Welcome Class of 2021

The Class of 2021 has arrived! The entering students were welcomed to the College of Dentistry by first semester faculty and fellow dental students during orientation week. Throughout the week, the D1s learned what to expect during their time at UFCD, started creating their class culture and learned about their strengths during a StrengthsQuest presentation. The culminating activity of orientation is the outdoor team challenge course at Lake Wauburg. The students had to work together in teams to successfully complete the challenge activities. Needless to say, they were victorious in their efforts and finished the day as a family of 93, with new class t-shirts to boot.

Student Health Professions Education Program

In 2016, University of Florida Health received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop a pilot project for the 2017 Summer Health Professions Education Program, or SHPEP. This program enabled 80 underrepresented and/or disadvantaged students interested in health care to receive extensive exposure to an array of health careers, an academic enrichment component and hands-on learning experiences. Students selected from four career pathways of interest: Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacy and Dentistry. In addition to these pathways, students participated in sessions to learn about other health careers including Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Clinical Health Psychology, Health Administration, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Formerly the Summer Learning Program, the UF College of Dentistry provided 20 scholars with a unique dental career pathway experience complete with simulation lab training, dental student mentors and interactions with dedicated faculty and staff.

National Boards Part 1: 100% Pass Rate for the Class of 2019

Friday, August 11, the class of 2019 celebrated their victory of a 100% pass rate on NBDE Boards Part 1. After all their hard work, the class finally got to sit back and relax at their luau-themed party in the HPNP reception area. We are so proud of them, and we look forward to their future successes.

Curriculum:

Examplify

This fall our students transitioned to ExamSoft’s new exam program called Examplify. Examplify’s framework allows for easier maintenance and operating system updates, so students can test on the latest software versions available for their devices. It utilizes a simpler interface allowing students easier exam navigation.

At this time, Examplify has not changed the faculty and staff ExamSoft interface regarding previews, item analysis, grading essays or grade retrieval for ECO grade books.

Learning is a journey that has different paths for everyone, yet often core curricular programs are not flexible. D.M.D. students continue their professional lifelong learning process in DEN7017: Professionalism in Patient Care and Practice Management III and DEN8018: Professionalism In Patient Care and Practice Management IV through completion of UF Continuing Education Units in the junior and senior year. Select your interest area from the options available, register early, hear national speakers and network with practitioners. For more information visit the DMD Continuing Education web page.

Employee Updates:
Coordinator of Student Affairs

In late July, Anthony Licari was promoted to Coordinator of Student Affairs. He will now work alongside Dr. Patty Probert and Ms. Censeri Abare in the brand new Office of Student Advocacy & Inclusion. Anthony will continue to coordinate key events and programs for D.M.D. students, including freshmen orientation, student government elections and the peer tutoring program. He plans to work with D.M.D. students and administration to develop new programming that will not only address global issues, but also celebrate the diversity within UFCD. Anthony also serves as a student advocate and is available for one-on-one or small group meetings in his new office, D3-22.

Academic Assistant

Valerie Plunkett is the new of Academic Assistant 1 in the Office of Education. She started with the department in March 2017 as an OPS employee. Valerie can be reached at vplunkett@dental.ufl.edu, 273-5950 and in the Office of Education, D3-11.

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