ASDA Students Lobby For Dental Issues

Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGSDM) members of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) traveled to Washington, DC in February to participate in National Dental Student Lobby Day, an event co-sponsored by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and ASDA. Trip participants included ASDA Co-Legislative Liaisons Brian Nelson DMD 10 and Derrick Call DMD 12, as well as ASDA members Courtney Brady DMD 11, Mike Visser DMD 10, Gary Nord DMD 10, and Heather Parsons DMD 11.

Participants spent their first day in Washington being briefed on the lobbying issues that ADEA and ASDA were officially endorsing, including the Meth Mouth Prevention and Community Recovery Act and the National Health Service Corps Funding legislation. During the second day they met with members of the U.S. House of Representatives to educate them about why these lobbying issues are important to dental students and professionals.

"I wanted to get involved with National Dental Student Lobby Day because up until I enrolled in dental school I hated politics," said Nelson. "But now, after realizing how important politics are to protecting our profession as well as the oral health of our communities, I’m hooked. National Dental Student Lobby Day gave me a chance to participate in the legislative process and also to set a good example for other students considering getting involved."

National Dental Student Lobby Day participants are expected to follow up with representatives by phone and through thank you letters. They must also submit write-ups to ASDA detailing how the representatives responded to the proposed legislation.

“I am very proud of our GSDM ASDA Chapter and very pleased our students participated in National Dental Student Lobby Day,” said Dean Jeffrey Hutter.  “The involvement of these outstanding students in organized dentistry at this early stage of their careers means a great deal to our School and to the future of our profession.”