On Wednesday, April 10, 2013, Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter hosted a luncheon honoring Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s (GSDM) 2013 American Student Dental Association (ASDA) debate team.
The team competed in the Second Annual ASDA District 1 Debate on Saturday, February 23, 2013. The GSDM team competed against their counterparts at Harvard University School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM). Due to inclement weather, the team from University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine (the fourth District 1 School) could not attend. The Debate was held at TUSDM.
The participating team members were: James Lee DMD 14, Michael Mayr DMD 16, Darshit Shah AS 13, and Wyatt Traina DMD 14.
Marc Horton DMD 14 and Rachel Lukas DMD 13 organized the event with assistance from ASDA Executive Committee members Danielle Berkowitz DMD 13, Danielle Fernandez DMD 14, and Sammy Gill DMD 14. They worked in conjunction with students from HSDM and TUSDM, as well as the Boston Collaborative Group and the Massachusetts Dental Society.
TUSDM won the debate, but the GSDM team members’ efforts were exceptional and made for an exciting series of debates.
The debate topics were:
- Should non-dentists be permitted to perform teeth whitening procedures?
- With the increase in large dental practices, should there be more ADA oversight to protect patients?
- Is it ethical for dental mission trips to practice a different standard of care than that which we practice in the U.S.?
- Is it ethical for dentists to offer Groupon/LivingSocial deals?
- Should there be incentive programs offered to encourage students to enter academia upon graduation?
- Should dental anesthesiology be an ADA-recognized specialty?
- Do mid-level providers serve to increase accessibility to dental care in neglected communities or do they compromise the overall quality of care administered?
- As educational institutions, do dental schools have a responsibility to their students to keep tuition reasonably affordable?
- Is there a place for a naturopathic-based approach to dentistry in the current healthcare system?
“These debates are important because they shine a spotlight on the hot issues of dentistry,” said Wyatt Traina.
Dr. George Keleher, clinical associate professor of General Dentistry, served as a Debate judge and Assistant Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese was among the spectators cheering on the team.
Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter recognized the team’s performance at the Debate. “Congratulations to our ASDA debate team,” said Dean Hutter. “Your knowledge and skills were truly inspiring and you made our School proud.”