, especially the one called “How to Tell a Story.” It was an interactive session with breakout opportunities, and I really enjoyed it. I talked to the people around me and even met a lawyer! I love seminars like this that make you talk to people around you. I also loved the state pride banquet; it was a really unique experience.

What impact do you think this experience will have on your future education and career? 
I would definitely love to get more involved in advocating for my career and my colleagues, as well as my patients. Meeting dentists from Chicago helped me learn a lot of things. There aren’t enough dentists and dental students in the community that are involved in advocacy and our career is going to be jeopardized because of it. I also l learned that the dentists I met are super friendly, and I’d love to stay connected with them.

Meredith Wolf - Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine

What was your biggest takeaway from the event? 
I loved meeting so many dentists from Illinois, and from all over the U.S. This was an absolutely incredible experience and gave me even more reasons to be grateful for our wonderful profession! As a dental student currently in a "school bubble," the ADA Lobby Day showed me that organized dentistry is alive and well. After meeting so many dentists from the ISDS and the CDS, I have never been so proud to be from Illinois! It was pretty clear to me that Illinois dentists "punch above their weight" in terms of their presence and impact at ADA Lobby Day.

What impact do you think this experience will have on your future education and career?  
This experience emphasized to me that advocacy for our profession is the only thing standing between us and those who would undermine our profession and the value we have to offer patients. I see now how difficult it can be, even for large organizations like the ADA, to make their voice heard to national and state legislators.

I love being active on student council and in the ASDA and ADEA chapters at my school, and this made me even more excited to continue to contribute to organized dentistry however I can—including spreading the word to future dentists like myself. I hope to attend Lobby Day next year, and to continue attending once I am a dentist. 

Julissa Quinonez - Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine

What was your biggest takeaway from the event? 
Lobby Day was incredible and inspiring to see so many dedicated dentists and dental students gather to advocate for a profession we all share a passion for. It was truly an amazing experience to see and meet with all the dentists from Illinois as we had so many representatives present and ready to make a difference. Each individual I spoke with was proud of their profession and thankful for the opportunity to be involved to protect and improve it. The energy throughout the weekend was vibrant and positive.

What impact do you think this experience will have on your future education and career? 

After having experienced Lobby Day for a second time, I have a desire to be involved in the ADA and continue advocating for dentistry. There is power in numbers and every voice and experience truly matters. Being involved and advocating for our career is important as we are always looking out for our patients and the future years as dentistry continues to evolve.

Shahd Louaibi – University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry 

What was your biggest takeaway from the event? 
When we advocate as a collective unit, we have more bargaining power than if we were to individually advocate for our own separate interests. For me, it was beautiful to see dentists and dental students come together and advocate for the dental field as a whole as well as for the rights of our patients to choose their appropriate treatment. While the issues that were discussed didn't directly relate to the issues I face as a current second year student, I was more than happy to advocate for these issues because they are issues that are impacting the dental field right now and I would have to face later on as a practicing dentist once I graduate or there were issues my fellow peers would face when they are residents such as student loan debt interest accumulation. All in all, I learned that we have power in numbers and that it's important to represent the interests of everyone in the dental field.

What impact do you think this experience will have on your future education and career?
Lobby Day taught me that it's never too early to get involved and be informed of the issues at hand because soon we will be practicing dentists and have to deal with student loans, residency decisions, Medicaid and private insurance regulations, and more. That's why it's beneficial to learn about these issues as students and then join and contribute to the different coalitions pushing for reforms once we graduate.  

Watch for a second installment of this article in the June/July issue of the Illinois Dental News!