ASDA’s community is made of 17,000 dental students as well as the faculty and administrators who make your learning experience meaningful. “Under the White Coat” features dental students and faculty from ASDA chapters across the United States. Each month, ASDA will highlight new people and we invite you to participate.
If you would like us to feature you or a student or faculty member at your chapter, please contact Danielle Bauer, chapter relations manager.
Member Spotlight
Name: Kirsty Johnson
Hometown: Summersville, West Virginia
Chapter: West Virginia
E-mail: Kljohnson2013@gmail.com
Graduation year: 2013
Position held at chapter: Vice President
Plans after graduation: I hope to pursue a Perio residency and then move out West.
Favorite ASDA benefit: Automatically becoming an ADA member
Last good book you read: "127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place" - the memoir of the hiker whose hand got stuck in a narrow canyon in 2003 and survived five days before amputating his own limb. The book seriously taught me about the endurance, strength and will power needed to achieve your goals.
Mac or PC? Just recently made the switch to Mac and there's no going back!
Most embarrassing song on your iPod: The most-played albums are The Twilight soundtracks... That's embarrassing but it's surprisingly great indie music.
Personal possession that you can’t live without: My smart phone. But I did live without one in Europe and it was wonderfully peaceful.
Unique hobby or interest: I love writing fiction and short stories. A couple books have been in the works since high school, so maybe one day I'll be finished.
Faculty Spotlight
Name: Carrie Garinger
E-mail: Carrie.Garinger@tufts.edu
Dental school: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Position held at dental school: Assistant Director of Student Affairs
School you graduated from: Bates College
Degree: B.A.
What made you pursue a career at a dental school? I had previously worked in admissions at my undergraduate institution and when I embarked on a job search in the Boston area, I came across an Admissions Officer position at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. As the daughter of an endodontist and dental hygienist, I felt comfortable in the dental field and used this angle to my advantage to get the position. After close to two years of working in admissions, I moved over to the Office of Student Affairs. In my current position as the Assistant Director of Student Affairs, I have had the opportunity to work more closely with students and faculty members and support various student organizations such as ASDA.
How does ASDA benefit your students? ASDA offers a wide variety of benefits to students who are looking to get involved and take advantage of the opportunities provided by their membership. We have a large number of students who are actively involved in ASDA and organized dentistry, working collaboratively with fellow dentists and dental students on both the local and national level. These students attend a variety of events such as regional and national ASDA meetings, the National Dental Student Lobby Day, as well as other regional leadership meetings. We’ve also had a number of students pursue summer internship opportunities with ASDA and the ADA in Chicago and Washington D.C. In addition, our ASDA delegates do a great deal to promote student leadership at Tufts and have become highly involved with our local dental society, the Massachusetts Dental Society.
Words of wisdom for future dentists: Find a mentor and continue seeking advice and guidance even after you graduate from dental school.
Unique hobby or interest: Former sea kayaking instructor on the coast of Maine.
Last good book you read: I’ve been consumed with reading scholarly materials for graduate school classes. I am currently working toward my M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration.
Member Spotlight
Name: Hannibal Alexander Crisp “Alex”
Chapter: East Carolina University SoDM
E-mail: crisph11@students.ecu.edu
Graduation year: 2015
Position held at chapter: Former ADPAC Rep.
Hometown: Burlington, NC
Plans after graduation: I want to work in rural North Carolina, but I’m not sure of the exact location at this time.
Favorite ASDA benefit: I believe that would have to be the access to everything related to dentistry, and the discounts on different products.
Last good book you read: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Mac or PC? MAC… It’s a school requirement
Most embarrassing song on your iPod: It’s probably one of the Lady Gaga songs
Personal possession that you can’t live without: They’re not really a possession, but I can’t live without my immediate family; I’m very family oriented
Unique hobby or interest: I love to watch movies and work out. As an undergraduate, I played varsity football at UNC Chapel Hill. To say the least, my commitment to exercise/training has yet to relieve me of its football ways (I still work out like I’m training for the NFL combine, but I love it.)
Faculty Spotlight
Name: Sam Low, DDS, MS, MEd
E-mail: SLOW@dental.ufl.edu
Dental school:University of Florida College of Dentistry
Position held at dental school: Professor Emeritus, Periodontology
Dental school you graduated from: University of Texas, Houston
Dental specialty: Periodontics, University of Texas, Houston
What made you pursue a career in dentistry? Wide open after College. Our family dentist suggested a consideration. Never looked back. Dexterity, critical thinking, and patient interaction — what a great combo.
How does ASDA benefit your students?Allows members to truly appreciate each other outside of a sometimes stressful, overwhelming and educational environment. The positive side effect is creating building blocks for present and future engagement in organized dentistry. The camaraderie to create synergy is priceless.
Words of wisdom for future dentists: You can always read “how to”… take the high road, find the reality mentors and ask why?
Last good book you read: Outliers…Malcolm Gladwell: “Because we so profoundly personalize success, we squander human potential. We miss opportunities to lift others onto the top rung”. I’m a Gladwell fan… he provides insight into life outside of the dental profession that impacts our future as dental health care professionals.
Unique hobby or interest: Motorcycling… yes, a little risky… just keep it upright!