Student
Activities and
Organizations
White
Coat Ceremony
Second-year dental,
dental hygiene, and
dental laboratory
technology students
participate in the White
Coat Ceremony to
introduce students to
the importance of the
high ethical standards
of the dental
profession. The ceremony
marks the students'
entrance into the
practice of dentistry
through their first
patient contact and the
assumption of patient
responsibilities. During
the ceremony, students
receive a white clinic
coat and recite the LSU
Health Sciences Center
School of Dentistry
Professional Oath. In
addition, the students
write a professional
honor code as first year
students, pledging to
conduct themselves
honorably and
professionally which
they also recite during
the ceremony.
Recognition
Ceremony
A recognition ceremony,
in addition to
graduation, is held at
the end of each academic
year to recognize the
graduating class.
Friends and family are
invited. Merit and
achievement awards and
special honors are
announced and presented.
Doctoral hoods and
degree medallions are
presented.
Student
Government Association
Members of the Executive
Council of the Student
Government Association
(SGA) consist of one
elected representative
from each class, class
presidents, the elected
president, vice
president, and
secretary-treasurer of
the student body.
Elections are held
annually in April. The
Student Government
Association conducts
class officer elections
each spring. First year
class elections are held
in October with
temporary officers
serving until that time.
Current
SGA and Class
Officers
The
Student Government
Association provides a
forum for student
debates and opinions,
and provides a method of
dialogue between faculty
and student body. The
Student Government
Association has a
bipartisan function in
serving also as the
local Chapter of the
American Student Dental
Association and
therefore upholds and
supports the objectives
of the American Student
Dental Association. The
Student Government
Association sponsors
several annual events.
American
Dental Education
Association
(ADEA)
The American Dental
Education Association is
devoted to the
advancement of dental
education, research and
service. ADEA is the
premier association
serving the allied,
predoctoral, and
postdoctoral dental
education community.
Members receive the
Journal of Dental
Education and Bulletin
of Dental Education.
Representatives from the
dental school are
selected to serve on the
Council of Students of
ADEA as the national
voice and advocate for
all students in the
dental education
community.
Student
National Dental
Association (SNDA)
The student organization
of the National Dental
Association was
established in 1970 to
promote, aid, and
support the academic,
moral, ethical and
social environment of
minority students. It
strives to establish
opportunities for its
members to develop
stronger alliances
amongst one another and
develop a sense of
community in the dental
schools. The
organization provides
dental education, access
to care information, and
community service
through various outreach
efforts, with emphasis
on the minorities and
the undeserved. Officers
are elected and act as
delegates to the SNDA's
House of Delegates.
American
Student Dental
Association (ASDA)
The American Student
Dental Association is a
branch of the American
Dental Association. ASDA
was established in 1971
to represent, serve, and
support the needs and
interests of dental
students. A yearly
membership fee is
assessed to all dental
students. Two delegates
at each dental school
chapter serve as voting
members in the ASDA
House of Delegates. Each
student receives
official publications
from these associations
and is welcome to attend
all scientific sessions
sponsored by them. Other
professional benefits
are also available to
the student through
membership in the ADA
and the ASDA including
the opportunity to
purchase several types
of insurance protection
plans that cover
instruments and
equipment.
Academy
of General Dentistry
(AGD) Student Fellow
Track Program /
Affiliate of the
Louisiana Academy of
General Dentistry
The Fellow Track program
is a student-driven
organization dedicated
to life-long learning.
AGD student members may
earn up to 50 hours of
continuing education
credits toward their AGD
Fellowship awarded after
graduation. The Fellow
Track program sponsors
continuing education
classes and "lunch and
learns" on a variety of
subjects of interest to
dental professionals.
Student
Professionalism and
Ethics Association in
Dentistry (SPEA)
The Student
Professionalism and
Ethics Association in
Dentistry is a national,
student driven
association that was
established to promote
and support a student’s
lifelong commitment to
ethical behavior in
order to benefit the
patients they serve and
further the dental
profession.
Muslim
Students Association
The Muslim Student
Association is dedicated
to build unity through
diversity and education.
It aims to facilitate
informative programs for
people of all
backgrounds, levels of
knowledge and piety to
learn about Islamic
traditions and beliefs.
MSA hopes to foster a
tolerant, vibrant, and
diverse community to
provide representation
for Muslim students and
their interests at LSUH
as well as actively
engage the surrounding
communities through
education and civil
service.
LSUHSC
School of Dentistry
Alumni Association
The president of the
Student Government
Association, the senior
class presidents from
the dental, dental
hygiene and dental
laboratory technology
programs, in addition to
the two student
representatives for the
American Student Dental
Association, serve as
student representatives
on the LSUHSC School of
Dentistry Alumni
Association Board of
Directors to represent
student interests to the
LSUHSC alumni.
American
Association of Women
Dentists (AAWD)
The American Association
of Women Dentists is
open to all dental
students interested in
the activities of women
in dentistry. The
Louisiana chapter (LAWD)
meets during the school
year and sponsors both
educational and social
programs. Annual dues
are assessed.
Student
American Dental
Hygienists'
Association (SADHA)
The Student American
Dental Hygienists'
Association is a branch
of the American Dental
Hygienists' Association.
In addition to learning
about the ADHA, students
participate in
professional meetings
and discussion groups
locally, regionally, and
nationally. Each student
receives official
publications from these
associations and is
welcome to attend all
scientific sessions
sponsored by them. Other
professional benefits
are also available to
the student with
membership in the ADHA
and the SADHA. A faculty
advisor for the Dental
School chapter is
designated each year.
Sigma
Phi Alpha
Sigma Phi Alpha is the
national honor society
of the dental hygiene
profession. Students
elected to membership
must rank high in
scholarship and
character and exhibit
potential qualities for
future growth in the
profession.
Delta
Sigma Delta and Psi
Omega
Dental students are
offered membership in
professional dental
fraternities to promote
the high ideals and
standards of its
profession; to advance
the professional
knowledge and welfare of
its members; and to
provide a medium through
which its members, with
a common interest, can
develop everlasting
friendships. Annual dues
are assessed.
Omicron
Kappa Upsilon
Omicron Kappa Upsilon is
a national dental honor
society founded for the
purpose of encouraging
scholarship and
advancing the ethical
standards of the dental
profession. Members,
elected from the top 20
percent of the
graduating class, show
potential for
professional growth and
serve as examples among
their peers. More
C.
Edmund Kells Honor
Society
C. Edmund Kells Honor
Society, named after a
pioneer in dentistry, is
a student group
established in 1971 to
honor dental students
who have distinguished
themselves academically
and clinically. Their
peers in the Society
select students based on
scholarship and
professionalism. One
faculty member is also
selected each year to
honorary membership. More
Intramural
Athletics
Students have the
opportunity to
participate in
intramural flag
football, basketball and
softball. The student
designated "athletic
director" is in charge
of organizing schedules,
maintaining and
purchasing equipment,
and setting up the field
for games. Competition
is between dental
classes and between
other schools in the
health sciences center.
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