ASDA’s community is made of over 19,000 dental students as well as the faculty and administrators who make your learning experience meaningful. Each month, ASDA will highlight dental students and faculty from ASDA chapters across the United States.
If you would like us to feature you or a student or faculty member at your chapter, please contact Erin Kato, member relations specialist.
Member Spotlight 
Name: Tracy Welc
Hometown: Palm Harbor, FL
Chapter: Southern California
E-mail: mackoy@usc.edu
Graduation year: 2014
Position held at chapter: President
Plans after graduation: I am in the Health Professions Scholarship Program so I will be working as a dentist in the United States Navy – wherever they need me in the world!
Favorite ASDA benefit: Meeting some of the most incredibly driven and funny people ever. And, of course, saving money on my car insurance.
Last good book you read: Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple. I still need to read "50 Shades of Gray" by El James
Mac or PC? Mac because it’s less of a hassle for updates, etc. and super user friendly (AKA built for the technologically disinclined)
Most embarrassing song on your iPod: The theme song for that old school amazing cartoon that we all loved: Darkwing Duck (when you’re in trouble, you call D.W.)
Personal possession that you can’t live without: Do dogs count? I have the best mutt in the country; he even has a Facebook account… Be friends with Boo Welc!
Unique hobby or interest: I collect fortunes from fortune cookies. Not sure what I’m going to do with all those little slips of paper…
Faculty Spotlight 
Name: Dr. Wilhelmina O’Reilly
Dental School: University of Mississippi School of Dentistry
E-mail: woreilly@umc.edu
Dental School you graduated from: Howard University School of Dentistry
Position held at dental school: Pediatric Dentistry
What made you pursue a career in dentistry? My father was a dentist and I worked in his office. I was around dentistry all of my life.
How does ASDA benefit your students? It prepares them for leadership roles in dentistry and their community. Keeps them abreast of things that could help them in dental school and new advancements in dentistry.
Words of wisdom for future dentists: Absorb as much as you can while in dental school. You will appreciate it when you get in private practice.
Last good book you read: "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks
Unique hobby or interest: Fishing; Traveling the World
Member Spotlight 
Name: Ben Hellickson
Hometown: Corvallis, OR
Chapter: Pacific Dugoni
E-mail: b_hellickson@u.pacific.edu
Graduation year: 2014
Position held at chapter: Chapter President First Delegate
Plans after graduation: Partner in General Practice with friend, fellow OSU Beaver, and 2004 UOP graduate outside Portland, OR
Favorite ASDA benefit: Opportunity to attend and make new friends at all the ASDA meetings throughout the year – especially Annual Session!
Last good book you read: "The Signal and the Noise" by Nate Silver
Mac or PC? Typewriter
Most embarrassing song on your iPod: All Ke$ha songs
Personal possession that you can’t live without: My Chihuahuas Hank and Brandy
Unique hobby or interest: Skeet shooting
Faculty Spotlight 
Name: Chris Chappell
Dental School: East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine
E-mail: chappellc@ecu.edu
School you graduated from: East Carolina University
Position held at dental school: Director of Student Services
What made you pursue a career at a dental school? I greatly enjoy working with and helping students. When the opportunity to work at a brand new dental school presented itself, I jumped at the chance.
How does ASDA benefit your students? It introduces our students to the benefits of being part of a professional organization from their first day as a student at ECU SoDM. It gives our students the opportunity to become involved with organized dentistry on both a local and national level. Giving them the ability to hold an office or attend professional meetings. And it exposes them to aspects of organized dentistry that they would not get otherwise.
Words of wisdom for future dentists: The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. – Aristotle
Last good book you read: "The Glory of Their Times" by Lawrence Ritter
Unique hobby or interest: Karaoke. I do karaoke any chance I can get.