WVU dental and dental hygiene students receive white coats

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The 82 students in the West Virginia University School of Dentistry Class of 2016 celebrated their transition from the preclinical to clinical stages of their careers at the School’s 15th Annual Clinic Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Sept.13 at the WVU Health Sciences Center.

The Clinic Induction Ceremony is designed to help students reaffirm their professional commitment. It symbolizes the students’ unequivocal commitment to excellence in patient care.

“The Clinic Induction Ceremony, which we also refer to as the White Coat Ceremony, is when we first honor and embrace our young men and women into the fraternity of clinical dentistry, and together celebrate this singular momentous event that marks their beginning of providing comprehensive patient care,” Anthony “Tom” Borgia, D.D.S., interim dean of the WVU School of Dentistry, said. “This hallmark day will truly remain with them throughout their entire professional careers.”

Alcinda Shockey, D.H.Sc., assistant professor and clinic instructor in the WVU Division of Dental Hygiene, led the 23 dental hygiene students on stage to receive their white coats. Ashlee Sowards, assistant professor and junior clinic coordinator, and Lisa Lisauckis, assistant professor and clinic instructor, presented the white coats to each student.

The 59 dental students received their white coats from their team leaders: Mohssen Ghalichebaf, D.D.S., professor; Lora Graves, D.D.S., assistant professor; Steve Lovell, D.D.S., associate clinical professor; and Michael Meador, D.D.S., assistant professor, all from the WVU Department of Restorative Dentistry; and Susan Morgan, D.D.S., clinical professor in the WVU Department of Periodontics. The team leaders are the faculty members at the School that help the students manage their family of patients up until they graduate in May 2016.

Students in the Dental Hygiene Class of 2016 have come from all over the country to receive their Bachelor of Science degrees at the WVU School of Dentistry. Of the 23 students, 12 are from West Virginia, three are from Pennsylvania, three are from Virginia, two are from Maryland, one is from California, one is from Colorado, and one is from Ohio.

Likewise, the students in the Dental Class of 2016 have come from across the U.S. and around the world to receive their Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees at the School. Forty of the 59 students are from West Virginia. Four students hail from Virginia, and three are international students. There are two students each from Ohio and Pennsylvania. And, there is one student from each of the following states: Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah.

Photo identifications: Top photo – The WVU Dental Hygiene Class of 2016 Bottom photo – The WVU Doctor of Dental Surgery Class of 2016