Front and Center: Student National Dental Association
Published on Saturday, February 26, 2022
By: Ruth Cummins
Editor's Note: In honor of Black History Month’s 2022 theme, Black Health and Wellness, we want to celebrate the contributions, breakthroughs and cultural richness of Black professionals and students at UMMC. See more Front and Center features.
School of Dentistry Student National Dentist Association members, front row, from left, Dr. Kim Wade, Ericka James, Teleshia Johnson, Kimberly Fortner, Ashley Saulsberry; and back row, from left, Marqua Lofton, Courtney Jones, faculty advisor Dr. Alexa Lampkin and Derrick Burt.
The Student National Dental Association is dedicated to increasing the presence of minorities in the dental field with the goal of promoting and providing aid and support in an academic and social environment for minority students. SNDA strives to establish opportunities for members to develop stronger alliances among each another while developing a sense of community, and to hone leadership skills on both a national and local level.
The School of Dentistry’s SNDA chapter is about 15 students strong and is guided by faculty advisor Dr. Alexa Lampkin. Members have taken part in community health fairs including at the Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Center and Jackson Revival Center; provided oral cancer screenings at the annual See, Test, and Treat event at the Jackson Medical Mall; and provided dental health literacy around central Mississippi.
The chapter mentors high school, undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in a career in dentistry, and members plan and execute webinars via Zoom and WebEx for college students to help prepare them for the dental school application process. The SNDA’s Impressions Program gives undergraduate students exposure to the life of a dental student, including how to prep and restore teeth, do a mock interview, study for the Dental Admissions Test and more.