College of Dental Medicine

American Association of Dental Schools

The American Association of Dental Schools promotes communication and standardization among dental schools.  Student input into the educational process is achieved through student representatives from each school.

American Association of Women Dentists

The American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) has two objectives:  first, to offer opportunities for professional growth through association with women in the dental profession; and second, to support the goals of the AAWD, “to aid in the advancement of women in dentistry, to promote professional support and cooperation among its members, and to promote the fundamentals of good oral health.”

American Dental Education Association

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Student Chapter at the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine strives to support achievement and excellence in all aspects of dental education. Our chapter aims to develop programs and activities which address the need for dental educators and researchers in the future, to further post-graduate dental education, and motivate students of all education levels to become dental professionals. Chapter programs aim to not only support these objectives, but also foster professional and personal growth through community outreach, inter professional education, and learning lifelong leadership skills.

American Student Dental Association

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) is a national organization representing all dental students.  The organization began from student membership in the American Dental Association (ADA).  Members of ASDA automatically become student members of the ADA with all the privileges of association membership.

The local chapter at MUSC provides input to the national organization, assists members with obtaining membership benefits, and serves as the Student Government Association of the College of Dental Medicine.  MUSC ASDA sponsors the Freshman Orientation Picnic Day, the ASDA Dental Manufacturers Display, the ASDA Softball World Series, the College of Dental Medicine Newspaper, Clinic Day, and the C.C.C. Run/Walk.

The governing body of MUSC ASDA is the Executive Council, composed of ASDA representatives, MUSC SGA representatives, dental fraternity presidents, and representatives from the American Association of Dental Schools and the Student National Dental Association.

College of Dental Medicine Class Officers

Delta Sigma Delta

Delta Sigma Delta, the oldest of the dental fraternities, was founded November 15, 1882. Its objective is to encourage high standards of ethical and professional conduct as well as to offer special activities to its student and professional members.The Alpha Beta Chapter of the Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Dental Medicine is one of the newest chapters of this international brotherhood.

Dental Community Fellowship

Dental Community Fellowship (DCF) is a Christian outreach to dental students. It is chartered as a local chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations. The goal of our organization is to motivate, educate, and equip dental students and dentists to glorify God, encourage each other, and reach out to the community in a Christ like manner. Some of our yearly activities include…

•  B3 (Bible, Beer, Bar)
•  Back to School Bash
•  Freshmen Welcome Dinner
•  Lunch and Learns on campus
•  Dinners at local dentists’ homes
•  Bible Studies
•  Local Missions and Community Service (Free Clinics, Habitat for Humanity, Convoy of Hope, etc)
•  International Dental Mission Trips to locations such as Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Costa Rica (just to name a few!)

While we are a body of Christian believers, we encourage students of all walks of life to participate in our activities.

For more information on DCF, please visit the links below:

http://www.facebook.com/dentalcommunityfellowship
www.dcfellowship.net

Dental Student Alumni Council

Alumni Council’s primary functions are to help ease the transition from being dental students to becoming active alumni and to serve as liaisons between the student body and alumni.

The council assists the Office of Alumni Affairs in organizing and hosting events sponsored by the MUSC Dental Alumni Association for students, especially the dental career seminars held during the year.  These evening seminars feature alumni speakers from the community who offer advice on residency and career choices and practice information.  Council members also assist the alumni liaison for the College of Dental Medicine in regard to the continuing education weekend event co-sponsored by the Alumni Association and the American Student Dental Association each spring.  Dr. Monica Cayouette serves as faculty advisor for the group. New members from the entering class are solicited each fall.

Omicron Kappa Upsilon

Zeta Eta Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society was chartered in 1970 at the College of Dental Medicine of the Medical University of South Carolina. Its purpose is to honor dental students who exhibit excellence in scholarship and other exemplary traits.

Alumni members are chosen from the upper 20% of the class who rank highest in scholarship for the entire period that they have been in attendance at the dental school. From this list, no more than 12% of the entire senior class may be elected to alumni membership by the active members of the component chapter.
  

Psi Omega

Psi Omega, a professional dental fraternity, was chartered at the Medical University of South Carolina on April 6, 1973.  The Sigma Chi Chapter of the College of Dental Medicine is presently the largest dental fraternity at the University.

Yearly activities include expert lectures in all phases of dentistry, various social events, and sponsorship of numerous community projects.

Student National Dental Association

The Student National Dental Association (SNDA) was founded by concerned dental students at Meharry Medical College in 1970, and incorporated in 1972, over 50 years after its parent group, the National Dental Association.  SNDA was created to encourage and promote minority recruitment/retention, to meet dental health needs of minority and underserved communities, and to create a relationship between the National Dental Association members and the students of this organization.

SNDA members across the country are composed of African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian Americans.  The organization has become a helpful tool in establishing and providing a network of communication among and between students as a means of improving dental care among under-represented individuals and communities.