| WHITE COAT
CEREMONY WELCOMES NEW STUDENTS
The doctoral dental class of
2007 and dental hygiene hygiene and advanced standing classes
of 2005 officially embarked on their career as oral health
professionals at the 2003 Annual White Coat Ceremony,
September 5 at Bovard Auditorium.
The students were joined by
family, friends, faculty, staff, fellow-students and alumni
for an evening of celebration in honor of their commitment to
excellence. The event was emceed by Dean Slavkin who was
joined on stage by several members of the USC community who
all offered words of encouragement and advice to the new
Trojans.
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Freshman doctoral dental students taking the
Oath of an Oral Health Professional.
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Alvin Rosenblum, speaking on
behalf of the USC Century Club, welcomed the students to the
Trojan family. He reminded them that the white coats, supplied
by the Century Club, were a symbol of their commitment and
passion for their profession. He urged them to “work hard,
learn well and make the most of this opportunity.”
Class of 2004 Associated
Student Body President Bao-Thy Nguyen spoke of her experience
as a participant in the school’s first White Coat Ceremony.
Nguyen told the audience she “stepped into something
extraordinary on that day.” Recalling her first years of
doctoral dental training Nguyen, advised the incoming classes
to work hard but always remember to make time for family and
friends.
John Glueckert, president of
the Dental Faculty Assembly, compared the coming four-years of
doctoral dental training to a recent Los Angeles Philharmonic
performance of Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony #9 (From the New
World) at the Hollywood Bowl.
“Sometimes in the music of
your symphony things will glide gently along,” said
Glueckert analogously. “Sometimes you will hear the clashing
of the percussions, and you will wonder if it will ever end.”
Glueckert told the incoming
class that they can rely on the expertise and support of the
USCSD faculty throughout their doctoral dental training.
Ultimately, the music will come to its crescendo and they will
receive their ovation.
Glueckert’s sentiments were
echoed by Ron Robin, past-president of the part-time faculty,
who reminded the students that they will also receive the
support of the over 450 part-time faculty of the School of
Dentistry. He offered three rules to success—rules he
borrowed from his former basketball coach at UCLA, the
venerable John Wooden—“Come on time, come all the time,
and comply.”
Diane Melrose, interim director
of the dental hygiene program, reflected upon thirty years as
an oral health professional. Born in a small town in Iowa,
Melrose was inspired by the misfortune of her father who had
full dentures at age twenty-eight.
“It triggered a real need for
me to go out and make a difference. So I became a hygienist
and I’ve never regretted it. I love helping people,” said
Melrose.
On a night that also happened
to be his fortieth wedding anniversary, Ralph Allman recalled
over fifty years as a Trojan. Allman, who obtained two
undergraduate degrees, his doctoral dental training and his
advanced orthodontics certificate from USC, has been a member
of the USC faculty since 1962 and has served the university in
a number of capacities including trustee.
“As you embark on your
journey with us, we wish you good luck and God’s speed from
over two hundred and fifty thousand alumni who preceded you at
this university,” said Allman.
In the culmination of the
evening’s events, Dean Slavkin led the new classes in the
USC School of Dentistry oath, “The Making of an Oral Health
Professional.” |
