Greetings! Welcome to the website of the American Student Dental Association. ASDA protects and advances the rights, interests and welfare of dental students while developing great leaders in dentistry. Our mission is evident at events such as National Dental Student Lobby Day in Washington D.C. when hundreds of students advocate for change to policymakers or our successful National Leadership Conference where powerful speakers offer relevant solutions to a wide range of issues.

Dental school is a challenging time in a student's life, no matter what accomplishments preceded it. It requires deep commitment, not to mention extraordinary time management. Why do we do it? Because we know that the pursuit of excellence in the name of serving patients is always worth it. Whether in the clinic, classroom or community, our 19,000 members strive to embody the values of ASDA: community, engagement, integrity and passion.

As elected officials of the ASDA House of Delegates, Vice President Tyler Rumple, Washington ’14, Vice President Martin Smallidge, Pittsburgh ’14, and I am dedicated to giving our membership a voice. Our work could not be done without the insights and steadfast efforts of our tireless Executive Director Nancy Honeycutt, CAE. The 2013-14 Executive Committee will actively listen and create discussion between stakeholders to foster relationships and collaboration. ASDA’s leaders at the chapter, district and national levels are devoted to advocating for members and patients to elevate the entire profession.

Explore the site to see all that ASDA has to offer you! Whether you are an undergraduate student looking for guidance, a predoctoral student seeking community or a health care professional who is wondering what the buzz is about, you are in the right place. ASDA has a busy year ahead of it to create change in student debt load, licensure and barriers to care. I am incredibly proud to represent such an outstanding group in the forefront of improving patient care and ultimately bettering the world.

Sincerely,

Jiwon Lee, Columbia ‘14
2013-14 President