FellowTrack Conference

Yesterday, I went down to Costa Mesa for an AGD student conference a.k.a, FellowTrack conference.  It is a program designed to encourage dental students to go beyond their formal dental training and step outside of the box to learn real life dentistry.  In the end, they will be rewarded a Fellowship award…after they pass one of the hardest exams they’ll ever take.  Yes, it’s hard work but fun.  That’s why FAGD and MAGD dentists are life-long learners. You just don’t stop learning.  The hope is that the more you learn, the more you want to learn and understand the science and profession.
These are the student representatives from UCSF and UOP dental schools.  My partner, Gurrinder, and I are their advisors.  We work to enhance their knowledge of dental procedures and provide them with hands-on courses to familiarize them with the “feel” of it all.
The female students are the president of their schools.  They gave a great presentation and showed genuine camaraderie amongst all the dental schools.  One USC student introduced herself and said she was from the “best dental school”.  My students asked to reply with a comeback when it was their turn to talk.  So they said, “UCSF is the best and affordable”.  Everyone laughed.
While other schools emphasized their social media presence, both UOP and UCSF students emphasized the plethora of educational courses they offered to their members through the AGD student chapter.  I could not be a happier mama bear.  I was so proud.  Both my presidents spoke at the very end because other students were more assertive getting to the podium.  They spoke softly and shyly, with a tint of nervousness.  They kept looking at me just to keep their heads up and not down.  The vice president of UOP said, “Of course you saved the best presentation for last.” Again, everyone laughed.  He was nervous, too.
When it was all done, Gurrinder and I somehow got a lot of credits.  I diverted it all to my presidents.  They’re so inspirational.  They made others want to do more and be more involved.  They’re true leaders.  While they were shy at the podium, they were super stars when they sat back down.  Their confidence grew.  When it was all over, everyone went out with their boyfriends, girlfriends and wives to celebrate.  It’s moments like these that make my hard work outside of the office worth every hour in traffic and late night planning.
 
 

Gurrinder (center) and I with the students from UOP and UCSF after the conference.

Student representatives from all California dental schools, advisors, guest speakers, and CAGD leaders, who made this all possible.

---