GSDM Community Comes Together for AAWD Spring Brunch
On Sunday, March 20, 2016, approximately 30 members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community gathered in the GSDM cafeteria for the seventh annual American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) Spring Brunch, which is put on by the GSDM chapter of the AAWD.
Attendees heard the inspiring stories from a panel of four women dentists, who spoke on the theme of “To Own or Not to Own, The Business of Dentistry.” The women were Dr. Tina Valades, Dr. Samira Sheikh, Dr. Courtney Brady, and Dr. Kumi Kamachi. Dr. Valades and Dr. Sheikh are both Clinical Assistant Professors in GSDM’s Department of General Dentistry. Dr. Brady and Dr. Kamachi are both alumni of GSDM. Dr. Kamachi is also a guest lecturer at GSDM.
“The Spring Brunch was a great success,” said GSDM AAWD President Amanda Yip DMD 16. “The members were able to hear from different perspectives about the values of either associateship or ownership, as well as some of the most important issues affecting women in dentistry.”
Before the panel, Dr. Joe Calabrese, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry, Assistant Dean of Students, and Director of Dental Medicine, opened up the brunch with a welcome address. Dr. Eleni Kanasi, Assistant Geriatric Professor in the Department of General Dentistry and the Department of Periodontology, and Practice Leader in the Pre-doctoral Patient Treatment Center also spoke on the many topics important to women in dentistry. Dr. Kanasi is also a Faculty Advisor for GSDM AAWD.
Dr. Kadambari Rawal, who is also a Faculty Advisor for GSDM AAWD, said that during the panel the students in attendance were able to hear from a variety of perspectives on the pros and cons of owning their own practice and not owning their own practice. The four speakers were chosen as a diverse group of women from a variety of backgrounds who could offer a similar variety of perspectives on the topics being discussed.
The brunch also focused on the various concerns that women dental students have including many health and safety concerns, and other things that male dentists do not usually have to think about. For instance, it was advised by many on the panel that all women dentists should seriously consider maternity leave benefits when accepting positions.
As is tradition with the AAWD Spring Brunch, all profits from the entry tickets were used to purchase much needed supplies for Rosie’s Place, a women’s sanctuary in the South End that GSDM has a long standing relationship with, in which dental students provide care to women at Rosie’s Place every month. (To read more about GSDM’s work at Rosie’s Place click here.)
AAWD President Yip has volunteered at Rosie’s Place during one of the monthly visits, and she said the program is incredibly beneficial to the women at Rosie’s Place, but also to the students who volunteer.
“Outreach reminds me that there is more to dental school than exams and deadlines,” said Yip of volunteering at Rosie’s Place. “Every month at Rosie’s Place, there is an opportunity to use the knowledge our school has equipped us with to give back to the community and to help those who need it.”
Dean Hutter remarked, “I strongly support the AAWD and all the great work that this organization does at GSDM,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “Their Annual Spring Brunch certainly was a great success, and all those who worked to plan it should be proud of themselves.”
Photos from the AAWD Spring Brunch can be found on Facebook and Flickr.